International Journal of Family Medicine & Healthcare
Open AccessEvolutionary Origins of ORL Disorders
Authors: Cem Turaman
Abstract
It is understood that our ancestors gained a strong evolutionary selective advantage in shaping the vocal tract that allowing them speak more intelligibly. However, humans pay heavy prices for the uniqueness of vocal tracts configuration. We precariously swallow our mouthful in exchange for speaking clearly, and the second heavy price humans pay is sleep snoring. Their evolutionary cause is that the respiratory system deriving on the wrong side and too late from the alimentary system. The fact that our nasal septum is usually curved contributes to these disorders. The reason of this is that a few million years ago humans had to compromise from the width of the birth canal with their pelvis in order to stand upright. As for our children’s ears, their development resembles the evolution of hominoids and they are far from smooth.
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