SKELETON SYSTEM OF POULTRY
Bones are light in weight but very strong. Many of them contain large medullary cavities.
Some of the bones are pneumatic. Axial skeleton consists of skull and vertebral column.
Vertebral column
Total No. of vertebrae varies from 40 to 60.
Cervical = 14
Thoracic = 7
Lumbar + sacral = 14
Coccygeal = 6
The last coccygeal is plowshare in shape and called pygostyle.
Pubis: pubic bones are directed posteriorly (directed anteriorly in mammals) and spread far apart.
Symphysis pubis is absent.
Some vertebrae are hollow and connected to the respiratory system with air continually
moving in and out of these specialized bones.
Appendicular skeleton Shoulder girdle consists of scapula, coracoids and clavicle bones.
Pelvic girdle consists of ilium, ischium and pubis.
Forelimbs (wings) consist of humerus, radius, ulna, radial carpal, ulnar carpal, metacarpusand three digits.
Hindlimbs consist of femur, patella, tibia, fibula, metatarsus and digits (usually four).
Soft, spongy bone called medullary bone is present in varying amounts in the femur, tibia and certain other bones of females in egg production. It serves as a part of the source of calciumfor egg shell production; most of the calcium required for egg shell formation comes directly from the feed. Shanks of chickens reach maximum length at 16-20 weeks, butmaximum body size is attained at 40-50 weeks of age.
