Chapter 14-Part 2: Flight Flashcards
What class do birds belong to?
Class Aves
What three vertebrates has flight evolved in?
pterosaurs, bats, and birds
Birds are thought to have descended directly from…?
theropod dinosaurs
Are the bones in vertebrates homologous or analogous?
homologous
Are the wings in vertebrates homologous or analogous between bats, pterosaurs, and birds?
analagous
What 2 things allow for flight to occur?
lift and thrust
What is airfoil?
difference in airflow above and below the object
How is lift generated?
airflow moving over the top of the wing must move more quickly than below; airflow above the wing exerts less pressure than below therefore creating lift
Lift is further enhanced by what?
downward thrust of air off trailing edge of wing
What is laminar flow?
smooth air flow over the wing
What can prevent stalling at lower speeds?
wing slot along leading edge of wing
There are 2 different types of wing slots in birds. What are they?
alula and slotting between primary feathers
What is the alula?
bastard wing, group of small feathers on first digit
What are some modern characteristics of birds?
presence of feathers, beak with no teeth, 4-chambered heart, endothermic metabolism, and laying of hard-shelled eggs
What are some structural adaptations in birds that help with flight?
lightweight bones with air-filled (pneumatic) cavities, skull bones fused and do not show sutures, nor diapsid condition, beak lacks teeth, vertebrae move freely in cervical region but fused in thoracic and later regions, fused spine, shoulder, and hip girdles form sturdy frame, sternum large and bears a keel for attachment of flight muscles, forearms modified into wings,
What are elliptical wings good for?
slow speeds and high maneuverability
What are swept wings for?
reduce drag at wingtips and allow for faster flight
What are soaring wings for?
lack wing slots, high speed, high lift, and dynamic soaring, lack maneuverability
What are high lift wings for?
land soarers, maintain lift while searching for food
What is camber?
concave lower surface of an airfoil
What is the wishbone called?
furcula
What is the pectoralis used for in flight?
down stroke, power stroke
What is the supracoideus used for in flight?
up stroke, recovery stroke
Is the pectoralis or supracoideus thicker?
pectoralis
What does the latissimus dorsi do?
raises humerus and pulls it backward
What does the biceps do?
wing folding-pulls ulna and radius toward body
What does the triceps do?
unfolds the wing
