The relatively narrow human birth canal presumably evolved as a 'compromise' between its abilities for parturition, support of the inner organs, and upright walking. But not only the size of the birth ...

During human birth, the fetus typically navigates a tight, convoluted birth canal by flexing and rotating its head at various stages. This complex process comes with a high risk of birth complications ...

According to a new study, chimpanzees, like humans, must contend with a confined bony birth canal when giving birth. In humans, the problem was exacerbated by our unique form of upright walking since ...

Scholars often explain that human immaturity and lengthy childhoods came about because of the need for cultural learning—the manners, mores, and conventions of a particular culture. Surely culture is ...

Childbirth in humans is much more complex and painful than in great apes. It was long believed that this was a result of humans’ larger brains and the narrow dimensions of the mother’s pelvis.

BACKGROUND The frequency of twin births has increased dramatically since the 1970s in nearly all developed countries. This upsurge poses a public health challenge because multiple pregnancies are ...

3D simulation of the birth canal of chimpanzees with (B) the fetal head in a fully extended position, the typical head alignment in apes, and (C) the fetal head in a fully flexed position, the usual ...