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Birds 1 Flashcards

1
Q

What are birds closely related to?

A

reptiles

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2
Q

What are the adaptations the bird has for flight?

A
  1. Warm-blooded
  2. Less dense
  3. Aerodynamic
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3
Q

What does warm blood provide for flight adaptation?

A

insulation and higher metabolic rate

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4
Q

What makes the bird aerodynamic?

A

wings and rigid structure

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5
Q

What is pneumatic bone?

A

Bone has pockets of air that are continuous with the respiratory system, allowing them to be less dense

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6
Q

What birds do not have pneumatic bone?

A

ostrich, diving birds, penguins

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7
Q

What bones are pneumatic?

A

proximal humerus, femur, vertebrae

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8
Q

What is the size of the bird’s eye in relation to brain?

A

Large

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9
Q

What are scleral ossicles?

A

Ring of bone inside the eye that supports the eye

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10
Q

How many occipital condyles does the bird have and what is the purpose?

A

1; helps with wider range of rotation of the neck

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11
Q

How does the jaw move and what is this called?

A

Cranial kinesis - upper jaw moves while the brain case remains stationary

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12
Q

What allows for cranial kinesis?

A

Craniofacial hinge at the base of the upper beak

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13
Q

What species have a synovial joint at the craniofacial hinge?

A

Psittacines (parrots)

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14
Q

How many cervical vertebrae are there?

A

Variable, can have 8-21

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15
Q

What is the purpose of having many cervical vertebrae?

A

Can bend neck a lot more, grooming, grasping of food

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16
Q

What is the notarium?

A

Fusion of last cervical and several thoracic vertebrae; is not always present

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17
Q

How many free thoracic vertebrae are there?

A

Usually 1 or more

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18
Q

What types of vertebrae make up the synsacrum?

A

(+/-) Caudal thoracic, lumbar, sacral, caudal

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19
Q

Where does the synsacrum sit?

A

DEEP to the pelvis, has a lot of stability

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20
Q

What is the pygostyle?

A

Fusion of distal caudal vertebrae

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21
Q

What are the 2 types of ribs of the bird?

A

Vertebral (project caudoventrally) and sternal (project caudodorsally)

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22
Q

What is the keel?

A

Ventral projection of the fused sternum; not present in all spp.

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23
Q

How can the keel be indicative of disease?

A

If you can readily feel the keel, there has been atrophy of the pectoral mm. and you can palpate the keep easily

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24
Q

What birds have flat sternums (i.e. no keel)?

A

ostriches

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25
What makes up the triosseal canal?
scapula, coracoid, clavicle
26
What is another name for the clavicle?
Fused furcula or wishbone
27
Where does the glenoid cavity project?
laterally
28
What does the coracoid look like in relation to mammals and what is its function?
It is enlarged; limits compression of thorax during flight
29
Where do the pectoral mm. attach and what happens when they contract?
Attach to proximal aspect of humerus; contraction causes downstroke in flight
30
What muscle goes through the triosseal canal?
supracoracoid
31
Where does the supracoracoid m. attach and what happens when it contracts?
Attaches on dorsal aspect of proximal humerus; contraction causes upstroke in flight
32
What bone of the antebrachium is larger?
ulna
33
What is the fused bone of the antebrachium?
carpometacarpus
34
What is the alula?
First digit that is present (digit #2)
35
On which side is the pelvis incomplete?
ventrally
36
What is the shape of the pubis?
thin and long
37
Where is the renal fossa?
On ventral aspect of pelvis medial to the obturator foramen
38
What are the functions of the antitrochanter?
1. Transfer rotational stability to femur | 2. Limits abduction of pelvic limb
39
Why does the bird waddle?
Has limited abduction due to presence of antitrochanter
40
How does the femur articulate with the pelvis?
Via the femoral head and greater trochater
41
What is the tibiotarsus?
Tibia fused with first row of tarsal bones
42
What is the tarsometatarsus?
2nd row of tarsal bones fused with the metatarsals
43
Where are the flexor tendons located in the leg?
Caudal hock down to digits
44
How is a bird able to perch without expending a lot of energy?
When the hock flexes, the digits contract around the perch
45
What is the tendon locking mechanism?
Characteristic of some raptors; ratcheting system that interdigitates with the tendon sheath to lock tendons in place (useful for grabbing prey)
46
How many digits does the foot have?
variable #
47
How do you tell how many phalanges a digit has?
digit # + 1
48
Why can birds be mistaken for having osteomyelosclerosis?
Medullary bone (tibia, femur, pubic bone, ulna) can look like there is no medullary cavity on x-ray. This occurs bc the chicken frees up a lot of calcium if they are egg-laying for the shell, and they lay down a lot of bone in the medullary cavity. This is a normal condition.
49
What is medullary bone a store for?
Calcium
50
What are key features of avian skin?
1. Thin and delicate 2. Poorly vascularized 3. No sweat glands
51
What is the patagium?
skin folds at the base of the wing
52
What is the propatagium?
Skin folds from carpus to shoulder
53
What is the postpatagium?
Skin folds from elbow to body wall
54
What is the purpose of the patagium?
Provides aerodynamics to wing for lift
55
What muscle is found in the propatagium?
Tensor propatagialis longa
56
What is a brood patch?
Area without feathers on the ventral abdomen that is thickened, has a large vascular supply, and provides heat. It is found in males and females, is a normal and seasonal occurrence.
57
What is the comb?
Comb-like structure on top of the head
58
What is the wattle?
Hanging structure from the ventral head/"chin"
59
What is the snood and why is it trimmed for commercial use?
Hanging flap of tissue that hangs over the beak of some species (i.e. turkeys). It is trimmed because other birds will peck at it if they get bored and this can kill the bird that has one.
60
Where are scales?
On the legs
61
Where is the spur?
On the distal leg, more prominent in males.
62
What happens to the spur in animals that are involved in cock-fighting?
The spur is removed and replaced with a blade
63
Where is the uropygial gland and what is it made up of?
At the base of the tail feathers, made up of keratinocytes | AKA "oil gland"
64
What are powder feathers and what is a spp. that they are found in?
Feathers that disintegrate into a powder that conditions other feathers; found in Kingfishers
65
What is the pterylae?
Area of skin with feathers
66
What is the apterylae and what can be found here?
Area of skin without feathers; one on neck where jugular vein can be found, have other areas on ventral abdomen
67
From what do feathers grow?
from a follicle
68
What does a feather have on the outside as it grows?
keratin sheath
69
What is at the very center of a growing feather?
pulp with an artery and vein
70
What is the pulp?
Innermost part of a growing feather that is a loose network of mesoderm
71
As a feather develops, what part of the quill does it come out of?
distal umbilicus
72
As a feather develops, what part of the quill do the artery and vein come out of/go into?
proximal umbilicus
73
What is the quill?
Hollow part of the feather
74
How do quill pens work?
The end is cut off to leave a sharp point, and when the quill is dipped in ink capillary action pulls the ink up into the quill
75
When is blood supply present in the feather?
Only during development
76
What happens to the feather as the bird matures?
It becomes hollow
77
When can a broken feather occur?
If bird is in too small of a cage, or if too large of a feather is pulled.
78
Can you pull small feathers and why?
Yes; if the feather is small enough the smooth msucle will contract to cut off the blood supply
79
What are stress bars?
Bars seen on feathers that are caused by increased levels of cortisol
80
What is another name for stress bars?
Segmental dysplasia
81
What are pin feathers?
Those have have not yet completely emerged from the keratin sheath
82
What is the rachis?
Continuation of the feather shaft
83
What is the vane and what is the leading vs. trailing edge?
Part of feather that comes off of the rachis; | Leading edge is smaller than the trailing edge, especially if the feather contacts a lot of wind
84
What is the shape of the outer/superficial edge of the feather?
convex
85
What is the shape of the inner/deep edge of the feather?
concave
86
What are the 2 components of the vane?
barbs and barbules
87
What is the difference between the proximally directed and distally directed barbules of the vane?
Distally directed have little hooks that hang on to the proximal barbules of the next barb
88
What is a feature of the feathers when there is a proper connection between them through the barbs and barbules?
It is water resistant
89
What is a feature of the cormorant feather and why?
Lacks hooked barbules in order to allow them to dive deeper for fish (makes them not as buoyant)
90
What are the types of feathers?
Contour, down (semiplume, filoplume), bristle
91
What are the types of contour feathers and what are they used for?
remiges (large feathers for flight) retrices (tail feathers) coverts (short and cover base of wings and tail)
92
What are the classifications of contour feathers and where are they located?
``` Primaries = attached to manus and embedded in the periosteum of the manus Secondaries = embedded in the periosteum of the ulna ```
93
What do you cut when clipping wings?
Cut first few primary feathers; don't have to trim to the base of the follicle
94
What contour feather type pulls out of the follicles the easiest?
coverts
95
What are characteristics of down feathers?
They lack hooked barbules, do not have vanes, and the rachis is shorter than the barbs (are fuzzy)
96
What is the purpose of bristle feathers and where are they found?
Tactile function, found around mouth or eyelids and are common to insect catching birds

Anatomy (13 decks)

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