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Y2 Diverse Species > Birds > Flashcards

Birds Flashcards

1
Q

Which phylum and class do birds belong to?

A 
Phylum = Chordata
Class = Aves
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2
Q

What are the different families of birds?

A
  • Passerines: perching birds, commonly kept as pets e.g. finches, canaries
  • Psittacines: The parrots e.g. budges, cockatiels
  • Raptors: birds of prey
  • Poultry
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3
Q

Describe the eye anatomy of birds

A
  • Large proportion of the cranial volume
  • Can recognise uv/polarised light
  • Rarely blink but have a nictitating membrane
  • Cornea thinner and lens softer
  • Retina thick and avascular
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4
Q

What is the name of the bony socket the eye sits in?

A

Sclerotic rings

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5
Q

Describe the ear anatomy of birds

A

Comprised of an outer, middle and inner part

No external pinna, protected by auricular feathers

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6
Q

How does the skin of birds differ on the trunk and limbs?

A

Trunk - thin and elastic

Limbs - scaly and tough

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7
Q

Which glands do birds not possess?

A

Sweat and sebaceous

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8
Q

What is the function of the uropygial gland (preen gland)?

A

Located at the base of the tail

It produces a lipid rich secretion for feather waterproofing and maintenance

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9
Q

What is the function of the cloacal glands?

A

Produce a thick foam, which seems to have a role in reproductive success

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10
Q

Name the 5 parts that make up a feather

A
  1. Vane - consists of a series of barbs with interlocking barbules
  2. Rachis
  3. Barb
  4. Afterfeather
  5. Hollow shaft, calamus
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11
Q

What are the 3 types of contour feathers?

A
  1. Coverts - small contour feathers of the wing
  2. Regimes - Large contour flight feathers of the wing
  3. Retrices - tail feathers
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12
Q

Name the feather type which are found under contour feathers and provide insulation

A

Semiplumes

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13
Q

What are pennaceous feathers and what are plumulacous feathers?

A

Pennaceous - long, stiff

Plumulacous - fluffy

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14
Q

What is the name of the areas that feathers are well defined to?

A

Pterylae

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15
Q

What is the name of the area where the skin has no follicles?

A

Apteriae

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16
Q

If feathers are plucked when will they grow back?

If feathers are damaged when will they grow back?

A

Immediately

The next malt

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17
Q

What are the 3 different wing clipping techniques?

A
  • bilateral vs unilateral
  • primary vs secondary flight feathers
  • all vs some
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18
Q

A birds skeleton provides support for which 3 main function?

A
  • Respiration
  • Flight
  • Egg production
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19
Q

How is the skeleton adapted to support flight?

A
  1. Reducing weight: fused bones, small skull, no teeth

2. Provides attachment points for muscles: Keel (extends outwards from breast) and coracoid

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20
Q

What provides a source of stored calcium during times of peak egg production?

A

Medullary bone

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21
Q

The synsacrum of a birds spine is comprised of…?

A

Fused lumbar, sacral and some caudal vertebrae

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22
Q

The final few caudal vertebrae make up which structure?

A

Pygostyle - attachment of tail feathers and musculature

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23
Q

How is the forelimb adapted to form the wing?

A
  • Humerus = pneumatic (air sacs)
  • Radius and ulna present
  • Ulna supports secondary flight feathers
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24
Q

What is the name given to the first digit and what is its function?

A

Alula - located on carpometacarpal joint, and supports small stiff feathers which aid flight stability

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25
Which bones are fused in a birds hindlimb?
Tibiotarsus - fused tibia and upper bones of feet | Tarsometatarsus - fused some of the lower bones of the foot
26
The pectoral girdle is comprised of which 4 structures?
1. Scapula 2. Clavicle 3. Coracoid 4. Keel
27
The pelvic girdle is comprised of which structures?
- Innominate bone: fused ilium, ischium, and pubis | - Fused dorsally with synsacrum making a single 'unit'
28
What are the names given to the upper and lower parts of the beak?
``` Upper = rhinotheca Lower = gnathotheca ```
29
How would you describe the following abnormalities: - Scissor beak - Parrot beak - Simple over growth
1. Upper and lower portions of the beak don't line up 2. Upper beak rests on or inside lower beak 3. Abnormally long (usually upper) beak
30
What is the cere?
Waxy structure at the base of the beak
31
Where does the oesophagus lie in relation to the glottis in birds?
Lateral to the glottis on the birds right side
32
Name the structure: opening on roof of oral cavity
Choanae
33
How does the GI tract of birds vary for the following diets: 1. Seed eaters 2. Fruit eaters 3. Meat/fish eaters
1. well developed, long intestine, distinct caeca 2. short intestine, caeca less distinct 3. caeca and gizzard rudimentary, well developed pancreas and proventriculus
34
What is the crop and what is its function?
- Muscular sac like structure in proximal oesophagus - Acts as a temporary food store prior to digestion - Varies in size, highly elastic
35
Describe these two problems that may occur in the crop: Sour crop Crop impactation
Sour crop = yeast infection leading to thickened crop and disruption of normal bacteria population Crop impactation = failure of food to leave crop and enter proventriculus
36
What are the two distinct areas of a birds stomach?
Proventriculus - Glandular stomach (secretion of digestive enzymes) Ventriculus (gizzard) - muscular stomach
37
What is the remnant of the yolk sac attachment in birds?
Vitelline - junction between jejunum and ileum
38
What is the main function of a birds large intestine?
Water and electrolyte absorption
39
What is the ceca?
Outpouchings of the large intestine
40
What is the cloaca?
The terminal portion of the reproductive tract, urinary tract and digestive tract
41
What is the function of the cloaca?
Receives waste products from GI and renal system. | Receives products of reproductive tract
42
What are the 3 cloacal regions and their functions?
1. Coprodeum - receives faeces and digestive waste 2. Urodeum - receives ureters and products of repro tract 3. Proctodeum - houses bursa of fabricus on dorsal midline
43
Are bird kidneys lobulated?
Yes - both kidneys have 3 lobes: cranial, middle and caudal
44
Do birds have a urinary bladder?
No - urine transported directly from kidneys to cloaca via ureters
45
What is the end product of metabolism in birds?
Uric acid
46
A normal bird dropping consists of which 3 parts?
Faeces, urates and clear urine
47
Where are male testis located in birds?
Within the abdominal cavity | Cranial to kidneys
48
How is male bird anatomy different to mammals?
- The epididymis is shorter - The ductus deferens acts as the main site of sperm storage - Accessory sex glands are absent
49
Which side of the body has a functioning ovary and oviduct in birds?
- Left side fully functioning and developed | - Right side regresses
50
Describe the location of the ovary
Cranial to kidney, tightly attached to dorsal body wall and adhered to caudal vena cava
51
What are the 5 functional regions between the ovary and cloaca?
- Infundibulum - Magnum - Isthmus - Uterus - Vagina
52
What is the role of the infundibulum?
- Receives ovulated follicle - Fertilisation takes place in this region - Site of formation of chalazae (cords which hold yolk in place)
53
What occurs to the follicle in the magnum region?
Egg white (albumin) develops around the follicle
54
What is produced in this isthmus?
Shell membranes
55
What happens to the follicles in the uterus?
Calcification of the shell
56
Describe the following 3 issues that can occur in the female reproductive tract: 1. Follicular stasis 2. Excessive egg production 3. Egg binding
1. Inappropriate maturation of follicles within ovary without ovulation 2. Result of an over productive repro tract 3. Eggs take longer than normal to pass out of the repro tract
57
Compare a birds cardiovascular system to mammals
- 4 chambered heart - Nucleated red blood cells - higher cardiac output - Higher blood pressure
58
How does breathing occur in birds if the lungs don't expand?
Thoracic and abdominal muscles expand the thoracic cavity
59
What is the function of the syrinx, and what is it composed of?
Allows a range of vocal sounds | - Last few tracheal rings, first few L and R bronchial rings, central tympanic membrane
60
How does a birds nasal cavity communicate to the oral cavity?
Via the choanae
61
How many air sacs do birds have?
9
62
Name the birds different air sacs
- One interclavicular - Two cervical - Two anterior thoracic - Two posterior thoracic - Two abdominal
63
Birds lungs aren't alveolar, instead they are described as...?
Parabronchial - system of air tubes that allow air flow in one direction only
64
Describe the movement of air during inspiration
Down trachea, along bronchi, then into posterior air sacs, | - Simultaneously air moves from lung parabronchi into anterior air sacs
65
Describe the movement of air during expiration
- Air moves from posterior air sacs through parabronchi | - Aire from anterior air sacs expelled through trachea
66
What is the main difference between a bird and mammals lymphatic system?
Birds have no lymph nodes
67
Where are B-cells and T-cells produced in birds?
``` B-cells = Bursa of Fabricus (located in dorsal cloaca) T-cells = Thymus ```
68
What is a birds primary lymphatic organ?
Bone marrow

Y2 Diverse Species (12 decks)

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