Which statement best reflects human anatomical variation regarding the claim that Black people have an extra muscle?

• A. No; all humans have exactly the same number of muscles with no anatomical variation in any population.
• B. Yes; Black people universally have one additional forearm muscle that other racial groups do not have.
• C. Yes; Black people universally have an extra muscle in the calf that increases running speed.
• D. No; there is no muscle that is consistently present only in Black people—common anatomical variants can occur in any population.

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that human anatomical variation refers to differences in the presence, size, shape, or number of anatomical structures among individuals or populations.
2. Recognize that while some anatomical variations exist, such as accessory muscles or variations in muscle size, these are not exclusive to any one racial or ethnic group but can be found across all populations.
3. Evaluate the claim about an extra muscle in Black people by considering scientific evidence, which shows no consistent presence of a unique muscle found only in Black individuals.
4. Recall that common anatomical variants, like accessory muscles, can appear in any population and do not confer universal traits such as increased running speed or additional muscles exclusive to one group.
5. Conclude that the best statement reflects the understanding that no muscle is consistently present only in Black people, and anatomical variations are shared broadly among humans.