Comparative Muscoskeletal system Flashcards
What does the vertebral column of the snake provide attachment for?
Muscles
How many vertebrae do snakes have?
200 > 400 vertebrae
Where do the ribs start and begin and end in the snake?
- Begin = From the skull
- End = Coccygeal vertebrae
What vestigial appendage + bone can be seen in some species of snake?
- Bone = Vestigial pelvis
- Appendage = rear limbs
Where could you find vestigial rear limbs on a snake?
Beside the vents
True or False.
The snake has a large cranial cavity.
False.
The snake has a small cranial cavity.
Do snakes have a temporomandibular joint?
No
True or False.
The snake’s lower jaw is split into a left mandible and right mandible.
True!
What are the left + right mandibles separated by in the snake?
The mandibular symphysis
Why has the rabbit’s skeleton adapted to be so lightweight?
To allow for fast movement, to avoid predation
What 3 activities have the bird’s skeleton primarily adapted to support?
- Walking
- Flying
- Perching
True or False.
The birds powerful muscles not only aid with flight, but also the circulatory + respiratory system to become capable of very high metabolic rates and thus gain a greater oxygen supply.
True!
What type of pockets live inside the bird’s bones?
Air pockets!
(Also known as air sacs)
Give the name used to describe bones filled with air.
Pneumatic boness
Why are most of the avian’s skeleton fused?
To help with aerodynamics, in flight
What does the raidus + ulna become in the bird?
The wing!
True or False.
The phalanges in the bird is shorter than the canine.
+
If so, why have they adapted this way?
False!
They are longer, adapting to allow the bird to grasp more easily
+
helps with treading water, swimming + aerodynamics in flight, when they are webbed!
What is the sternum called in the bird?
The Keel!
Give 3 reasons of how the bird’s neck has adapted to be so long + How does this help assist with their lifestyles?
They:
* Assist with flight
* Allows for preening
* Assists with avoiding predation, being able to monitor blind spots
Think of home in essex…
What is the funny-named bone that forms the point of attachement for the tail feathers?
The Pygostyle!
Why have the bird’s pelvis adapted to become large + open?
To lay eggs!
Stating the obvious, what have the forelegs adapted to in the bird?
The wings
What is the purpose of the bird’s skeletal adaptation of having fused, plated bones?
To:
Fused
* Help with shock absorption
* Provide strength
Plates
* Supports lightweight structure for flight
* Simplifies movement - for ease
True or False.
Avian’s has an increased number of bones, in comparison to the dog.
False.
There are less, as many are fused!
True or False.
In comparison to the canine, the bird’s bone density is increased.
False.
It is reduced, as many are pneumatic!
Are avian bones thicker or thinner in comparison to the feline?
Much thinner!
What within the bone, maintains it’s strength?
(Stiff) Internal body braces
True or False.
Inside pneumatic bones, the air pockets/sacs can extend or overlap into other surrounding bones in the bird.
True!
What is the beak made of in birds?
Strong keratin
How has the beak + jaw of the bird adapted for flight?
- The beak is not made of dense bone, but of strong keratin
- There is no jaw, but a beak instead, which is more lightweight
Which small animal has a semi-prehensile tail?
Mouse
How does the bird’s pelvis differ from mammals?
- They have an open pubis, for egg laying
- The open pubis = replaces pubic symphysis
Symphysis = Cartilaginous junction between the 2 pubis bones
Name the 2 anatomical features that are missing from aves, that are present in mammals
- Teeth
- Diaphragm
How do the toes of climbing birds differ to those belonging to perching birds?
- Climbing birds = 2 forward facing digits + 2 backward facing digits
- Perching birds = 3 forward facing digits + 1 backwards facing digit
What species of bird has a well-developed keel bone + why?
- The Parrot
- Produces 2 joints between upper + lower jaw = enables movement required to = climb more effectively + open fruits + nuts
Name the joint between the upper beak + the skull in birds
Cranio-facial hinge
What is the alula wing formed from?
The reduced 1st digit
What are the 2 main functions of feathers?
- Flight
- Insulation
Name 3 types of feathers in birds
- Flight
- Contour
- Down
Name the other name given to down feathers
Filoplumes
Where are the flight feathers located on the bird?
Wings + tail
What are the contour feathers and where are they located on the bird?
Outer layer of short flexible feathers, covering most of the body
Where are the Down feathers located on the bird?
Located beneath the contour feathers
List 5 ways which the skeleton of the bird is adapted for flight
- Thin cortices (outer layers of the bone) to reduce weight of the bones
- Internal cavities within the bone (to reduce bone weight)
- Many pneumatic bones (to reduce bone weight)
- Reduction of joints (many are fused to stabilise trunk)
- Enlarged keel bone (sternum) to accomodate flight muscles
What cranial anatomical structure represents;
* 12% of the rabbits body surface
* Are very vascular
* Used as a means of thermoregulation
* Extreamly mobile
Their ears
What shape is the rabbits’s head?
Round
