Lecture 9 - Vertebrate Skeletal System Part I Flashcards
Describe the two subdivisions of the vertebrate skeletal system
Vertebrates are characterized by an internal skeleton made of cartilage and/or bone. This internal framework can be divided into subdivisions as follows:
- Axial skeleton:
- Chondrocranium: Braincase and capsules for organs of special sense
- Viscerocranium: Gill arches and jaws
- Vertebral column
- Appendicular skeleton:
- Limb girdles (pectoral and pelvic)
- Limbs (forelimbs and hindlimbs, including fins)
What is the vertebral column indicative of in vertebrates
- Segmentation
- The vertebral column consists of a series of segments called vertebrae as well as additional related structures.
- The vertebrae and related structures may be composed entirely of cartilage or bone or both.
Describe the vertebral centrum in fish
- The centrum is typically a cylindrical structure that is connected to similar cylindrical centra both cranially and caudally.
- This chain of centra replaces the notochord of the protochordates, such as amphioxus, as the principal axial support structure.
- This chain of centra is flexible, but may not be as flexible as a notochord.
- A flexible chain of centra would be useful for swimming, but would not be as useful for supporting a terrestrial life-style.
- In many vertebrates (including humans) parts of the notochord may persist within and/or between adjacent vertebrae.
- Note: More commonly known as discs. Discs consist of an outer tough layer, and inside is a pulpy component called the nucleus pulposis. That used to be our notochord.
- Other Note: Discs don’t “slip”. Someone tells you they have a slipped disc, tell them they’re wrong and stupid.
What they have is a “herniated disc”.
Describe the neural arch of a fish vertebra
- Sits on top of the centrum (dorsal surface) and provides a protective passageway for the spinal cord.
- A neural spine often projects from the dorsum of the neural arch.
- Provides lever arm for muscle attachment.
- In Latimeria the neural spines are hollow and filled with cartilage –“coelacanth” means hollow spine.
- A corresponding hemal arch is present on the ventral surface of the centrum of each of the caudal (tail) vertebrae.
- A caudal artery and vein pass through the hemal arch.
- What does the intercalary plate of a shark vertebra do?
- What does amphicelous mean?
- Fill in gaps between adjacent neural arches and protect the spinal cord.
- The cranial surface of the centrum is concave. In sharks, both ends of each centra are concave. This type of centrum is referred to as amphicelous.
Review Anatomy Lecture 9 Deck in Chegg
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Describe the regional variations within the vertebral column of fish
The vertebral columns of most vertebrates consist of several kinds of vertebrae. In fish, the kinds of vertebrae are limited:
- Precaudal vertebrae: Include all the more cranial vertebrae that lack a hemal arch
- Caudal vertebrae: Include all the vertebrae caudal to the precaudal vertebrae. They possess hemal arches
Describe the vertebral column in fish
- Centra tend to be more ossified.
- Each neural arch is topped by a long, slender neural spine.
- Prominent notochord instead of ossified centra are still retained in more primitive bony fishes such as the sturgeon.
- Pelvic and pectoral girdles are not tied into fish vertebral column.
- Incomplete Resume Later
Review slide 13
Memorize it yet?
How is the vertebrate body compartmentalized
- The vertebrate body plan is tied together by sheets of connective tissue referred to as myosepta. The myosepta tie into the vertebral column. Collectively, the myosepta form compartments in which are enclosed masses of skeletal muscle.
- Myosepta is visible in humans in the form of 6-pack abs.
Describe the vertebral column of early tetrapods
- Early tetrapod centrum developed from two parts:
- Intercentrum.
- Pleurocentrum.
- One or the other or both contributed to the formation of the centrum in early tetrapods.
- Vertebral column replaced notochord as the main axial support.
- Precaudal vertebrae became specialized (correlated with terrestriality):
- Cervical: articulated with skull
- Trunk: processes for rib attachment
- Sacral: articulated with pelvic girdle
- Pelvic girdle tied into vertebral column via ilia.
Describe the vertebral column of crossopterygians
Reminder: these were not tetrapods. Just close
- Each centrum consisted of:
- Single, larger intercentrum: “U”-shaped and cranial
- Paired, smaller pleurocentra: Caudal and dorsal to intercentrum
Describe the vertebral column of labyrinthodonts
- Stereospondylous labyrinthodonts:
- Centrum entirely derived from intercentrum
- Embolomerouslabyrinthodonts:
- Intercentrum and pleurocentrum equal in size.
Describe the vertebral column in modern amphibians
- Tendency in later tetrapods was to reduce:
- The intercentrum to a small, cranial, ventral element to which attached the capitulum (head) of the rib.
- Considerably increase the size of the pleurocentrum.
- In later tetrapods, notochord was either completely eliminated in the adult or persisted as a slender rod passing through the pleurocentrum or confined to spaces between intercentra.
- Uncertain in modern amphibians whether centrum is derived from pleurocentrum or intercentrum.
Describe the vertebral column in salamanders
- Regional variations within the vertebral column seem to be correlated with terrestriality.
- Specializations of precaudal vertebrae (First seen in primitive tetrapods):
- First precaudal vertebra = cervical vertebra: Only one in amphibians
- Last precaudal vertebra = sacral vertebra: Only one in amphibians
- Vertebrae between cervical and sacral are trunk vertebrae
- Numerous in salamanders
- Reduced to about six or seven in anurans
- Transverse processes have attachment sites for ribs.
- In Necturus, ribs are bicipital:
- The tuberculum attaches to the dorsal part of the transverse process (diapophysis).
- The capitulum attaches to the ventral part of the transverse process (parapophysis).
- Neural arches with short, blunt neural spines are located on the dorsal surfaces of the centra.
- Caudal vertebrae in salamanders also have hemal arches.
- Centraarticulate with each other via two pairs of zygapophyses:
- The cranial (anterior) zygapophyses have articular facets that face dorsally.
- The caudal (posterior) zygapophyses have articular facets that face ventrally