The lateral fabella, a bone approximately the size of a sesame seed that is buried in the tendon beneath the knee and is present in around 39% of people, is a structure about which little is known.
When comparing early humans to other primates including lemurs, lorises, tarsiers, and monkeys, researchers from King’s College London (KCL) have discovered that the tiny bone evolved in a distinct manner in early humans.
The evolutionary shift, according to Dr. Michael Berthaume, a reader in engineering at KCL, may have aided in the transition from humans walking on their knuckles to standing on two legs.
Our research demonstrates that this frequently misinterpreted bone may have undergone several evolutionary paths among primates, with humans experiencing a unique evolutionary history that started at the very beginning of all hominoids, a group that includes large apes like chimpanzees, orangutans, and bonobos in addition to humans,” the researcher stated.
An innovative use of this bone may have facilitated Australopithecus and other early humans’ transition from all-fours to upright walking.
