Question

The human hands and feet have similar types and numbers of bones. However, hands and feet are very different in their appearance. What physical differences do you notice between the hands and feet? How might these differences relate to differences in the function of these body parts? Would you expect other primates to have hands and feet that differed like this? Why or why not?

Answer 1

Explanation:

One physical difference between the hands and feet is that the human hands appear to be more flexible than our feet. Also, in terms of size, our feet are smaller than our hands.

Let's assume that our feet become as flexible as our hands and the hands less flexible, it would affect the function they perform.

• If for example, we were to walk with our hands we will fail to achieve stability.
• And if for example, we decide to grab hold of items with our feet we will be unable to do so.

It is also reasonable to expect other primates to have hands and feet that differed from ours because they are necessary so they can adapt to their environment just like humans too.