Comparative Muscoskeletal system

Question 1

What does the vertebral column of the snake provide attachment for?

Answer 1

Muscles

Question 2

How many vertebrae do snakes have?

Answer 2

200 > 400 vertebrae

Question 3

Where do the ribs start and begin and end in the snake?

Answer 3

• Begin = From the skull
• End = Coccygeal vertebrae

Question 4

What vestigial appendage + bone can be seen in some species of snake?

Answer 4

• Bone = Vestigial pelvis
• Appendage = rear limbs

Question 5

Where could you find vestigial rear limbs on a snake?

Answer 5

Beside the vents

Question 6

True or False.

The snake has a large cranial cavity.

Answer 6

False.

The snake has a small cranial cavity.

Question 7

Do snakes have a temporomandibular joint?

Answer 7

No

Question 8

True or False.

The snake’s lower jaw is split into a left mandible and right mandible.

Answer 8

True!

Question 9

What are the left + right mandibles separated by in the snake?

Answer 9

The mandibular symphysis

Question 10

Why has the rabbit’s skeleton adapted to be so lightweight?

Answer 10

To allow for fast movement, to avoid predation

Question 11

What 3 activities have the bird’s skeleton primarily adapted to support?

Answer 11

1. Walking
2. Flying
3. Perching

Question 12

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.

Answer 12

True!

Question 13

What type of pockets live inside the bird’s bones?

Answer 13

Air pockets!
(Also known as air sacs)

Question 14

Give the name used to describe bones filled with air.

Answer 14

Pneumatic boness

Question 15

Why are most of the avian’s skeleton fused?

Answer 15

To help with aerodynamics, in flight

Question 16

What does the raidus + ulna become in the bird?

Answer 16

The wing!

Question 17

True or False.

The phalanges in the bird is shorter than the canine.
+
If so, why have they adapted this way?

Answer 17

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!

Question 18

What is the sternum called in the bird?

Answer 18

The Keel!

Question 19

Give 3 reasons of how the bird’s neck has adapted to be so long + How does this help assist with their lifestyles?

Answer 19

They:
* Assist with flight
* Allows for preening
* Assists with avoiding predation, being able to monitor blind spots

Question 20

Think of home in essex…

What is the funny-named bone that forms the point of attachement for the tail feathers?

Answer 20

The Pygostyle!

Question 21

Why have the bird’s pelvis adapted to become large + open?

Answer 21

To lay eggs!

Question 22

Stating the obvious, what have the forelegs adapted to in the bird?

Answer 22

The wings

Question 23

What is the purpose of the bird’s skeletal adaptation of having fused, plated bones?

Answer 23

To:

Fused
* Help with shock absorption
* Provide strength

Plates
* Supports lightweight structure for flight
* Simplifies movement - for ease

Question 24

True or False.

Avian’s has an increased number of bones, in comparison to the dog.

Answer 24

False.

There are less, as many are fused!

Question 25

True or False. In comparison to the **canine**, the bird's **bone density** is **increased**.

Answer 25

False. It is **reduced**, as many are pneumatic!

Question 26

Are avian bones **thicker** or **thinner** in comparison to the **feline**?

Answer 26

Much thinner!

Question 27

What **within** the bone, maintains it's **strength**?

Answer 27

(Stiff) **Internal body braces**

Question 28

True or False. Inside pneumatic bones, the **air** pockets/**sacs** can **extend** or **overlap** into other **surrounding bones** in the bird.

Answer 28

True!

Question 29

What is the beak made of in birds?

Answer 29

Strong keratin

Question 30

How has the **beak** + **jaw** of the bird adapted for **flight**?

Answer 30

* The beak is not made of dense bone, but of **strong keratin** * There is **no jaw**, but a beak instead, which is **more lightweight**

Question 31

Which small animal has a **semi-prehensile tail**?

Answer 31

Mouse

Question 32

How does the bird's pelvis differ from mammals?

Answer 32

* They have an open pubis, for egg laying * The open pubis = replaces pubic symphysis | Symphysis = Cartilaginous junction between the 2 pubis bones

Question 33

Name the 2 anatomical features that are missing from aves, that are present in mammals

Answer 33

1. Teeth 2. Diaphragm

Question 34

How do the toes of climbing birds differ to those belonging to perching birds?

Answer 34

* **Climbing** birds = **2 forward facing** digits + **2 backward** facing digits * **Perching** birds = 3 forward facing digits + **1 backwards** facing digit

Question 35

What species of bird has a well-developed keel bone + why?

Answer 35

1. The Parrot 2. Produces 2 joints between upper + lower jaw = enables movement required to = climb more effectively + open fruits + nuts

Question 36

Name the joint between the upper beak + the skull in birds

Answer 36

Cranio-facial hinge

Question 37

What is the alula wing formed from?

Answer 37

The reduced 1st digit

Question 38

What are the 2 main functions of feathers?

Answer 38

1. Flight 2. Insulation

Question 39

Name 3 types of feathers in birds

Answer 39

1. Flight 2. Contour 3. Down

Question 40

Name the other name given to down feathers

Answer 40

Filoplumes

Question 41

Where are the flight feathers located on the bird?

Answer 41

Wings + tail

Question 42

What are the contour feathers and where are they located on the bird?

Answer 42

Outer layer of short flexible feathers, covering most of the body

Question 43

Where are the Down feathers located on the bird?

Answer 43

Located beneath the contour feathers

Question 44

List 5 ways which the skeleton of the bird is adapted for flight

Answer 44

1. Thin cortices (outer layers of the bone) to reduce weight of the bones 2. Internal cavities within the bone (to reduce bone weight) 3. Many pneumatic bones (to reduce bone weight) 4. Reduction of joints (many are fused to stabilise trunk) 5. Enlarged keel bone (sternum) to accomodate flight muscles

Question 45

What cranial anatomical structure represents; * 12% of the rabbits body surface * Are very vascular * Used as a means of thermoregulation * Extreamly mobile

Answer 45

Their ears

Question 46

What shape is the rabbits's head?

Answer 46

Round