Term
| Name the four basic components of the axial skeleton |
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Definition
| Vertebral column, ribs, sternum, gastrialia |
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Term
| Describe the function of the vertebral column |
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Definition
Protect the spinal cord and dorsal aorta.
Locomotion: It's also a good place for muscle attachment and moving the axial skeleton up and down. (not vital for locomotion)
It gives structural support. |
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Term
| Describe the function of the ribs |
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Definition
| Articulates with vertebral column to protect inner organs. Less ribs means more flexibility and speed at the cost of protection |
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Term
| Describe the function of the sternum |
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Definition
Provides ventral attachment for ribs to form the rib cage.
The rib cage is important for support, locomotion, and respiration. |
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Term
| Describe the function of the gastrialia |
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Definition
| Aka abdominal ribs. (dermal origin) Protects abdominal region in ground dwellers. Also offers support. |
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Term
| Know the parts of the vertebrae |
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Definition
Neutral arch/spine (top point bone thing)
Hemal arch/spin (lower point bone thing)
Centrum: center bone where arches meet, gives flexibility
Nerve cord (hole in neural arch)
Blood vessels (hole in hemal arch)
Notochord (hold in center)
Ribs articulate from sides. |
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Term
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Definition
In fish there's the caudal, trunk, and skull and little variation otherwise.
For tetrapods there's caudal, sacrals, lumbar, thoracic, and cervical.
The caudal varies a lot. The sacrals are fused and with three bones, the lumbar has a bigger, center, the thoracic vertebrae has openings for ribs to articulate, and the cervical has a more flexible neck and open space for the brain.
Lumbar vertebrae may have more empty space for arms |
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Term
| What is the purpose of zygapophyses |
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Definition
They articulate with ribs and resist twisting and up/down gravity.
pre-near head, post-away from head
Fish and whales lack these. |
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Term
| How is the spine like a suspension bridge? |
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Definition
In a tetrapod, the legs/hips are like piers which take the pressure of the rest of the body. Like the cables in a suspension bridge, the spine arches over/on the two piers and must be rigid enough to support it, while being flexible enough to stretch and lengthen without falling apart.
The angle of the neural spine coincides with force vector. And the neural spine, the longer the lever, and thus the more weight it can hold. |
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Term
| Name a fused vertebrae structure and its function |
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Definition
In birds the synsacrum is fused (at the hips with the sternum). This way it can take the pressure needed to push off the ground for flight.
In frogs the urostyle is fused so it can take teh force of a muscular jump (but it limits flexibility) It allows the frog to jump very far. |
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Term
| Name the three types of ribs and their functions |
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Definition
True ribs: articulate with sternum to form rib cage
False ribs: articulate with each other, form additional support
Floating ribs: no ventral articulate, nor connection to rib cage |
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Term
| Know gastralia from sternum |
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Definition
Sternum is like the top front of the rib cage.
Gastralia is lower abdominal ribs (like lower ribcage) in ground dwellers like crocodiles |
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Term
| Why do some animals lose abdominal ribs |
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Definition
| It increases flexibility and speed to lack abdominal ribs |
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