Final answer:
The cranial base of apes and humans show significant differences due to evolutionary changes. Apes have a smaller cranial capacity and features indicative of quadrupedalism, while humans have a larger brain, bipedalism, and enhanced dexterity.
Step-by-step explanation:
The cranial base of apes differs significantly from that of humans in several key aspects. The cranium of an ape, such as a chimpanzee, is characterized by features like a more protruding jaw, a smaller cranial capacity, and a more pronounced brow ridge compared to that of humans. The foramen magnum in apes is positioned such that their head is not held over the spine as it is in humans, indicating that apes are not bipedal.
In contrast, the human skull has evolved to support a fully upright posture, leading to bipedalism. This evolution is exhibited by a larger cranial capacity, approximately 1,400 cubic centimeters, which houses a bigger brain with enhanced frontal lobes. These changes in the skeleton, including shortened arms relative to the legs, increased dexterity of the hands, and a decrease in bone mass of the skull and face, have allowed Homo sapiens to develop the ability for abstract thought and technological advances beyond that of other primates.