The neck : a natural and cultural history / Kent D. Dunlap.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Dunlap, Kent D., 1963- author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Neck.

Anatomy, Comparative.

Animals--Adaptation.

Animal behavior.

Local Subjects:

Anatomy, Comparative.

Animals--Adaptation.

Animal behavior.

Physical Description:

xix, 309 pages : illustrations, portraits ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

Oakland, California : University of California Press, [2025]

Summary:

"A 300-million-year tour of the prominent role of the neck in animal evolution and human culture. Humans give a lot of attention to the neck. We decorate it with jewelry and ties, kiss it passionately, and use it to express ourselves in word and song. Yet, at the neck, people have also shackled their prisoners, executed their opponents, and slain their victims. Beyond the drama of human culture, animals have evolved their necks into a staggering variety of shapes and uses vital to their lifestyles. The Neck delves into evolutionary time to solve a living paradox-why is our neck so central to our survival and culture, but so vulnerable to injury and disease? Biologist Kent Dunlap shows how the neck's vulnerability is not simply an unfortunate quirk of evolution. Its weaknesses are intimately connected to the vessels, pipes, and glands that make it so vital to existence. Fun and far-reaching, The Neck explores the diversity of forms and functions of the neck in humans and other animals and shows how this small anatomical transition zone has been a locus of incredible evolutionary and cultural creativity"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

Preface : vital & vulnerable

Why & what : the rationale and contents of the neck

Posture & pose : holding the head

Panorama & gesture : moving the head

Tubes & transport : conduits to the torso

Pace & scaffolding : hormones of the neck

Word & flesh : speech and song at the neck

Courtship & attraction : sexual communication at the neck

Membership & status : signaling identity at the neck

Power & politics : aggression and control at the neck

Shields & saints : protection and healing at the neck

Epilogue : created & crafted : the necks of pottery vases.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 279-298) and index.

Other Format:

Online version: Dunlap, Kent D., 1963- Neck

ISBN:

9780520393035

0520393031

9780520393059

0520393058

OCLC:

1451804186