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Mammalian Skeleton Overview

The document summarizes the mammalian skeleton. It describes the main functions of the skeleton as providing structure and attachment sites, protecting organs, producing blood cells, and storing minerals. It outlines the general regions of the axial and appendicular skeleton and identifies the main types of bones. It also details the five types of vertebrae, regions of long bones, and how the limbs connect to the body through the pectoral and pelvic girdles.

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Penelope May Morkel
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306 views19 pages

Mammalian Skeleton Overview

The document summarizes the mammalian skeleton. It describes the main functions of the skeleton as providing structure and attachment sites, protecting organs, producing blood cells, and storing minerals. It outlines the general regions of the axial and appendicular skeleton and identifies the main types of bones. It also details the five types of vertebrae, regions of long bones, and how the limbs connect to the body through the pectoral and pelvic girdles.

Uploaded by

Penelope May Morkel
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

MAMMALIAN SKELETON

MAMMALOGY LAB, WEEK 2

WHAT DOES A SKELETON DO?


Provides scaffolding and attachment sites for muscles and
other tissues
Protects internal organs
Site of blood cell production
What is unique about mammalian red blood cells?
Plays a role in endocrine regulation to control blood sugar
Acts as a reserve of calcium and phosphorus

GENERAL REGIONS OF SKELETON


Axial: runs down the center
Skull, vertebrae, ribs

Appendicular: limbs and pelvis

TYPES OF BONES
Long bones
Femur, humerus, metacarpals, phalanges

TYPES OF BONES
Cuboidal bones:
Carpus, tarsus

TYPES OF BONES
Plate-like bones:
Scapula, pelvis, scapula, cranium

TYPES OF BONES
Sesamoids:
Patella, knuckle

REGIONS OF A LONG BONE


Diaphysis: shaft of long bone
Epiphysis: ends of bone, above growth plate
Metaphysis: transition between diaphysis and
epiphysis, right below growth plate

VERTEBRAL COLUMN
FIVE TYPES OF VERTEBRAE:
Cervical
Thoracic
Lumbar
Sacral
Caudal

VERTEBRAL COLUMN
FIVE TYPES OF VERTEBRAE:
Cervical
Neck region
Almost all mammals have exactly 7 cervicals
Very top cervical vertebrae are the atlas and axis,
which articulate with the skull at the occipital condyles

ATLAS AND AXIS

VERTEBRAL COLUMN
FIVE TYPES OF VERTEBRAE:
Thoracic
Connect to ribs
Often have large dorsal spines
Mammals have 12-15

VERTEBRAL COLUMN
FIVE TYPES OF VERTEBRAE:
Lumbar
Lower back region, links to pelvis
Most mammals have 6-7, toothed whales
(Odontoceti) have up to 20
Often have many spines and processes

VERTEBRAL COLUMN
FIVE TYPES OF VERTEBRAE:
Sacral
Support the pelvic girdle
Often fused together
Usually 3-5, up to 10 in Edentata

VERTEBRAL COLUMN
FIVE TYPES OF VERTEBRAE:
Caudal
Tail bones
Smaller, simpler than other vertebrae
Do not contain spinal column, although do have nerves
and blood vessels
In humans and apes, bones are fused to form the coccyx

LINKING THE LIMBS TO THE BODY


TWO SETS OF STRUCTURES LINK THE LIMBS TO THE AXIAL
SKELETON:
PECTORAL GIRDLE: LINKS FORELIMBS
PELVIC GIRDLE: LINKS HINDLIMBS

LINKING THE LIMBS TO THE BODY


TWO SETS OF STRUCTURES LINK THE LIMBS TO THE AXIAL
SKELETON:
PECTORAL GIRDLE:
CLAVICAL (COLLAR BONE)
SCAPULA (SHOULDER BLADE)

LINKING THE LIMBS TO THE BODY


TWO SETS OF STRUCTURES LINK THE LIMBS TO THE AXIAL
SKELETON:
PELVIC GIRDLE:
ILIUM
ISCHIUM
PUBIS

REVIEW OF THINGS TO KNOW


What does the skeleton do?
Regions of skeleton
Types of bones
Types of vertebrae
How do axial and appendicular skeletons connect?
How does the vertebral column articulate with the skull?

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