At 1:55 and thereafter when he introduces the concept of the difference in the bottom of the human skull, is he saying "flex bottom of the skull"? Or something else? Because when I google this to learn more I find nothing, so I think I must be mis-hearing it.

The bigger question I'm wondering: Can anyone point me to further resources about this anatomical difference in our skull? I found https://www.speechbuddy.com/blog/news/speech-evolution-origin-of-language-humans-are-awesome/ which says our larynx is much lower than other species and our oropharanx (mouth and throat) is L-shaped compared to other species, but I don't see anything about the bottom of the skull. Is he perhaps talking about the soft palate?

Question

At 1:55 and thereafter when he introduces the concept of the difference in the bottom of the human skull, is he saying "flex bottom of the skull"? Or something else?  Because when I google this to learn more I find nothing, so I think I must be mis-hearing it.

The bigger question I'm wondering: Can anyone point me to further resources about this anatomical difference in our skull?  I found https://www.speechbuddy.com/blog/news/speech-evolution-origin-of-language-humans-are-awesome/ which says our larynx is much lower than other species and our oropharanx (mouth and throat) is L-shaped compared to other species, but I don't see anything about the bottom of the skull.  Is he perhaps talking about the soft palate?

Accepted Answer

At 1:55, he is saying the flexed bottom of the skull. I found some reading that I've attached which might explain it further, but it is too academic for me to summarize well.

http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/365/1556/3365

Course: Big History Project > Unit 6

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