Avian structure

Question 1

Label the picture:

Answer 1

Question 2

What are 3 structural flight adaptations?

Answer 2

No teeth, less bones, pneumatic bones

Question 3

What kind of fractures are common? How can this be used to determine how acute/chronic a fracture is?

Answer 3

Open fractures common

By determining how dry the bone is in an open fracture you can get an idea of how chronic or acute the fracture is

Question 4

Where is the majority of the muscle mass concentrated in birds?

Answer 4

Core–muscles become scarce towards distal ends

Question 5

What are the names of the first two joints along a bird’s spine?

Answer 5

Atlanto-occipital joint

Atlanto-axial joint

Question 6

What allows birds to turn their heads almost completely around like tiny little demon creatures?

Answer 6

Single occipital condyle

(Also they have way more vertebrae)

Question 7

T/F: Bird necks are 2.5x longer than mammals. The neck and beak replace the need for forelimbs.

Answer 7

TRUE

Question 8

Why are spinal fractures common in birds?

Answer 8

They have a loose vertebrae in between the notarium (thoracic) and synsacrum

Question 9

What is the arrow pointing to? What is it’s main purpose?

Answer 9

Sternum

Supports respiration

Question 10

Which bony structure is used for body condition scoring in birds?

Answer 10

Sternum (keel)

Question 11

What is the main function of avian ribs?

Answer 11

Support respiration

Question 12

Which bones are the arrows pointing to?

Answer 12

Question 13

Identify the coracoid, clavicle, and scapula

Answer 13

Question 14

Which muscle is larger: pectoralis or supracoracoideus? Why are they different sizes?

Answer 14

The pectoralis muscle is a downstroke muscle–it is larger than the supracoracoideus (upstroke) because birds need more power to fight wind and gravity during downstrokes

Question 15

What kind of bone is the humerus?

Answer 15

Pneumatic

Question 16

Can you flush (irrigate) a pneumatic bone for wound care?

Answer 16

Yes, but be careful and gentle!

Question 17

How do the radius and ulna differ in birds? Why?

Answer 17

There is no weight-loading need so the radius is smaller while flight feathers need a large bone to attach to, so the ulna is bigger

Question 18

Can a catheter be used in the ulna?

Answer 18

Yes, an intra-osseous catheter

Question 19

How do you extend a bird’s wing during a physical exam?

Answer 19

Hold the elbow and wrist (DO NOT HOLD FEATHERS)

Question 20

What is the arrow/arrow head pointing to?

Answer 20

Question 21

Label the picture:

Answer 21

From top to bottom:

Femur

Knee

Tibia

What uneducated people mistake for the knee

Tarsus

Question 22

Can you place an intraosseous catheter into the tibiotarsus?

Answer 22

Yes!

Question 23

What is the circled structure?

Answer 23

Tarsometatarsus

Question 24

T/F: The median metatarsal vein is used for venipuncture

Answer 24

TRUE

Question 25

What is the “retching system”?

Answer 25

System in the flexor tendon and tendon sheath that provides grip upon flexion (even when dead)