the skeleton Flashcards
mandible
the lower jaw
skull
made of about 20 bones that form the brain case and face
rostrum
the long nasal region that houses a very elaborate array of flat bone that is covered with nasal membranes giving a well developed sense of smell
Antlers
boney growths from the skull initially covered with a thin layer of skin that supports their growth. shed each year and grow back to full size in less than a year
horns
at the center there is a boney horn core. the base of the horn core is hollow and contiguous with the sinuses. the horn core is quite porous which permits blood vessels to pass through to nourish the thin layer of skin that covers the horn core and produces the KERATIN that makes the sheath of the horn. not shed but grow throughout animal’s ife
tusks
modified teeth, not shed
Incisors
have a single cusp (cone or point) and root. used for food acquisition
canines
single cusp and root. much longer than incisors and used to grab prey or self defense.
premolars
have 2 cusps and 2 roots (bicuspids)
molars
have 3 cusps and 3 roots (tricuspids)
cheek teeth
premolars and molars
bunodont
flat surface permits lateral movement of the chewing teeth against each other
wolf tooth
in horses, premolar 1 is reduced to a small spike, sometimes removed
hypsodont
grooves are filled with cement, the upper surface will wear away exposing sharp edges of enamel embedded in cement of the inner dentine.
selenodont
the crowns have a characteristic crescent shape
