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A&P 110, 112 > Avian / Birds 🦆 > Flashcards

Avian / Birds 🦆 Flashcards

1
Q

Which animals are the closest relatives to birds/aves?

A

Crocodilians 🐊

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2
Q

What are the 2 jaw types used to identify birds?

A
  1. Neognathae “New Jaw”
  2. Paleognathae “Old Jaw”
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3
Q

What are the differences between “new jaws” and “old jaws” in birds?

A

New jaw = mobile with fewer bones; MOST birds have this type

Old jaw = doesn’t move much; mainly Ratites have this jaw

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4
Q

What is the general anatomy of avian bones?

A

thin cortex, hollow, have internal struts; lightweight, but strong

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5
Q

What special type/quality of bone do birds (mainly flying birds) have?

A

Pneumatic bones

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6
Q

What does it mean when birds have “pneumatic” bones?

A

Their air sacs extend out into their bones; their bones contain air-filled cavities/spaces

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7
Q

Why do birds have “fewer” bones?

A

Their bones and joints are fused together

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8
Q

How many cervical vertebrae do birds have?

A

11-25 cervical vertebrae, depending on species

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9
Q

Why do the keel bones of birds vary in size?

A

Depends on if they can fly or not; bigger muscles = bigger keel

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10
Q

What is the major importance of the keel bone in birds?

A

It serves as the main attachment for the flight muscles

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11
Q

What is unique about the 1st cervical vertebrae, aka Atlas, in birds?

A

It has one, single condyle, allowing almost 360º rotation of the head

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12
Q

What is the name & function of the fused coccygeal vertebrae at the end of the spine in birds?

A

Pygostyle; used for steering & balance while in flight

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13
Q

Which bones are “pneumatic” in birds?

(hint: there are 7 named)

A

ileum/pubis, humerus, keel/sternum, clavicle/wishbone, vertebral bones, skull, coracoid

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14
Q

What is the main purpose of the coracoid bone in birds?

A

Wing support

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15
Q

What is the main purpose of the sclerotic rings in birds’ eyes?

A

Provide extra support for the bird’s eyeballs

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16
Q

What are the fused bones of the avian forelimb?

A

Furcula (wishbone)
Carpus + Metacarpus

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17
Q

Describe the digits of the forelimb in birds?

A

Digit 1 = Alula
Digit 2, 3 = Main

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18
Q

What are the fused bones of the avian hindlimb?

A

Tibiotarsus
Tarsometatarsus

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19
Q

What is the difference between Anisodactyl digits and Zygodactyl digits?

A

Anisodactyl = not same digits; 3 (forward) + 1 (rear)

Zygodactyl = 1,4 (rear) + 2,3 (forward)

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20
Q

Describe the general anatomy of the “pelvic” region in birds?

A

Bones fused into “pelvic girdle” with NO pelvic floor (open & distensible for egg-laying)

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21
Q

What are the differences between “white meat” and “dark meat” in birds?

A

White meat = low blood supply, low myoglobin

Dark meat = more blood supply, more myoglobin, more mitochondria

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22
Q

Why would one species have more “dark meat” than another? (ex: duck vs. chicken)

A

One species may fly & use more energy than the other

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23
Q

What are the 2 major flight muscles, and what are they each responsible for?

A
  1. Pectoralis major = downstroke in flight
  2. Supracoracoideus = upstroke in flight
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24
Q

What are the general qualities of a bird’s body cavity?

A

They have NO diaphragm

They have a coelomic cavity = single cavity with air sacs

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25
Describe how the "Perching Reflex" works?
Allows a bird to stay perched in place while sleeping joints flexed/contract = toes grip tight joints extend/relax = toes open & let go
26
What 3 things do feathers offer, aside from flight?
Strength, protection, & body contour
27
In reference to feathers, what are the calamus, rachis, vane, and links?
Calamus = round, hollow, semitransparent quill Rachis = central shaft, running lengthwise Vane = broad, flat, plumed part of feather growing from both sides of shaft Links = barbs, barbules, and hooks
28
What are "retrices" and "remiges?"
Both are considered contour feathers Retrices = tail feathers, symmetrical in shape Remiges = flight feathers, asymmetrical in shape
29
What are auricular feathers?
They are found covering the external ear opening, and they aid in hearing
30
What are the 6 main types of feathers we discussed? 🪶
1. contour feathers 2. semiplume feathers 3. down feathers 4. powder down feathers 5. filoplume feathers 6. bristle feathers
31
Which 2 feather types are associated with touch/feeling?
filoplume feathers & bristle feathers
32
Describe the function of powder down feathers?
They grow constantly; their tips disintegrate into a fine powder that aids in waterproofing & cleaning the other feathers
33
What are "pterylae" and "apteria" in birds?
Pterylae = feather tracts Apteria = spots of bare skin
34
What are the 7 tracts of feathers found in birds?
1. capital (head) 2. spinal (dorsal) 3. alar (wing) 4. humeral 5. femoral (upper leg) 6. crural (lower leg) 7. caudal (tail)
35
Describe how / why a bird moults?
Moulting = feather replacement, once feathers stop growing Can happen as "pattern replacement" (different areas on body, still able to fly) or "complete replacement" (lose all, unable to fly)
36
Why are they called "blood feathers?"
They have grown with blood supply
37
In birds, the first few ribs are relatively short and incomplete. The other ribs are complete, each with a projection called the ________ that overlaps the adjoining rear rib and provides extra strength to the rib cage.
uncinate process
38
How many chambers do bird hearts have? 🫀
4 – like mammals & crocodilians
39
Why should you not administer meds in the bottom/back half of a bird?
The meds will be filtered out by the kidneys, due to their Renal Portal System
40
Birds possess a Renal Portal System; what does this mean?
Blood from their tail-end passes through the kidneys before returning to the heart
41
What is the general morphology of avian RBC?
Nucleated, oval-shaped
42
Which types of WBC do birds possess? (6)
1. Heterophils 2. Eosinophils 3. Basophils 4. Lymphocytes 5. Monocytes 6. Thrombocytes
43
What are the two major components of the avian stomach, and their functions?
1. Proventriculus = glandular stomach, chemical breakdown of food 2. Ventriculus / Gizzard = muscular stomach, grinding of food
44
What is the "Crop" and what are its functions?
Crop = storage pouch for food, expansion of esophagus extending over interclavicular space Functions as storage, lubrication, regulation of passage of food, and "Crop Milk" for young (in pigeons & doves)
45
What are the functions of the small intestine, large intestine, and ceca in birds?
Small intestine = digestion, absorbtion Large intestine = reabsorption of water + minerals Ceca = water reabsorption, bacterial fermentation of cellulose
46
The cloaca is divided into 3 sections, what are they?
1. coprodeum 2. urodeum 3. proctodeum
47
What are the differences between a mammalian larynx and an avian larynx?
Mammalian larynx = voice box Avian larynx = protective function; keeps solids/liquids from entering trachea/lungs
48
What is the avian syrinx, and how does it work?
Syrinx = avian voice box Works as air from lungs/air sacs is forced over the muscles & vibrating membranes during expiration, causing a change in tension and air pressure, thus producing vibrations = sounds/songs.
49
Describe the avian "nose." 👃
Pair of nares (nostrils) surrounded by cere (waxy, fleshy covering)
50
How does air enter a bird's lungs?
Air is "pushed" (not pulled) into the lungs by a change of +/- pressure.
51
What is a bird's choana, and what does it do?
Choana = slit on roof of bird's mouth that connects the nasal passage to the oral cavity Allows air to move from nares (nostrils) to glottis
52
What are the main differences between the mammalian respiratory system vs. the avian respiratory system?
1. birds have NO diaphragm! 2. bird lungs DO NOT expand/change! 3. birds have air sacs that are attached to the coelomic cavity with skeletal muscle
53
How many air sacs do birds have? Can you name them?
9 air sacs total 1 x interclavicular 2 x cervical 2 x cranial thoracic 2 x caudal thoracic 2 x abdominal
54
What are the 3 main functions of air sacs?
1. air reservoir 2. thermoregulation 3. buoyancy for swimmer species
55
Airflow goes ONE WAY in birds. Describe how respiration works in birds?
1st inhale: air goes from airways to caudal air sacs 1st exhale: air goes from caudal air sac to lungs (gas exchange occurs) 2nd inhale: air goes from lungs to cranial air sacs 2nd exhale: air goes from cranial air sacs to trachea - then exhaled out!
56
Describe the avian kidney?
- Caudodorsal location, next to Synsacrum - less distinct divisions (homogenous blob) - NO renal pelvis - Nephron has less Glomeruli - excretes Uric Acid as waste (not urine)
57
Birds do not have a bladder. What do they have instead, and how does it function?
Urodeum in the cloaca Urates are passed from kidney through ureters into urodeum, where they sit until they are either moved to the colon/ceca for reabsorption, or propelled out the bird's vent.
58
What is the pathway of a spermatozoa in regards to birds?
testes produce the sperm > sperm travel through the vas deferens > then stored in the seminal vesicle > seminal vesicle emptied into urodeum of cloaca > +/- ejaculated out of erectile phallus
59
What is the difference between the right & left ovaries in female birds?
Right ovary = vestigial, non-functioning Left ovary = fully developed!
60
The avian oviducts are divided into 5 sections lengthwise. Can you name all 5 sections in order?
1. infundibulum 2. magnum 3. isthmus 4. uterus 5. vagina
61
What are each section of the avian oviducts responsible for when it comes to egg producing / laying?
1. infundibulum = catches ovum with help from hormones 2. magnum = secretes albumin, forming egg white 3. isthmus = deposits thin shell membrane 4. uterus "shell gland" = deposits hard shell, watery albumin, and pigment 5. vagina = secretes mucus for egg laying, stores sperm if not bred
62
What is the difference between Determinate vs. Indeterminate egg-layers? 🥚
Determinate = set # of eggs Indeterminate = continued production (will lay more if any eggs go missing)
63
Bird brains are proportionally large. However, some control centers are larger than others. Which control centers are large/highly functional, vs. smaller/less functional in birds? 🧠
Large = vision, auditory Small = taste, touch, smell
64
Why do they say that you can tell a lot about a bird based on its eyes? 👀
Eye shape & eye location vary based on the bird's diet/species/behavior.
65
Which eye shapes are associated with which diet/species/behavior?
- round = predators like hawks - flat = prey like pigeons - tubular = nocturnal, night vision like owls
66
What are differences between the eyes of a carnivorous bird vs. a non-carnivorous bird?
Carnivore has forward-facing eyes with a small field of vision. Non-carnivore has eyes on the lateral aspect of the skull with a larger field of vision.
67
Like the eyes of other vertebrates, bird eyes have a central, funnel-shaped area containing a high concentration of cones. This is called the _____ and is the area of sharpest vision/focus for a bird. 👁
Fovea
68
The vitreous humor and the pecten of the avian eye are important because they...
...are highly vascular, and provide nutrition to the eye.
69
In reference to the avian auditory sense, what is the significance of the "columella?"
Columella = single middle ear ossicle, responsible for transmitting sound to inner ear by moving the oval window.
70
Why are barn owls considered to have some of the best hearing? 🦉
They have asymmetrical external ear openings, allowing better sound triangulation to precisely locate prey.
71
What are Grandry's corpuscles and Herbst corpuscles responsible for in birds?
Both are nerve endings, responsible for sensation of touch. Grandry's corpuscles = on tongue/palate, to help when digging for food. Herbst corpuscles = detect feather movement.
72
What 4 sensations can birds feel with their tactile sense?
Pain, heat, cold, touch.
73
What is special about the retinas of birds' eyes?
Low in blood supply, but high in photoreceptors (compared to mammals' eyes)
74
Which hormones are responsible for ovulation in birds?
FSH & LH, same as mammals
75
What is the pathway of air BEFORE gas exchange occurs within birds? 🫁
inhaled through trachea > caudal air sacs > into lungs > Mesobronchi > Ventrobronchi > Parabronchi > air capillaries > gas exchange!

A&P 110, 112 (3 decks)

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