Gracilization of the Modern Human Skeleton

By Christopher B. Ruff

The latent strength in our slender bones teaches lessons about human lives, current and past

Evolution Anatomy

Current Issue

This Article From Issue

November-December 2006

Volume 94, Number 6
Page 508

DOI: 10.1511/2006.62.508

People often think of the human skeleton as a symbol of death. In one sense this is true: Bone resists decomposition better than flesh, so it has a greater chance of being preserved after death. However, bone is also a living tissue.

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