Just a question to ponder.

[devfer]

When comparing a human brain and a sheep brain why is the spinal cord in a different location? I know it is because of the structured functions but can someone expand on this.

[AstusAleator]

Just a quick, educated guess:
the angle the head rests at in relation to the spine is different in quadrapeds and bipeds. A more extreme example would be to compare the locations of the occipital fossa in dolphins and humans. One is clearly designed for a horizontal body-pattern, and the other is more adapted to an upright posture.