Animal Anatomy

Avian Anatomy - Common Bird Families

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• 2 COMMON BIRD FAMILIES SEEN AT VETERINARY HOSPITALS:
• - PSITTACINE (PARROTS/HOOKBILLS)
• - ZYGODACTYL: 2ND/3RD TOES FORWARD, 1ST/4TH TOES BACK
• PASSERINES (SMALL BIRDS W/POINTED OR SLIGHTLY CURVED BEAKS)
• - ANISODACTYL: 3 TOES POINT FORWARD, 1 TOE POINTS REAR

Avian Anatomy - External Anatomy

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• Caption: INTEGUMENT - (LARGEST ORGAN SYSTEM) PHYSICAL BARRIER, PROTECTS UNDERLYING STRUCTURE AND ORGANS
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• Caption: EXTERNAL ANATOMY - SKIN IS DRY, DELICATE, SLIGHTLY WRINKLED - CERE IS THE AREA AROUND THE NOSE * BIRDS HAVE NO SWEAT GLANDS

Avian Anatomy - Feathers

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• Caption: - CONTOUR FEATHERS - PRIMARY FLIGHT FEATHERS (REGIMES) - SECONDARY FLIGHT FEATHERS - COVERTS (BODY FEATHERS) -
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• Caption: - DOWN FEATHER - BLOOD FEATHER

Avian Anatomy - Musculoskeletal System

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• Caption: - KEEL (STERNUM) SUPPORTS PECTORAL MUSCLES USED IN FLIGHT - BEAK IS FUSED TO SKULL - SYNSACRUM (FUSED CANDAL VERTEBRA) STABILIZES BIRD'S BACK DURING FLIGHT
• Caption: PECTORAL MUSCLES: 20% OF BIRD'S WEIGHT

Avian Anatomy - Respiratory System

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• Caption: AIRFLOW: ENTERS THE NARES (ON EITHER SIDE OF BEAK), PASSES OVER OPERCULUM, THROUGH SINUS CAVITIES, THROUGH THE CHOANA, TO GLOTTIS, DOWN TRACHEA, THROUGH SYRINX, TO LUNGS
• Caption: AIR FLOWS THROUGH 9 AIR SACS

Avian Anatomy - Digestive System

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• Caption: BIRD MOUTH: - HARD UPPER PALATTE - SOFT LOWER PALATTE - UNIQUE TONGUE - TASTE BUDS SCATTERED THROUGH MOUTH - SALIVARY GLANDS
• Caption: FOOD ENTERS MOUTH AND TRAVELS THROUGH ESOPHAGOUS (EXPANDS IN INTERCLAVICULAR SPACE CREATING THE CROP). CROP SOFTENS FOOD AND SENDS TO STOMACH (PROVENTRICULOUS). THROUGH GIZZARD (VENTRICULUS) TO THE SMALL INTESTINE, THEN LARGE INTESTINE, THEN CLOACA, WHERE DROPPINGS EXIT

Avian Anatomy - Circulatory System

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• - BIRD HEART IS PROPORTIONATELY 1 1/2 TIMES LARGER THAN MAMMAL HEART
• - HIGH HEART BEAT
• - HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE

Reptilian Anatomy

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• - CAN'T GENERATE BODY HEAT
• - KERATINOUS SCALES: PROTECTIVE LAYER COVERS SKIN
• - OUTERMOST SKIN SHED REGULARLY