Birds Skeleton Anatomy
Birds have a unique skeletal anatomy adapted for flight. To understand it better way, we will discuss the skeletal anatomy of birds as mentioned below:
- Lightweight Bones: Birds have more lightweight bones which is a unique skeleton structure. This adaptation was necessary to reduce the overall body to fly.
- Fused Bones: It is a common feature in the bird community. This feature helps the birds to provide more stability during flying time.
- Keel: The keel is an extension of the bird’s breastbone. It is an anchor bone that provides strength to the bird’s wing muscles. The keel is the key characteristic that makes the birds distinct from the other vertebrates.
- Structure of The Wings: Wing structure is a major feature of the skeleton of the Birds. It includes the humerus, radius, and ulna. This wing structure helps the birds to have a longer time to fly. It also provides strength and support in the various phases of wingbeats.
- Fused Hand Bones: The hand bones of birds have been modified to fly. In this, the fingers have been reduced.
- Pygostyle: It is a triangular plate present in the skeleton of a bird. It forms a posterior end of the vertebral column in modern birds.
- Skull: Birds’ skull is lightweight. The beak is prominent and depends on the bird’s diet. Like Archaeornithes or Ancient Birds, Modern Birds do not have teeth in their beak.
- Hindlimb Adaptations: The bones of the hindlimbs have been adopted to gain stability at the time of standing and walking.
- Cervical Vertebrae: It is present in the neck of the Neornithes Or the Modern Birds. It provides a high flexibility to the bird’s neck to regulate the movement of the head. In total round 13 to 25 cervical bones are there.
- Ribcage: Ribs are connected with each other by the small bones. It is referred to as an uncinate process which enables great support to protect the internal organs.
Also Read: Vertebrae
Birds Skeletal System
The skeletal system of birds is unique and pneumatic. The scientific name for birds is Aves. They are warm-blooded vertebrates that belong to the Animalia kingdom. The Aves class can be divided further into two major categories Archaeornithes (Ancient Birds) and Neornithes (Modern Birds). The Archaeornithes are a set of extinct groups of birds that had a beak with teeth and a long lizard-like tail. On the other hand, Neornithes groups do not contain any teeth and have a short tail. Today, we will discuss the Skeletal structure of the birds in detail.
Table of Content
- Skeletal System of Bird
- Birds Skeleton Anatomy
- Birds Skeletal System Diagram
- Bird Skeleton Wings
- Bird Skeleton Flying Mechanism
- Unique Features of Birds – Skeletal System
- Relation of Skeleton and Respiratory System in Birds