12.2 Flashcards
The majority of the avian body is covered with
Feathers
The majority of the avian body is covered with
Feathers
performs many of the functions for which hairy skin is responsible in mammals, including:
avian feather coat
∙ Where feathers are present, the ____ is relatively thin.
Skin
consists of an epidermis and dermis (corium) underlain by the subcutis(hypodermis)
Feather skin
is homologous with that of mammals, differences are apparent in the layers of the dermis
epidermis
a superficial layer
stratum superficiale
a deep layer
stratum profundum
During incubation, many bird species develop a median ventrosternal
brood patch.
brood patch.
Feathers
such as ducks and geese, do not develop brood patches. Instead, they warm their eggs with plucked down feathers
waterfowl
is thicker in featherless regions, corresponding with the mechanical forces to which these parts of the body are subjected.
stratum corneum of the epidermis
(keratinized epidermis) is particularly hard at the edges of the beak, in the scales and spur, and on the dorsum of the claws
horn
is found at the cere, between the scales and on the plantar surface of the claws ∙
Soft horn
∙ Birds do not have
sweat glands.
is secreted by the glandulae venti located on the labia of the cloaca
mucoid substance
are found in only three locations:
o above the tail: the uropygial gland o in the external acoustic meatus: the auricular glands
o in the cloaca: the vent glands
Sebaceous glands
present consistently in chickens and water
birds, but may be absent in psittacids and
pigeons;
Uropygial gland
The oily holocrine secretory product is used
in preening to cover the feathers in a fatty
waterproof film.
Uropygial gland
It is thought to also play a role in the
storage of Vitamin D, allowing this nutrient to be taken up by the beak during grooming
Uropygial gland
are observed on the head and neck of birds
cutaneous structures
typical features of chickens, are variably developed in different breeds
comb, wattles and earlobes,
of this species presents as a bulge of skin that may become engorged when the bird is aroused
wattle
of this species presents as a bulge of skin that may become engorged when the bird is aroused
muscovy duck
can reach considerable proportions in sexually aroused male turkeys
snood
is also covered in numerous wart-like cutaneous caruncles that extend to the neck and breast
head of turkeys
a beard comprising a tuft of hard, dark bristles is present on the neck
fully grown turkey
of the guinea fowl consists of a cone-shaped peg of bone overlain by rough skin with a strongly keratinized epidermis.
crest (helmet)
The flexor surfaces of the joints of the wings (alae) are spanned by membranous folds of skin referred to as
Patagia
Only at the shoulder joint are these skin folds present on both the flexor and extensor surfaces of the limb
Patagia
at the transition from the neck to the wing
Patagium cervicale
between the shoulder and carpus
Propatagium
− between the alula and digit 2
Patagium alulae
extending from the breast to the elbow
Metapatagium
− between the elbow and the manus
Postpatagium
The interdigital space between the second, third and fourth pedal digits is spanned by short folds of skin known as
interdigital webs
these are used for swimming and extend to the tips of the toes
interdigital webs
possess an additional web between digits 1 and 2
Pelecaniformes
such as the coot, lack interdigital webbing, possessing instead small flaps of skin that extend from the side of the second to fourth toes
Rails (rallidae)
, which extends over the rostral portions of the maxilla and mandible. Its dermal layer is tightly attached to the periosteum. There is no subcutis.
Rhamphotheca
takes the place of the lips and teeth of mammals.
beak
In newly hatched chicks, a cone-shaped _____ is present on the rostral portion of the upper beak; Used by the chick to break open the egg shell during hatching, the egg tooth is subsequently shed
egg tooth
In some species, the skin at the base of the upper beak is variably thickened and is referred to as the
cere(cera)
∙ The featherless skin of the tarsometatarsus and digits (podotheca) is covered in
scales