Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Physiological/Biological Anatomy of a (fruitarian) Human

Some evidence supporting our basic herbivorous natures:




Anatomical Chart Comparison of Human and Carnivore/Omnivor/Herbivore/Frugivore












































































































































































Carnivore Herbivore Omnivore Human
Facial Muscles Reduced to allow wide mouth gape. Well developed Reduced Well developed
Jaw Type Angle not expanded - Vertically mobile for biting or tearing. Expanded angle - Laterally mobile to allow chewing of food. Angle not expanded - Vertically mobile for biting or tearing. Expanded angle - Laterally mobile to allow chewing of food.
Jaw Joint Location On same plane as molar teeth Above the plane of the molars On same plane as molar teeth Above the plane of the molars
Jaw Motion Shearing; minimal side-to-side motion No shear; good side-to-side, front-to-back Shearing; minimal side-to-side motion No shear; good side-to-side, front-to-back
Major Jaw Muscles Temporalis Masseter and pterygoids Temporalis Masseter and pterygoids
Mouth Opening vs. Head Size Large Small Large Small
Teeth: Incisors Short and pointed Broad, flattened and spade shaped Short and pointed Broad, flattened and spade shaped
Teeth: Canines Long, sharp and curved Dull and short or long (for defense), or none Long, sharp and curved Short and blunted
Teeth: Molars Sharp, jagged and blade shaped Flattened with cusps vs complex surface Sharp blades and/or flattened Flattened with nodular cusps
Chewing None; swallows food whole Extensive chewing necessary Swallows food whole and/or simple crushing Extensive chewing necessary
Saliva No digestive enzymes - Acidic saliva for the digestion of animal protein; the enzyme ptyaline lowly developed salivary glands. Carbohydrate digesting enzymes - Alkaline salive pour a quick breakdown of food developed Salivary glands for pre-digestion. No digestive enzymes - Acidic saliva for the digestion of animal protein; the enzyme ptyaline lowly developed salivary glands. Carbohydrate digesting enzymes - Alkaline salive for a quick breakdown of food developed Salivary glands for pre-digestion.
Stomach Type Simple Simple or multiple chambers Simple Simple
Stomach Acidity Less than or equal to pH 1 with food in stomach pH 4 to 5 with food in stomach Less than or equal to pH 1 with food in stomach pH 4 to 5 with food in stomach
Stomach Capacity 60% to 70% of total volume of digestive tract Less than 30% of total volume of digestive tract 60% to 70% of total volume of digestive tract 21% to 27% of total volume of digestive tract
Length of Small Intestine 3 to 6 times body length 10 to more than 12 times body length 4 to 6 times body length 10 to 11 times body length
Colon Simple, short and smooth Long, complex; may be sacculated Simple, short and smooth Long, sacculated
Liver Can detoxify vitamin A Cannot detoxify vitamin A Can detoxify vitamin A Cannot detoxify vitamin A
Kidney Extremely concentrated urine Moderately concentrated urine Extremely concentrated urine Moderately concentrated urine
Nails Sharp claws Flattened nails or blunt hooves Sharp claws Flattened nails
Thermo -stasis Hyper -ventilation Perspiration Hyper -ventilation Perspiration
Vitamin C Can produce it without vitamin C rich food Needed from the daily food Can produce it without vitamin C rich food Needed from the daily food (fruits).
Urine Acid Alkaline Acid Alkaline
Skin No pores. No transcutaneous sweating. millions of pores. Glands capable of sweating. No pores. No transcutaneous sweating. millions of pores. Glands capable of sweating


Adapted from The Comparative Anatomy of Eating by Milton R. Mills, M.D.


Although not exactly evidence of our fundamental fruitarian-ness, nevertheless still relevant and interesting.. I'd love to see an additional column labeled fruitarians..

hugs,
mango.

Playing by the lake in the Czech Republic, 2006:
lake by the castle, CR

Blogged with Flock

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hello, Mango!

I'm working on a presentation on why fruit is the natural food for humans, would it be alright if I used these anatomical charts as examples?

Fruitarian Mango said...

Hi Rainskull,
sure, please send me your chart when it is done, and I will post it here too..

regards,
Mango.

Anonymous said...

Okay, thanks! I'll be sure to do that.