axial skeleton

Question 1

What are the 5 vertebrae that make up the vertebral column

Answer 1

• Cervical vertebrae- vertebrae of the neck (7 vertebrae)
• Thoracic vertebrae- vertebrae of the chest. The ribs are attached to these vertebrae (13 vertebrae)
• Lumbar vertebrae- Vertebrae of the lower back (7 vertebrae)
• Sacral vertebrae- the sacrum which the pelvis is attached to
• Coccygeal/Caudal vertebrae- vertebrae of the tail- vertebrae range from 6-23

Question 2

Manubrium process/thoracic inlet

Answer 2

Cranial end of the sternum. This is the opening at the front of the ribs. The first ribs form the thoracic inlet. (after the first rib, just before the second rib)

Question 3

xyphoid process

Answer 3

That sticks out at the caudal end of the sternum (it is the smallest of the 3 parts of sternum)

Question 4

xyphoid cartilage

Answer 4

This is attached to the xyphoid process

Question 5

Spinous process of vertebrae

Answer 5

dorsal spinous process (one of them)(stick up from the spine)

Question 6

Transverse process of vertebrae

Answer 6

sticks out to the side of the spine (have 2 of them on each vertebrae)

Question 7

costal arch

Answer 7

This is an arch that is formed at the base of the ribs by the floating ribs( these are 4 ribs that aren’t attached to the sternum) The floating ribs are created by the costal cartilage attaching to the costal cartilage in front (on the rib before) to create an arch

Question 8

costal cartilage

Answer 8

this is cartilage that connects the distal end of the rib (rib at spinal end) with the sternum

Question 9

Ribs

Answer 9

Attach dorsally to the thoracic vertebrae (helps protect the central nervous system)

Question 10

Sternum

Answer 10

this forms the ventral midline of the rib cage (ribs that aren’t attached to cartilage are called floating ribs) (cats and dogs have 13 pairs of ribs)

Question 11

hyoid apparatus

Answer 11

this holds up the tongue and holds up the larynx which hangs below it. It’s made up of the the Basihyoid, ceratohyoid, Epihyoid, stylohoid, epihyoid

Question 12

The atlas

Answer 12

This is the first vertebrae (C1) in the cervical spine. This is at the top above the Axis (the atlas looks like a pair of dumbo ears) This allows animals to move their heads

Question 13

The axis

Answer 13

This is the second vertebrae on the cervical spine (C2) and is positioned below the Atlas, to help move the head

Question 14

synsacrum

Answer 14

A dorsal piece of bone in the pelvic area of birds. Its formed by the fusion of the posterior thoracic, lumbar, sacral vertebrae and caudal vertebrae. This is found in birds.