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Developmental evidence for obstetric adaptation of the human female pelvis

2016; National Academy of Sciences; Volume: 113; Issue: 19 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1073/pnas.1517085113

1091-6490

Alik Huseynov, Christoph P. E. Zollikofer, Walter Coudyzer, Dominic Gascho, Christian J. Kellenberger, Ricarda Hinzpeter, Marcia S. Ponce de León,

Gynecological conditions and treatments

Significance The obstetrical dilemma hypothesis states that the human female pelvis represents a compromise between designs most suitable for childbirth and bipedal locomotion, respectively. This hypothesis has been challenged recently on biomechanical, metabolic, and biocultural grounds. Here we provide evidence for the pelvis’ developmental adaptation to the problem of birthing large-headed/large-bodied babies. We show that the female pelvis reaches its obstetrically most adequate morphology around the time of maximum fertility but later reverts to a mode of development similar to that of males, which significantly reduces the dimensions of the birth canal. These developmental changes are likely mediated by hormonal changes during puberty and menopause, indicating “on-demand” adjustment of pelvic shape to the needs of childbirth.