Extrasomatic is a term used in anthropology, archaeology, and evolutionary studies to describe things that exist outside the human body but are still integral to human survival, adaptation, and culture. It emphasizes how humans rely not only on biological traits but also on external tools, technologies, and social systems. 🌍 Definition Extrasomatic: “Outside the body”;…

Extinction is the permanent disappearance of a species from Earth, meaning no living individuals remain. It marks the end of a unique evolutionary lineage and can result from natural processes or human activity. 🌍 Definition Extinction: The dying out or extermination of a species, genus, or larger taxonomic group. Once extinct, a species can no…

An extensor is a type of muscle whose primary function is to extend a joint—meaning it increases the angle between two bones, straightening or opening the limb. Extensors are paired with flexors, which bend joints, and together they allow smooth, controlled movement. 🌍 Definition Extensor: A muscle that causes extension at a joint, moving bones…

An extended family household is a domestic unit that includes multiple generations or collateral relatives living together, beyond the nuclear family of parents and their children. It is a key concept in anthropology, sociology, and kinship studies, reflecting how social organization, economics, and cultural values shape living arrangements. 🌍 Definition Extended Family Household: A household…

Exposure is a broad term that refers to the state of being subjected to something—whether environmental, social, biological, or cultural. It’s widely used across disciplines, from medicine and anthropology to photography and organizational theory. 🌍 Definition Exposure: The condition of being open or subjected to an influence, agent, or environment. Root: Latin exponere (“to put…

Experimental archaeology is a branch of archaeology that uses hands-on experiments and reconstructions to test hypotheses about how ancient people lived, built, and used their material culture. Instead of only analyzing artifacts, archaeologists replicate tools, structures, and techniques to better understand past technologies and behaviors. 🌍 Definition Experimental Archaeology: The practice of recreating ancient processes,…

Expanding is a versatile term that describes the process of increasing in size, scope, influence, or detail. It can apply to physical growth, conceptual development, or social and cultural processes. 🌍 Definition Expanding: The act of enlarging, extending, or unfolding something beyond its current boundaries. Root: Latin expandere (“to spread out”). 🔑 Contexts of Use…

Expanded or E-notched is a descriptive classification used in lithic technology and projectile point typology to identify notches that flare outward, forming a distinctive “E” or expanded shape. These notches are diagnostic features that help archaeologists categorize stone tools and understand cultural traditions. 🌍 Definition Expanded Notch / E-notched: A notch that widens outward from…

Expanded notches is a descriptive term often used in archaeology, lithic technology, and morphology to refer to notches that widen outward from their point of origin, creating a flared or broadened shape. These features are particularly important in the study of stone tools, projectile points, and anatomical structures. 🌍 Definition Expanded Notches: Indentations or cuts…

Exons are the coding regions of a gene in eukaryotic DNA that remain in the mature messenger RNA (mRNA) after the process of RNA splicing. They are the sequences that actually get translated into proteins, distinguishing them from introns, which are non-coding segments removed during splicing. 🌍 Definition Exons: Segments of a gene that are…

Exogamy is a social rule or practice requiring individuals to marry outside their own social group, lineage, clan, or community. It is a key concept in anthropology and kinship studies, highlighting how societies regulate marriage to build alliances and prevent inbreeding. 🌍 Definition Exogamy: From Greek exo- (“outside”) + gamos (“marriage”), meaning “marriage outside.” It…

Excurvate is an anatomical and descriptive term meaning curved outward or bent away from the midline or axis. It’s often used in biology, paleontology, and anthropology to describe the shape of bones, shells, leaves, or other structures. 🌍 Definition Excurvate: Having an outward curvature; opposite of incurvate (curved inward). Root: Latin ex- (“out”) + curvare…