Structure

Australopithecus

Humans

Size of Hip Joint

Apes: Pan
Troglodytes
Small

Small

Large

Length of Femur

Short

Short/intermediate Long

Functional
correlation
Reflects force
transfer

- Length
correlates with
lower limb
length.
- Effects stride
length

Size of femoral
head

Small

Small

Large

Reflects force
transfer

Size of hip joint

Small

Small

Large

Reflect force
transfer

Length of
femoral head

Medium

Long

Medium

Reflect angle of
shaft of femur
and hence
position of knee
joint with regard
to midline

Angle of femoral
neck

125-130

Small

125-130

Size of femoral
condyle

Larger medial
condyle

Femoral condyle
profile

Circular

Elliptical

Larger lateral
condyle

Size reflect which

side of the Knee
Joint transfers
most force

Elliptical

Elliptical profile
allow more
surface contact
thus improve
stability

Bicondylar angle

Small (1-2)

Large (15)

Medium (10)

Position of
Femoral Shaft

Vertical

Marked inward
angle

Inward angling

Position of
Femoral
Condyles

Away from midline

Close to midline

Close to midline

Reflects angle of
femoral shaft and
position of Knee
Joint

Reflect position
of Knee Joint
Knee joint closer
to midline means
more difficult to
balance but
easier to shift
balance

Comparison of Hip region Structures in Hominoids.

Comparison of Human and Ape Gluteal and Posterior Thigh Muscles.

Muscle

Ape

Human

Gluteus Maximus

Medium extend Hip Joint

Large Extends Hip Joint

Gluteus Medius

Large Extends Hip Joint

Medium Abducts Hip Joint

Gluteus Minimus

Small extends Hip Joint

Smaller Abducts Hip Joint

Posterior Thigh Muscle

Extends Hip Joint

Extends Hip Joint

Comparison of muscle action at the hip joint in the stance phase of Bipedal walking.

Hip Joint Extension

Ape

Human

- Ape Hip Joint

extension is mediated
by Posterior Leg
Muscle and Gluteus
muscle

- Human Hip joint

extension is mediated
by Posterior Leg
muscle and Gluteus
muscle

- Ape hip joint

extension is limited

- Human Hip Joint

extension is
maximised

- Ape foot at Toe Off

are beneath Hip Joint

Hip Joint Abduction

Ape have little to NO

hip joint abduction

- Human foot at Toe

Off is behind Hip Joint

- Humans Hip Joint

Abduction is mediated
by Gluteus Medius
and Minimus
- Human Hip Joint
abduction is mediated
early

Contribution to
Bipedal Walking
Hip joint extension
helps maximize stride
length
- Hip joint extension
provide thrust
throughout stance
- Hip joint extension
position lower leg and
foot at toe off to
maximise thrust from
Ankle Joint
Plantarflexion

- Hip Joint Abduction

assists balance in
early/mid stance
- Hip Joint Abduction
limits sideways
movement

Comparison of Human and Ape Hip Joint in Bipedal Walking

Phase

Ape

Human

Stance

Ape Hip joint remains flexed

during stance

- Human Hip Joint goes from

Flexion to Extension during
stance phase
- Human Hip Joint is extended
by Posterior Leg Muscle during
stance phase
- Human hip Joint is Abducted
early by Gluteus medius and
minimus during stance phase

Swing

Ape Hip joint remain flexed by

Iliopsoas and Rectus Femoris
throughout swing phase

Human Hip joint goes from

Extension to Flexion by
Iliopsoas and Rectus Femoris
during swing phase