Avian Anatomy and Physiology Flashcards
Common Aves Classes
Kept as Pets
- Psittacine - parrots
- Passerine - canaries and finches
Types of Feathers
- Primaries
- Secondaries
- Contour
- Down
Primary Feathers
WIng and tail feathers
* very large feathers
* originate from carpus, metacarpus, and pygostyle
Secondary Feathers
- Large feathers
- Originate from radius and ulna
Contour Feathers
Feathers all over the body
Down Feathers
Feathers that produce powder down
Pterylae
- Feathered tracks
- Where feathers lie
Apterylae
Non-feathered tracks
Pin Feather
Also called blood feather
* has a blood supply
* attached to bone (large winged birds)
* pigmented = black shaft
* non-pigmented = pink shaft
Cutting Pin Feathers
Can cause bird to bleed to death
* slow death
* poximal end blood supply does not vasoconstrict
* damaged feathers should be gently pulled out
Glands in a Bird
- Bilobed uropygial (preen) gland
- Ear gland
Bilobed Uropygial Gland
Preening Gland
* absent in some birds
Bird Vertebrae
- Variable number of cervical (8-25)
- Flexible neck to access food and preen
- Remaining vertebrae fused to form stable body for flight
Pneumatic Bones
Femur, Humerus, some Vertebrae
* bones filled with air
* connect directly to respiratory tract
* lighten bones for flight
* intraosseous catheters should not be placed in these - fluid will go straight to lungs and drown bird
Avian Jugular Vein
Right vein used over left
* right is 2/3 larger than left vein
