Birds 3 Flashcards by Bianca Zayas

What are the 2 parts of the beak?

tomia (maxillary and mandibular parts) and rictus (caudalmost part)

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

How are bird beaks shaped?

vary depending on diet

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What material is the beak made of?

Exterior = keratin
Interior = foam-like material

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

T/F: Birds have a complete hard palate

False; it is incomplete with a choanal slit

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Why will birds sometimes get seeds in their nose?

Their hard palate is incomplete and there is no barrier between the oropharynx and the nose

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What do birds lack in the oropharynx/mouth region that mammals have?

True salivary glands

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What are some reasons that the choanal papillae can become blunted?

Vitamin A deficiency or chronic respiratory infections

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What is the only spp to have intrinsic tongue muscles?

parrots

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What can you use to open the beak during a physical?

speculums

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What is the woodpecker tongue like?

wood-like; no instrinsic muscles; begins in infraorbital area and wraps all the way around the head to the mouth

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What side is the bird esophagus on?

right

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What is the crop?

Diverticulum associated with the esophagus that serves as a storage area; not present in all spp

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What do some birds (i.e. pigeons) secrete from the crop?

Nutritive regurgitation AKA “pigeon milk”

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What are the 3 parts of the avian stomach?

Proventriculus
Isthmus of the stomach
Ventriculus (gizzard)

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What is the glandular part of the avian stomach?

proventriculus

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What is the function of the ventriculus?

Proteolysis and mechanical digestion

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What does the ventriculus have on the inside that protects it?

cuticle (koilin) layer

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What is the shape of the duodenum and what is associated with it?

U-shaped, has the pancreas in the middle

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What is the Meckel’s diverticulum and why is it important?

Remnant of yolk sac on the antimesenteric side of the intestines; orad to it is jejunum, aborad to it is ileum

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

How many ceca do birds have?

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What determines size of the ceca?

Bird’s diet; birds that eat roughage have enlarged ceca, birds that need minimal fermentation (i.e. raptors) have smaller ceca

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What is the coprodeum?

First portion of the cloaca, where fecal material is stored (part of GI)

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What is the urodeum?

2nd portion of cloaca, part of urogenital tract into which urine is excreted (common opening for urinary and repro systems)

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What is the proctodeum and what structures are associated with it?

3rd portion of the cloaca; have the phallus, cloacal bursa, and then opens into the vent

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

How many lobes does the liver have?

left and right

Does the bird have a gall bladder?

Yes but it is not present in all spp

What is the major bile pigment in birds and what color is associated?

Biliverdin; reason that birds turn green instead of yellow when jaundiced

Where is the kidney located?

In the renal fossa of the ilium

What does the testicle look like?

Like a mammalian kidney

What are the parts of the kidney and how are they supplied?

Cranial, middle, caudal; each have their own blood supply

Where are the testes found?

near cranial lobe of the kidney

What are the 2 nephron types in birds and which is prominent?

cortical (prominent) and medullary

What is the waste product from the cortical nephrons?

uric acid

What is the waste product from the medullary nephrons?

Urine, but is not as concentrated as mammalian urine because their medulla isn't as large as in the mammal

What are the 3 types of bird droppings?

feces, urates, urine

Where can venous blood from the pelvic limb drain into?

caudal vena cava and renal portal veins --> renal parenchyma

Why do you want to avoid the pelvic limbs if giving a nephrotoxic injection?

Bc the pelvic limbs drain into the renal system; want to go into the pectorals instead

What is the order of the 3 main nerves we need to know from cranial to caudal?

femoral, obturator, sciatic

What is a pretty tell-tale sign that a bird has an abdominal tumor?

Paralysis of the sciatic nerve causing leg dysfunction/paralysis

How many eggs can a kiwi bird lay and what does it weigh?

Only lays one, can be up to 25% of its body weight

Which side of the repro tract in females regresses?

right

Where does the female repro tract open into?

urodeum

What are the parts of the oviduct, starting where the egg first travels?

1. Infundibulum 2. Magnum 3. Isthmus of the oviduct 4. Uterus 5. Vagina

What are the two parts of the infundubulum?

Proximal ("funnel") and distal ("tubular")

What is the function of the proximal or funnel infundibulum?

captures the egg

What is the function of the distal or tubular/chalaziferous infundibulum?

helps keep the yolk centered

What is the longest and coiled part of the oviduct?

magnum

What does the magnum secrete?

Majority of albumen

What is the isthmus of the oviduct made up off and what is its function?

Has sulfur-containing proteins and produces inner and outer shell membranes

What happens in the uterus?

It "plumps" the egg by secreting water and adds the majority of the shell

Where is the spermatic fossulae and what is its function?

At the uterovaginal junction; some spp can store sperm for up to a year depending on the environment the bird lives in

What potential systems are affected if a bird is egg bound?

Kidneys, nerves, and GI (cannot get rid of waste)

How do the testes differ in size and when?

During breeding season are often larger/hypertrophied compared to non breeding season

What is the shape of the ductus deferens during breeding season?

More coiled and hypertrophied compared to non breeding season

What is the rete epididymis?

Attachment that connects with the adrenal gland; can still secrete androgens if the bird is caponized

How can you sex a bird?

By looking at the ceres color, but if no distinct difference then can scope thru abdominal air sac or by genetic testing

Where does the ductus deferens run?

Next to the ureter

What is a phallus?

Found in males, not the same as a penis and has no urethra but is more of a groove on which secretions from the ductus deferens runs allowing for the cloacal kiss

What is unique about the phallus of water fowl?

They can go outside of the cloaca; enlarges during breeding season but otherwise kept coiled up in the proctodeum

Why are vaginas convoluted?

Males can be aggressive during breeding so this adaptation helps to deter males and slow the breeding process

What % of the bird's body weight are its eyes?

11-15%

Why does the bird eye not move much?

They have poorly developed extraocular muscles so have to move their heads more to see things

What are the features of the 3rd eyelid?

It is not passive, has a skeletal muscle that pulls it across, and originates from dorsomedial

What is unique about the iris of the bird?

It has voluntary control of the iris with variable amounts of striated muscle so can control pupil size

Does atropine cause mydriasis in birds?

No because of the voluntary control of the iris

What are characteristics of the avian vitreous chamber?

Well developed choroid, no tapetum, and avascular retina

What is the pecten?

Pigmented, pleated, vascular structure of the eye that projects from the rear surface near the optic nerve; function is unclear but is thought to provide nourishment to the retina

What covers the optic disk?

pecten