Poultry Improvement Project
The Skeletal System
Skeleton of the Chicken
• Basic skeleton is similar to other mammals
with several differences.
• Birds possess a pair of extra bones in the shoulder
area called the coracoids.
– This pair of bones facilitates wing movement and offers
additional support for the wings.
– Also the cervical vertebrae (neck bones) form an S-shaped
column connecting the body to the head.
• When the bird lands, the pressure is exerted
thoughout the body and the S-shaped column
acts as a spring.
• The vertebrae along the trunk and body are
fused together to provide support for the wings.
• Skeletal system is connected to the respiratory
system and many bones are pneumatic.
• Pneumatic bones are hollow and are connected
to the respiratory system, thereby serving as a
reservoir for air and reducing the weight of the
bird for flight.
Vertebrae Column
• Includes
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skull
humerus
keel
clavicle
lumbar
sacral