COMPANA LABORATORY EXERCISE (REPORT) 2

ENDOSKELETONS OF SELECTED VERTEBRATES (CHICKEN SKELETON)

Student's Name:KLARYZ DAGDAG Date Performed: Oct.18, 2022

JEFFERSON SHI Date Submitted: Oct. 29, 2022
Course/Year/Section:BSABIO/YR2/N01A
Instructor's Name:DR. GLICERIA RAMOS

Instructions: Please refer to the images.

(1) Name the different sections of the Chicken Skeleton.

(2) In the table below each image, name (1st Column) and briefly describe (2nd Column) the specific
parts of the corresponding sections.

SECTION

Help connect the muscles of the scapula and strengthen the ribcage
1.Uncinate process

2.Neural Spine Dorsal extensions from vertebral column

A short thick transverse projection to whose outer ends the tubercular of the ribs connect
3.Diapophysis

The capitulum comes to articulate between consecutive centra on half-facets

4. Capitulum

Elongated curving bicipital bony projections that protrude from the vertebra
5.Vertebral rib
 A mid-ventral projection coming from the centrum. it is not noticeable more towards the
1.Hypapophyses posterior

The saddle-shaped or heterocoelous centrum endings allow the birds to rotate their
2.Odontoid process heads halfway

The postzygapophysis is a vertical-facing posterior protrusion

3. Postzygapophysis

The lateral projections of the vertebral rib attachments as well as the fused rib
4.Pleurapophysis

SECTION

The pygostyle mounts the tail feathers providing critical control surfaces especially
1.Pygostyle during takeoff and landing

The transverse process is found on the sides of the centrum which consists in part of a
2. Transverse process fused rib
e
 Furcula

The middle bone that is located between the clavicles on the central side that provides
1.Interclavicle structural support to the shoulder region of the chicken

stout bone that extends to the sternum

2.Scapula

above the birds rib along swordlike bone

3.Precoracoid

The dermal component of the pectoral girdle is a paired curved long bone that i attached
4.Clavicle to the interclavicle and forks

SECTION

The keel is the extension of the breastbone that runs axially along the midline of the
1.Keel sternum and outward perpendicular to the plan of the ribs. this acts as an anchor for the
wing muscles of a bird allowing it to have a sufficient leverage for flying
The Xiphisternal process is a short costal process that runs along the anterior end of the
2.Oblique xiphoid process sternum
 Sternum(Dorsal)
attachment for the articulation of the sternum ribs
1.Costal facets

this connects the ribs to the sternum

2.Anterior metasternal
process

SECTION

a long narrow bone that runs along the ischium’s central border
1.Pubis

the portion of the innominate bone below the ilium’s back half
2.Ischium

it is a large oval foramen that separates the ischium, and the ilium
3.Ischiatic foramen

It is a depression that exists at the intersection of the public cartilage, ischium, and ilium
4.Acetabulum where the ball and socket joint is found
 1 2

Ventral view of pelvic girdle

SECTION
It is a continuous portion that is made up of the final thoracic, lumbar, sacral and first
1.Synsacrum few caudal vertebrae

The ilium is the innominate bones biggest and most dorsal component
2.Ilium

Forelimbs

SECTION

A small structure located at the joint between the handwing and arm wing of the birds
1.Alula that is used in slow flight with high angles

Larger than the 1st carpometacarpus

2.Metacarpal II

The ulna is the lower wings long and wider bone

3.Ulna

Humerus is the tout with a broad, rounded head that can fit into the glenoid fossa
4.Humerus

This is the entry into the air space in the humerus

5.Pneumatic foramen
 also known as the kneecap. It is a sesamoid bone which means that it develops from a
1 Patella. tendon

the has a big head that fits into the acetabulum and has a noticeable lateral protrusion
2. femur termed as the great trochanter

A tiny shank bone with an atrophied distal end

3. Fibula

The tibiotarsus is the biggest bone found on the hindlimb it is made up of the tibia
4. Tibiotarsus joined to the proximal tarsal bones

a long stout none that is made up of a fusion between three bones that can be seen on the
5. Tarsometatarsus ridges of its distal end.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT: Special thanks to the Department of Biology Laboratory Technician, Mr. Giovanni
Perez, for providing the pictures of specimens from the Comparative Anatomy Laboratory.

GUIDE QUESTIONS: Use diagrams to complement your answers.

1. Enumerate and describe the different processes projecting from the vertebrae.

The different processes on a vertebrate are the transverse, spinous, and articular process . First is the
transverse process. This is located on both sides of the vertebrate and they appear to be smaller than the
spinous process. As mentioned, the spinous process is the largest process on a vertebrate and it is located on
the middle part of the bone. The last one is articular processes. This is the smallest process on a vertebrate
that is located in between the transverse process and the spinous process (Rad, 2022).
 2. Briefly discuss the different types of vertebrae of birds. Describe the type of centrum that
allows flexibility of their neck.

There are different types of vertebrae depending on their location. First is the cervical vertebrae.
Similar to humans, these are the vertebraes that are found on the neck of the animal. The next one is thoracic
vertebrae. This is where the ribs of the animal are fused to and it is also here where the heart and most of the
vital organs are found. The synsacrum is next and it is here where the pelvic girdle will be found. The last part
is the pygostyle where it supports the tail and the tail feathers of the bird. In birds, they have a heterocoelous
which allows flexibility on the neck of the bird due to its saddle shape (“Bird - Skeleton | Britannica,” n.d.).
‌

3. Differentiate Carinate birds from Ratite birds.

The main difference between the ratite and the carinate birds is that the first group of birds are
flightless and rely more on running for their movement. On the other hand, carinate birds have the ability to
fly (Shriya, 2017). In terms of anatomy, there is also a difference. For the carinate birds, there is the presence
of the keel bone on their breast bone while for the carianate, there is no keel bone. The purpose of the keel
bone is to provide attachment point for muscles responsible for flight ‌(“Keel Bone - an Overview |
ScienceDirect Topics,” n.d.).

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 4. Describe the design and related function of the bird’s synsacrum.

The synsacrum appears to be a fusion of multiple vertebrates ranging from 10 to 23 individual bones.
This is located after the thoracic vertebrae and it is seen to be fused with the pelvic girdle of the bird (“Axial,”
n.d.). The fusion of these bones gives the advantage to the bird to be lightweight. Making it better for them to
fly since there are less weight on a fused vertebrae than on an unfused one (“Bird - Skeleton | Britannica,”
n.d.).
‌

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5. Provide reason/s behind the design of the bird’s pelvic girdle.

The pelvic girdle of the bird is composed of the ilia, ischia and the pubis, and as said they are fused on
the synsacrum. The ilium appears to be extruding dorsally while the ischium and the pubis are fused to the
vertebrate. Together, they synergizes to serve as an attachment point for the muscles that connects the femur
and the pelvic girdle (“Bird - Skeleton | Britannica,” n.d.).

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Properly cite your references.

REFERENCES:
Axial. (n.d.). Retrieved from campus.murraystate.edu website:
https://campus.murraystate.edu/faculty/tderting/anatomyatlas/murray/New_Folder/axial.htm#:~:text=The%20
synsacrum%20is%20a%20unit

Bird - Skeleton | Britannica. (n.d.). Retrieved October 29, 2022, from www.britannica.com website:
https://www.britannica.com/animal/bird-animal/Skeleton#:~:text=The%20number%20of%20vertebrae%20vari
es

‌Hyman, L. H., & Wake, M. H. (1942). Comparative vertebrate anatomy hyman's Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy
Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy. University of Chicago Press

Keel Bone - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics. (n.d.). Retrieved October 29, 2022, from
www.sciencedirect.com website:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/keel-bone#:~:text=The%20keel%20
bone%20(carina)%20provides

Rad, A. (2022, February 15). Vertebral column (spine). Retrieved from Kenhub website:
https://www.kenhub.com/en/library/anatomy/the-vertebral-column-spine

Synsacrum | anatomy. (n.d.). Retrieved from Encyclopedia Britannica website:

https://www.britannica.com/science/synsacrum

Shriya, S. (2017, January 11). Difference Between Ratitae and Carinate | Class Aves. Retrieved from Zoology
Notes website:
https://www.notesonzoology.com/difference/difference-between-ratitae-and-carinate-class-aves/6361