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If there are nine muscles attached to the human tailbone why is it called vestigial to support the evolutionary theory?
Wiki User
∙ 14y ago
Vestigial means "not used for its original purpose". Humans evolved from creatures which had tails, and thus needed a support for them. However, we eventually didn't need our tails and they soon disappeared, anatomically speaking. So, we no longer have tails but still have the structure and base necessary for one to be used.
Wiki User
∙ 14y ago
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Give any two examples of vestigial organs in humans?
1) appendix. 2) coccyx. ( tailbone ) 3) muscles that move your ears. 4) muscles that make your hair stand up. 5) little toe. 6) wisdom teeth.
Why are muscles that move the ear vestigial?
Because the muscles that we use to move ears are used by other animals to help with detecting interesting sounds (like when you see a dog's ears twitch when they hear something). Since those muscles aren't serving our bodies in that sense, and we really only use those muscles to wiggle ears for fun, they can be considered vestigial (ie. present in our bodies, but not really doing anything: like our tailbone, or our appendix)
Which is an example of vestigial structure?
Most of the "higher evolved" animals I can think of have a vestigial structure or two. The most common example given is of the vestigial leg structures that can be found in the back of whales. Ostriches can't fly so i think their wings are considered vestigial. Humans have a vestigial tail bone.
Why is the coccyx a vestigial organ?
Your tailbone is not vestigial! If you study Anatomy you will know that there are 9 different muscles attached to it, and Im not going to tell you what they are all are, but trust me you need them!! Pancrease Muscle is one of them. Try jumping on your tailbone, then see if its needed.
What are vestigial organs?
A vestigial trait (i.e. organ, appendage, etc) is a remnant part of an organism that historically was very important but evolutionarily is no longer needed. For example, the tailbone on humans is considered vestigial because it serves little to no purpose, although at one point it most likely connected to a tail. Another example is the dew claw on a dog (the small, dangling claw on a dog's front paws). Clearly there's no use for it today, but at one point it may have served an important purpose for survival. appendix wisdom teeth tailbone male nipples xD body hair thymus gland the "tip" of your ear ear muscles
Are the muscles in back attached to intervertebral discs?
Muscles are attached to tendons which are attached to bones.
Why do you think muscles attached to the bones?
because the muscles are attached the bones
Describe how are skeleton and muscles are attached?
Muscles and bones are attached by tendons.
If the whale pelvis is an anchor point for muscles then why do scientist say it is vestigial to fit to the evolutionary theory?
Vestigial means not used for the original purpose. Thus, while the region may have been used for one job in the past (in the case of whales and other cetacea, their ancestors had legs) it is now used for another job (here, to support and control the tail and read of the body's movement).
Are Skeletal muscles are usually attached to bones?
All skeletal muscles are attached to bones. This is why they are called skeletal muscles.
Do bones have muscles?
There are muscles attached to bones, but bones do not have muscles.
Do muscles attach to anything?
Muscles are attached to tendons ( a dense connective tissue) which are then attached to Bones. Muscles -> Tendons -> Bones
