PIGEON

DISSECTION

WHAT BODY PARTS DOES A

BIRD HAVE TO HELP IT FLY?
EVERYTHING!
EVERY body system in a bird
is modified in some way to help it fly!

ARCHAEOPTERYX
First bird

Fossil image from:

http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/diapsids/birds/archaeopteryx.html

Image from:
http://www2.thny.bbc.co.uk/education/darwin/exfiles/archaeopteryx.htm

PIGEON
KINGDOM _____________
ANIMALIA

LATIN meaning

CHORDATA
PHYLUM ____________________________
VERTEBRATA backbone
SUBPHYLUM ___________________________
AVES Plural of avis= bird
CLASS _______________________________
COLUMBIFORMES
ORDER _____________________________

FEATHERS
VANE
RACHIS

Image from:
http://www.biology.eku.edu/RITCHISO/554notes1.html

MODIFICATIONS of
INTEGUMENTARY SYSTEM
Feathers- (light weight & sturdy)
provide lift & prevent heat loss
Preen gland keeps feathers fly-able
Streamline body to decrease air/wind
resistance

BEAKS

Image from:
http://www.antbits.co.uk/ant_pages/bio-pages/bio-02.html

EXTERNAL NARES

CERE

NICTITATING MEMBRANE
TYMPANIC MEMBRANE
inside head
SCALY SKIN on feet
CLAWS

Kestral Image from:

http://www.biology.eku.edu/RITCHISO/birdbrain2.html

EYES

BIG for size of head

See in COLOR

Eyes on front of facegives depth perception

Seen in predators

Eyes on sides of headGives wide range of vision

Seen in prey

BROOD PATCH
Skin-to-egg
contact keeps
growing
babies WARM
Males that sit
on eggs have
it, too
Image by Riedell/VanderWal 2005

CLOACA & VENT

Image by Riedell/VanderWal2005

PREEN GLAND

Images by Riedell/VanderWal2005

Oil makes feathers waterproof

Preening straightens feathers and re-hooks barbules
Image from:
http://www.rit.edu/~vertzo/Pigeon/PigeonPages/Home.html

SKELETAL
Hollow bones = light weight

Image from: BIODIDAC

FUSED BONES = Sturdy

FURCULA
PYGOSTYLE
STERNUM

Image modified from:

http://www.biology.eku.edu/RITCHISO/554notes1.html

MODIFICATIONS of
SKELETAL SYSTEM
Bones = hollow/air sacs extend into bones
to make them LESS DENSE
= fused to make them STURDY
FURCULA
stabilizes shoulders during flight
STERNUMattaches flight muscles
PYGOSTYLEsupport for tail

MUSCULAR SYSTEM

PECTORALIS & SUPRACORACOIDEUS

make up 35% of total body weight

MODIFICATIONS of
MUSCULAR SYSTEM
HUGE PECTORALIS MUSCLE
provides power to move wings

CROP
Image by Riedell/VanderWal2005

No digestion happens here

Stores and moistens food waiting to be digested
Allows food to move faster/next batch is waiting

CROP MILK
http://www.joanbramsch.com/images/feeding.jpg

COLUMBIFORMES- crop makes nutritious fluid

called CROP MILK for babies

REMOVE PECTORALIS MUSCLE

Image by Riedell/VanderWal 2005

Image by Riedell/VanderWal 2005

WHAT CAN YOU SEE?

HEART
LIVER
GALL BLADDER inside
Rest of digestive
system coiled
underneath liver

Image by Riedell/VanderWal 2005

HEART

RIGHT
ATRIUM

LEFT
ATRIUM

RIGHT
VENTRICLE

LEFT
VENTRICLE
COMPLETE SEPTUM

Heart = 1 to 2 times larger than in equal size mammal

Heart rate much faster to move more blood

HOW FAST ?
A human heart beats ~ 60-90 times/min

A resting hummingbirds heart beats 250 times/min.

Or 1200 beats per minute (BPM) when feeding.

http://www.deskpicture.com/DPs/Nature/Animals/hummingbird.jpg

HEART
Image by Riedell/VanderWal2005

COMPLETE SEPTUM NOW

4 chambers
2 atria/2 ventricles

SINUS VENOSUS & CONUS ARTERIOSUS

ARE GONE
Main vein returning from body
= VENA CAVA
Main vein from lungs
= PULMONARY
VEIN
Main artery to body
= AORTA
Main artery to lungs
= PULMONARY
ARTERY
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/hhw/hhw_anatomy.html

1 loop
2 chambers

2 loops
3 chambers

Fish

amphibians
& reptiles

2 loops
4 chambers
birds &
mammals

4 CHAMBER HEART
2 LOOPS

Sinus
venosus

RIGHT LEFT Lungs

Atrium Atrium

Ventricle

Body
organs

Conus
arteriosus

FROG & TURTLE CIRCULATION

Body
organs

RIGHT
Atrium

Right
Ventricle

Lungs

LEFT
Atrium

Left
Ventricle

BIRD & MAMMAL CIRCULATION

4 chambers/2 loops

BIRD CIRCULATION

MODIFICATIONS of
CIRCULATORY SYSTEM
Heart large for body size-pumps more blood
Closed 2 loop system- most efficient/faster
Complete septum/4 chamber heart- keeps
Low/High oxygen blood totally separated
Rapid heart rate- delivers more oxygen/faster

MODIFICATIONS of
ENDOCRINE SYSTEM
THYROID GLAND CONTROLS RAPID
METABOLISM
BURNING GLUCOSE faster makes body
heat! (ENDOTHERMIC)
ENDOTHERMIC METABOLISMprovides maximum energy for
extended activity (flying)

LIVER
with
GALL
BLADDER
inside
PANCREAS

GIZZARD

LIVER
with
GALL
BLADDER
inside
PANCREAS

GIZZARD

STOMACH
PROVENTRICULUS
entry to gizzard
add acid
GIZZARD

Image by Riedell/VanderWal 2005

Muscular
Contains gravel/rocks
to grind food

DUODENUM

(1st section of small intestine)

Image by Riedell/VanderWal 2005

Receives bile from

GALL BLADDER
Receives trypsin
from PANCREAS
PANCREAS makes
TRYPSIN, INSULIN,
& GLUCAGON

SPLEEN
(circulatory)

In mesentery
Wrapped in
digestive
loops

Near
Gizzard
Image by Riedell/VanderWal2005

SMALL INTESTINE
(Duodenum & Ileum)

REALLY, REALLY
LONG SMALL
INTESTINE

Absorbs more
nutrients

Image by Riedell/VanderWal 2005

COLIC CAECA
Image by Riedell/VanderWal 2005

Pouches at junction
of small & large
intestine
Contain bacteria to
digest plants
(cellulose)

LARGE INTESTINE
Image by Riedell/VanderWal 2005

LARGE INTESTINE
isnt very large!
Absorbs less water
back from feces
(Water is HEAVY!)
EXITS through
CLOACA

http://www.harrybliss.com/store/images/eat_like_a_bird.jpg

to eat like a bird

means to eat very little
BUT Birds EAT A LOT
Most birds eat half their weight in food
every day. That's like a 100-pound person
eating 50 pounds of food in a day. And
some young birds eat more than their
weight in food every day!

MODIFICATIONS of
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
Fast efficient digestive system fuels endothermic
metabolism for more energy for extended activity
CROP- stores next batch so food always moving through
2 part stomach (Crop/Gizzard)so food moves through faster
COLIC CAECA- help break down plants
LONG SMALL INTESTINE-absorbs lots of nutrients
SHORT LARGE INTESTINEAbsorbs less water / feces not stored out of body as
it is made so weigh less

TRACHEA
BRONCHI
Cartilage rings
keep airway
open

Image by Riedell/VanderWal2005

SYRINX
VOICE BOX

Image by Riedell/VanderWal2005

LUNGS

Images by Riedell/VanderWal 2005

Remove 31% of oxygen ;

Human lungs remove 24%

AIR SACS

STORE AIR
No gas
exchange

ALLOW OXYGEN IN LUNGS on the

INHALE and on the EXHALE

OXYGEN
on the EXHALE

Animation from:
http://www.sk.lung.ca/content.cfm/birds

MODIFICATIONS of
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
SUPER EFFICIENT RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
gets the most oxygen possible
Extra AIR SACS allow oxygen in lungs on
both the INHALE AND EXHALE
Air sacs extending into bones makes skeleton
less dense
Alveoli increase surface area for more gas
exchange

KIDNEYS & URETERS

MODIFICATIONS of
EXCRETORY SYSTEM
Excrete nitrogen waste as URIC ACID- so
uses less water to dilute
No URINARY BLADDER- so urine
(water) not stored less weight

TESTES
TESTES
KIDNEYS
URETERS
CLOACA

ONLY 1 OVARY makes eggs

OVIDUCTS add albumen/shell

INTERNAL FERTILIZATION
OVIPAROUS
Lay amniotic eggs

http://people.eku.edu/ritchisong/avianreproduction.html

http://www.usgs.nau.edu/swwf/images/WIFL%20nest%20with%20eggs%20-%20MD.jpg

DIRECT DEVELOPMENT
2 KINDS OF BABIES

ALTRICIAL = HELPLESS
hatch without feathers, eyes closed,
cant walk, parents must feed every
20 min
Ex: songbirds,
pigeons, raptors
http://www.kathyskritters.com/tales/robins/images/baby_robins_5-13.jpg

DIRECT DEVELOPMENT
2 KINDS OF BABIES

PRECOCIAL MORE INDEPENDENT

hatch with fuzzy down, can follow parent
and feed itself soon after hatching
EX: Ducks and geese
Necessary for birds
that lay eggs on
ground
http://cowpi.com/journal/2004/06/the_dangers_of_leadership.html

MODIFICATIONS of
REPRODUCTIVE
SYSTEM
Female has only ONE OVARY & OVIDUCT
on left side less weight
OVIPARITY- lay eggs OUTSIDE of body
less weight
REPRODUCTIVE ORGANSenlarge during breeding season/shrink rest of
time less weight

TUBES IS TUBES?
OVIDUCTS- carry eggs from ovary to
cloaca
VAS DEFERENScarry sperm from testes to cloaca
URETERS- carry urine from kidneys to
cloaca

http://www.wtamu.edu/~rmatlack/pigeon_dissection/brain.jpg

MODIFICATIONS of
NERVOUS SYSTEM
Large brain for body size = smarter
Bigger CEREBRUM for more complex behaviors
problem solving; learning; navigation;
Bigger CEREBELLUM- for muscle coordination
Bigger OPTIC LOBES for better vision; 3D & Color
Concentration of iron in brain to act as compass