Avian Anatomy 1

Question 1

What are three things that makes birds different to other vertebrates

Answer 1

1. flight
2. Feathers
3. Egg laying

Question 2

What are the musculoskeletal adaptations (4)

Answer 2

1. Pneumatic bones
2. Bone fusions
3. Strong pectoral girdles
4. Pectoral limb and wing structure

Question 3

Name the 3 bones in the pectoral girdle

Answer 3

1. Coracoid - very strong
2. Scapula - mighty bound to rib cage
3. Clavicle - fuses midline

Question 4

Function of the pectoral girdle

Answer 4

forms stable support for wind

Question 5

What does the humerus articulate with

Answer 5

Scapula and coracoid

Question 6

What three systems are the head divided into

Answer 6

1. Neurocranium
2. Splanchnocranium
3. Mandibula

Question 7

What bone holds the upper beak

Answer 7

Incisive bone

Question 8

How many bones of fusion are the mandibula

Answer 8

6 bones

Question 9

What animal does the neck of a bird replicate

Answer 9

Reptile

Question 10

What does the neck of a bird lack

Answer 10

Fibrocartilage discs

Question 11

Modification of the sternum

Answer 11

• Large

- Large attached flight muscles

Question 12

What shape is the thorax

Answer 12

Triangulated bone structure

Question 13

Function of the pectoral girdle

Answer 13

Stabilises the cranial thorax

Question 14

Function of the cranial sternum

Answer 14

articulates from coracoid

Question 15

What action does the crania sternum have

Answer 15

Hinge action

Question 16

Where do the ribs flex

Answer 16

Vertebrosternal rib junction

Question 17

What is the thoracic movement

Answer 17

Cranio-caudal

Question 18

Name the two parts of the sternum

Answer 18

1. Lateral plates

2. Ventral plates

Question 19

What is the triosseal canal

Answer 19

Junction between clavicle, coracoid and scapula. Passage for tendon of supracoracoideus m elevator wing

Question 20

What muscle causes the down beat

Answer 20

Pectoralis

Question 21

What muscle causes the up beat

Answer 21

Supracoracoideus

Question 22

Purpose of fusion bones in limb (4)

Answer 22

1. Reduce muscle weight
2. Restrict ranges of movement
3. Reciprocal apparatus
4. Radius/ulna act as pantograph

Question 23

Where is the caudal axis fusion

Answer 23

vT5 - vL - vS - vC

Question 24

Which way does the pelvic girdle open

Answer 24

Ventrally to allow eggs to pass

Question 25

Which bones do air sacs extend into (3)

Answer 25

1. Scapula
2. Femur
3. Humerus

Question 26

How do birds perch with minimal muscular effort

Answer 26

Tendon of the digital flex muscle passes caudal to the tarsal joint before running into each digit

Question 27

What does ratites refer to

Answer 27

Flat sternum

Question 28

Epidermis of birds

Answer 28

Thin, lightly keratinised, no sebaceous glands

Question 29

What do brood patches do

Answer 29

Promote heat transfer from the hen to her eggs

Question 30

What do claws enclose

Answer 30

Phalanx

Question 31

What are ornamental structures made of

Answer 31

Sexual attraction and heat exchange

Question 32

What do uropygial glands do

Answer 32

water proofing of feathers

Question 33

Name the 3 types of feathers

Answer 33

1. Contour feathers
2. Filoplume feathers
3. Down feathers

Question 34

Describe contour feathers

Answer 34

• Firm barbs, barbules and hooklets

Question 35

Describe filopxme feathers

Answer 35

No or little vane at each contour feather

Question 36

Describe down feathers

Answer 36

Soft barbs, no hooklets, fluffy and insulating

Question 37

What are pterylae tracts

Answer 37

Symmetrical tracts over the body in which contour feathers follicles are distributes

Question 38

What are apteria tracts

Answer 38

Bare spaces between the tracts and perfect place for surgery

Question 39

What does the process of moulting do

Answer 39

1. Replace worn out feathers and usually happens after the breeding season
2. Provides brightly coloured feathers for courtship and mating