Final answer:
Matrilineal descent traces inheritance and family ties through the female line, often associated with matrilocal or uxorilocal residence, where the couple lives with or near the bride's maternal relatives. This setup supports women's central role in family and society and assures certain lineage through undeniable maternity.
Step-by-step explanation:
The links between residence and descent patterns particularly emphasize the matrilineal descent and matrilocal residence (also known as uxorilocality). Matrilineal descent is a system where inheritance and family ties are traced through the women in a society, such that children belong to their mother's lineage. Matrilocal residence dictates that a newly married couple should set up their home with or near the bride's mother or maternal relatives. On the other hand, in a matrilineal society, men might look to their maternal uncle for guidance and inheritance, as uncles pass political power and possessions to their nephews within maternal relatives.
In societies with a strong adherence to matrilineality, this pattern supports the women's central role in the clan and family structures. It ensures that descent and affiliation are certain, as maternity is beyond doubt, compared to paternity. The maintenance of this system has been observed in various indigenous nations, including the Navajo, and in some Asian communities where residence and descent options are more flexible.