Pelvic Girdle Compare And Contrast

When comparing the human skeleton and the avian skeleton, there are many differences and similarities between the two. These differences and similarities are demonstrated very prominently in the shoulder girdle and the pelvic girdle. For example, in humans, the clavicle and the sternum articulate directly with each other, while in the avian skeleton, they do not. The clavicles in the human skeleton act as struts for the shoulder and allow the arm to move with the maximum range of movement by keeping it away from the thorax. On the other hand, the shoulder girdle in birds do not have clavicles as they pertain to the human skeleton. Instead, the avian shoulder girdle has something called the furcula, which is two clavicles which have been fused …show more content…
In a bird, the pelvic girdle acts as a point of attachment for the tail, legs, and many muscles. Like that of a human, a bird’s pelvic bones, the ischium, pubis, ilium, and sacrum, have all fused together in order to make a pelvic girdle, although the pelvic girdle of a bird also contains some of the caudal vertebrae. The sacrum and six of the caudal vertebrae of birds fuse together to make a rigid plate called the synsacrum. The other six caudal vertebrae are fused together to create the pygosite. The pygosite serves as an attachment point for the tail feathers and tail …show more content…
The mandible, in humans, is found near the inferior part of the skull. It facilitates the opening and closing of the jaw, as well as allowing us to chew food. A chicken’s mandible is similar to that of a humans. However, it has increased flexibility and mobility which are more suited to the chicken’s needs. The cranium’s primary function in humans is to protect and house the brain. The cranium of the chicken is similar. However, the there are openings at the base of the cranium and these allow the brain and spinal cord to be directly connected. The maxilla forms the upper jaw in humans. It assists in the formation of certain cavities in the head along with fossae in chickens. In humans, the humerus serves as a insertion and origination point for numerous muscles, such as the pectoralis major and the deltoid. Its primary function is the facilitation of movement and support for the arm . In chickens, the humerus, along with the coracoid and scapula, forms the shoulder. The humerus also joins the radius and ulna to form the elbow. These allow for movement of the arm and are extremely lightweight to allow for flight. In humans, the radius and ulna are two bones located in the superior portion of the arm. They are relatively long and have a curved shape. Along with running parallel to each other, they are also connected to each other at the distal and proximal ends.