The Surprising Reason Humans Embryos Have Tails

Why do we have a tailbone? Is it a vestigial organ?

#creationism #humanevolution #tailbone #embryology

Sources:
Woon J., Stringer M. 2012. Clinical Anatomy of the Coccyx: A Systematic Review. Clinical Anatomy, 25:158-167.
Tojima S., Yamada S. 2020. Classification of the “human tail”: Correlation between position, associated anomalies, and causes. Clin Anat. 33:929-942.
Santos C., et al. 2023. Spinal neural tube formation and tail development in human embryos. eLife, 12:RP88584.
Saker E., et al. 2019. The Filum Terminale. In: Tubbs, R., Oskouian, R., Blount, J., Oakes, W. (eds) Occult Spinal Dysraphism. Springer, Cham.
Tojima S., et al. 2018. Tail reduction process during human embryonic development. J. Anat., 232:806-811.
Jang H., et al. 2015. The Filum Terminale Revisited: A Histological Study in Human Fetuses. Pediatr. Neurosurg., 51(1):9-19.
Fallon J., and Simandl B. 1978. Evidence of a Role for Cell Death in the Disappearance of the Embryonic Human Tail. Am. J. Anat., 152:111-130.
Nievelstein R., et al. Embryonic Development of the Mammalian Caudal Neural Tube. Teratology, 48:21-31.

Photo Credit:
Saker E., et al. 2019. The Filum Terminale. In: Tubbs, R., Oskouian, R., Blount, J., Oakes, W. (eds) Occult Spinal Dysraphism. Springer, Cham.
Fallon J., and Simandl B. 1978. Evidence of a Role for Cell Death in the Disappearance of the Embryonic Human Tail. Am. J. Anat., 152:111-130.

[fifteenmillionminion]

The title of the video is wrong. humans have a structure that RESEMBLES a tail, known as the caudal eminence or tail bud. this is not a true tail. This tail-like feature in embryos is a reminder of our evolutionary history, shared with other vertebrates that have tails .

[GodID]

Go to any car assembly factory and you will see why the first stages of construction always starts with very similar patterns.

And after you add more elements to the car, you would notice the differences between them.

Structural blueprints.

[nanettie]

I suspect that this tail has a function, such as keeping the embryo stably positioned in their environment.

[cuddlesanddaisy]

If someone doesn't believe in creation why are they here complaining about this video? His channel name speaks of creation.

[ianchenofficial]

The problem is there are other examples of animal embryos such as whales and dolphins and even snakes that start to develop limb buds that then stops developing and gets absorbed back in the body. The only vestiges left of these development are rudimentary femur and claw (with snakes) in the body.

[sandiec]

Very helpful presentation Peter, thank you !

[JonathanMeyer]

Just came across this video. Keep up the good work! Don't worry about all the ignorant atheist trolls out there.

[billcook]

Just a reminder that humans did not evolve from monkeys

[Stoffmeisterleichen]

Wonderful video, but I can't shake off that he sounds like Sheldon Cooper, in the manner of vocal pitch! :D

[quantumcat]

The tail in the embryo comes from our ancestors that had a tail. The 4 great ape species (we are one of them) do not have a tail like humans but have one in their embryo. This reflect the fact that the evolution of a species is shown in its development. We have gill slit also when human are young embryo which reflect the fact that we are descendant of fish. Amazing evolution that vividly shows up in fossils and ourselves!

[HB-hgxq]

I cannot believe I got tricked into watching a creationist video.

[WessimNecib]

Your Video about lucys pelvis is not correct because lobejoy have cut more than you have it in that Video he have cut the bottom of the pelvis to and have kurved it more human like!

[FlandiddlyandersFRS]

It seems that obfuscation and intellectual dishonesty are mandatory requirements for being a creationist.

[EmileNijssen-lv]

Great overview of the coccyx, although I will obviously ignore your braindead creationist take (I mean, how can you seriously discuss all this, know about analogous body plans in related species and still deny common ancestry? It's a bit weird and probably just your religion overpowering your obviously plentiful intelligence), but the real crime in this video is the pronunciation of coccyx. It's coc-six. You even used it correctly as an adjective later on! I would have gladly accepted creationism if not for that.