Mechanics & Origins of Bipedalism
This course will take you through the kinematics of human locomotion including modeling upright walking as a controlled fall, how muscles and bones work together to move individuals using a series of joints and levers, and how the abductor mechanism works to solve the “seesaw problem” of side-to-side wobbling. You will also understand how paleoanthropologists look for musculoskeletal adaptations in fossils to reconstruct how something in the past moved.
Monthly Subscription Starting at AED 99 + VAT
- Level Foundation
- Duration 10 hours
- Course by Dartmouth College
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Offered by
About
This course will take you through the kinematics of human locomotion including modeling upright walking as a controlled fall, how muscles and bones work together to move individuals using a series of joints and levers, and how the abductor mechanism works to solve the “seesaw problem” of side-to-side wobbling. You will also understand how paleoanthropologists look for musculoskeletal adaptations in fossils to reconstruct how something in the past moved. You’ll explore how musculoskeletal adaptations correlate with bipedalism, as well as what significance these clues hold for telling us about how hominins moved. Additionally, you will learn the kinematics of other habitual striding bipeds found in the animal kingdom. Every module of this course has been created with the intention of a “hands-on” learner experience, where you can play around with and learn from 3D renditions of different human and animal fossils. Through these exercises, you will be able to observe and describe animal behavior in order to explain the function of their locomotion and how that relates to our own.Modules
Welcome to the Course
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7
Readings
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2
Discussion
2
Discussions
- Introduce Yourself
- Learning Journal: My Goals
7
Readings
- Introductory Reading
- Syllabus
- Book: First Steps: How Upright Walking Made Us Human
- Coursera Code of Conduct
- Coursera Honor Code
- Discussion Tips and Guide
- Learning Journal
Mechanics of Bipedalism
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1
Videos
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1
Readings
1
Videos
- Video: Introduction
1
Readings
- Overview
Kinematics of Walking
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4
Videos
4
Videos
- Video: Kinematics of Walking
- Video: Controlled Fall
- Video: Skeletons Can't Walk
- Video: Abductor Mechanism
Musculoskeletal Adaptations
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6
Videos
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3
Readings
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6
Plugin
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1
Assignment
1
Assignment
- Bipedalism and Musculoskeletal Adaptations
6
Videos
- Video: Musculoskeletal Adaptations
- Video: The Head
- Video: The Back
- Video: The Pelvis
- Video: The Knee
- Video: The Foot
3
Readings
- Musculoskeletal Adaptations
- 3D Models: Comparing the Pelvis and Femur in Chimps and Humans
- 3D Models: Comparing Chimpanzee and Human Feet
Other Bipedal Walkers
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5
Videos
5
Videos
- Video: Other Bipedal Walkers
- Video: Convergent Evolution
- Video: Bipedalism in Other Mammals
- Video: Bears
- Video: Emus
Explore More About Bipedalism
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1
Readings
1
Readings
- Explore More: Mechanics of Bipedalism
Learning Journal
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2
Discussion
2
Discussions
- Discussion
- Learning Journal
Quiz: More About the Mechanics of Bipedalism
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1
Assignment
1
Assignment
- More About the Mechanics of Bipedalism
Introduction
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1
Videos
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1
Readings
1
Videos
- Video: Introduction
1
Readings
- Overview
An Introduction to Human Evolution
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4
Videos
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1
Readings
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5
Plugin
4
Videos
- Video: An Introduction to Human Evolution
- Video: Last Common Ancestor
- Video: Science and Human Evolution
- Video: Hominins
1
Readings
- 3D Fossils: Comparing Hominin Skulls
Earliest Fossil Bipeds
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5
Videos
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3
Readings
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10
Plugin
5
Videos
- Video: Earliest Fossil Bipeds
- Video: Lucy
- Video: Early Fossil Evidence for Bipedalism
- Video: Ardipithecus kadabba
- Video: Ardipithecus ramidus
3
Readings
- 3D Models: Lucy and Laetoli
- 3D Model: Earliest Evidence for Bipedalism
- 3D Models: Ardipithecus ramidus
Models of Bipedal Origins
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3
Videos
3
Videos
- Video: Models of Bipedal Origins
- Video: A Generalized Ape
- Video: Bipedalism in the Trees
Why Bipedalism Evolved
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4
Videos
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1
Readings
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3
Plugin
4
Videos
- Video: Why Bipedalism Evolved
- Video: Aggressive Hunters
- Video: Chimpanzee Bipedalism
- Video: The Mystery Remains
1
Readings
- 3D Models: Aggressive Hunters
Explore More: Origins of Bipedalism
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1
Readings
1
Readings
- Explore More
Discussion: Origins of Bipedalism
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2
Discussion
2
Discussions
- Discussion
- Learning Journal
Quiz: The Origins of Bipedalism and its Evolution
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1
Assignment
1
Assignment
- The Origins of Bipedalism and its Evolution
Auto Summary
Explore the fascinating world of human and animal movement with "Mechanics & Origins of Bipedalism" on Coursera. This foundational course in Science & Engineering, led by expert instructors, delves into the mechanics of locomotion, the role of muscles and bones, and the evolutionary adaptations evident in fossils. With a hands-on approach using 3D models, learners will gain insights into both human and animal bipedalism. The comprehensive 600-hour course offers flexible subscription options, making it ideal for anyone interested in understanding the biomechanics and evolutionary history of walking.
Jeremy DeSilva