The Skeletal System

Question 1

What is the function of the skeletal system?

Answer 1

Provides support, protection, storage and movement

Question 2

What is the skeletal system made up of?

Answer 2

• skeleton
• muscles
• cartilage (flexible connective tissue that protects joints and bones)
• tendons (attaches muscles to bones)
• ligaments (attaches bone to bone)
• joints

Question 3

What are the sections in the vertebral column?

Answer 3

1. Cervical
2. Thoracic
3. Lumbar
4. Sacral
5. Caudial

Question 4

What is the cervical?

Answer 4

The section of the vertebrae in your neck.
- it has 7 vertebrae
- atlas - helps head to nod
Axis - helps head to rotate

Question 5

What is the thoracic?

Answer 5

The central section of the vertebrae.
- it has 11 vertebrae
Limbs are attached to it

Question 6

What is the lumbar?

Answer 6

The section of the vertebrae in the lower back.
- there are seven vertebrae

Question 7

What is the sacral?

Answer 7

The part of the vertebrae that links the spine with the hips
- it has three vertebrae that fuse in older dogs

Question 8

What is the caudal?

Answer 8

The part of the vertebrae that makes up the tail.
- it has 15-19 vertebrae

Question 9

What are the six types of bone?

Answer 9

• flat
• short
• long
• irregular
• pneumonic
• sesamoid

Question 10

What is a long bone

Answer 10

Bones that are longer than they are wide.
- provide mechanical strength
- e.g femur and tibia

Question 11

What is a short bone?

Answer 11

Cube shaped bones that aid in multi-directional motion.
- e.g. Carpal and tarsal bones

Question 12

What are flat bones?

Answer 12

Thin and flat bones that have a large surface area for muscle attachments.
- e.g cranial bones and ribs

Question 13

What are irregular bones?

Answer 13

Bones that cannot be classified as long, short or flat.
- e.g. vertebrae and facial bones

Question 14

What are sesamoid bones?

Answer 14

Small bones often embedded in muscles and tendons
E.g. the patella

Question 15

What are pneumatic bones?

Answer 15

Hollow bones filled with air, found in birds to reduce weight.

Question 16

What is the skeletal muscle?

Answer 16

A type of muscle tissue that:
- has high levels of mitochondria
- contracts quickly to produce movement
- tires easily

Question 17

How have cetaceans (like whales) adapted their skull?

Answer 17

It is elongated and there may be a presence of a blowhole

Question 18

How have cetaceans (like whales) adapted their hyoid bone?

Answer 18

Large to attach the tongue and thought to help movement

Question 19

How have cetaceans (like whales) adapted their neck vertebrae?

Answer 19

It’s more compact to allow for faster swimming and diving

Question 20

How have cetaceans (like whales) adapted their limbs?

Answer 20

They’ve been modified into flippers and the number of phalanges has increased to help swimming and maintaining the fins shape.

Question 21

How have birds adapted for flight?

Answer 21

• they have pneumatic (hollow) bones to keep lightweight
• their lower vertebrae is fused to remain stiff while flying
• keeled breastbone for wing muscles to anchor to

Question 22

How have bats adapted for flight?

Answer 22

Their arm and finger bones are elongated
The ulna (bone in forearm) is smaller and has fused with the radius (bone in forearm) for support

Question 23

How have lagomorphs (like rabbits) adapted for hopping?

Answer 23

• long hind limbs
• strong pelvic girdle (bones around the base of the spine)

Question 24

How have cheetahs adapted for running?

Answer 24

• increased curvature of the spin (increase stride length)
• hips can pivot so hind legs can stretch further
• shoulder blades aren’t attached to collarbone for greater flexibility
• large nasal cavities increase oxygen intake
• long and slender leg bones for longer stride

Question 25

How have horses adapted for running?

Answer 25

• large shoulder blades so more muscles can attach to them for better movement
• long leg bones to cover more ground