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In chimpanzees and other apes the spine is stiff and straight with a single slightly ___ (anteriorly facing) curve

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Final answer:

In chimpanzees and other apes, the spine maintains a single slightly anteriorly concave curve, which differs from the upright, bipedal posture seen in humans.

Step-by-step explanation:

In chimpanzees and other apes, the spine is characterized by a single slightly anteriorly concave curve. This curvature refers to the primary curves of the spine, which are the anteriorly concave curvatures of the thoracic and sacrococcygeal regions retained from the original fetal curvature of the vertebral column. In contrast to the human spine, which has evolved to support a fully upright, bipedal posture, the spines of chimpanzees and other apes have maintained the stiffness and curvature necessary for their primarily quadrupedal movement.

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