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The Development of Gait

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The Human Foot

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Abstract

The patterns of activity of newborn mammals are appropriate to the environment into which they are born. In this respect mammals can be divided into four classes: herd animals, such as the horse, cow, and whale; nest animals, such as the lion, dog, and mouse; mother-clinging animals, such as primates, bats, and finally marsupials. Herd animals must be born in a state of relative ‘maturity’ to be able to follow the herd shortly after birth. When an animal is born into the security of a nest, there are advantages in birth at an early stage of development because a large bulk will be a handicap. A large baby needs more energy and this is difficult to obtain from diet alone. The young need only to feel their way to the mother’s nipples for milk and for this purpose do not need a full complement of sensory apparatus nor full powers of locomotion.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK

    Leslie Klenerman MBBCh, ChM, FRCS (Emeritus Professor of Orthopaedic and Accident Surgery)

  2. Center for the Advance Study of Hominid Paleobiology, Department of Anthropology, George Washington University, Washington DC, USA

    Bernard Wood MBBS, PhD, DSc

Authors
  1. Leslie Klenerman MBBCh, ChM, FRCS
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  2. Bernard Wood MBBS, PhD, DSc
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© 2006 Springer-Verlag London Limited

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Klenerman, L., Wood, B. (2006). The Development of Gait. In: The Human Foot. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/1-84628-032-X_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/1-84628-032-X_4

  • Publisher Name: Springer, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-85233-925-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-84628-032-0

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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