SECTION I BONES

CHAPTER 1 GLOSSARY--EXPLAN ATION OF TERMS

Acetabulum : a lateral cup-like concavity in the pclvic girdle; head of Femur

fits into it present in all tetrapods
A
except where the pelvic girdlc is
secondarilyabsent (c.g, apodans, snakes,
limb-less lizards, cetaceans, sirenians, Amphicoelous
e.g. Fish, Apoda, Opisthococious
etc.), Sphenodon
Acoelous centrum : a type of
centrum in which the anterior and
posterior faces are more or less flat ; Procoelous Acoelous
e.g. Anura, Lacertilio.Ophidia e.g Mommaia
typically found in mammals, (Fig. 1.1)
A= Anterior end P:Posterior end
Acrodont : a type of tooth
attachment in which the teeth are Fig. 1,1
attached to the outer surface of bone Types of centra (Except Heterocoelous)
1ound in most fishes, most amphibians, Sphenodon, snakes and some lizards (e.g. Calotes,
Draco, etc.). (Fig. 1,2) Tooth
Acromion process : a
Bone
process of the spine of
Scapula (Mammals) or of the Acrodont Pleurodont Thecodont
Scapula itself (Birds). e.g.(Fish,Amphibia ( Most lizars) (Crocodilia,
Sphendon, Snake, Mammalia)
Aegithognathous skull : Caotes, Droco)
a type of bird skull in which Fig. 1.2
Vomer is broad and truncated Types of Tooth attachement.
; found in house sparrows, crows,
in front, Maxillo-palatine processes are slender and separate
bulbuls, etc. ; the term was coined by T. H, Huxley in 1867.
anterior and posterior faces are
Amphicoelous : a type of centrum in which both
1.1)
deeply concave ; found in ishes, apodans and Sphenodon. (Fig.the posterior end of neural
from
Anapophysis : paired pointed projections arising called
arch, below the post-zygapophysis : found in the lumbar vertebra of mammals ; also
accessory articulating process.
which there is no true temporal vacuity ;
Anapsid skull: a type of reptilian skull in
found in turtles and tortoises,
articulating with
vertebra : anteriormost or first cervical vertebra in tetrapods
Atlas 1aR
characteristiç ring-like shape Kaskon ts adteñor facq
the skull ; absent in fishes; has a MEM.
 Z00LOGT
2 MANCAL OP PSACTICAL

mammals) condy lar facets ; centrum is either small

and
puies and birds) or 2 (amphibia
(amphibia) or absent (amaiota) in aduitL has an anterior
to Atlas: second cervical vertebra:
AXIs vertebra : vertebra next
tooth-like projection named Odontoid process ; preseat in amniota.
hard coDnective tissue that makes up the skeleton ia
Bone : a rigid, opaque,
vertebrates, exexcept Cyclostomata and Chondrichthyes ; essentia lly consists of Calcium
blood vesel and nerves ;
phosphate laid down in a matrix of collagen fbrils : contains
mammals and some herbivore
componcat cells called Osteocytes ; in man, caraivore
cavity forming
mammals, the bony tissue is arranged into concentric amellae surrounding a
mammals and no-mammals.
che Haversian system ; Haversian system is absent in small
end
Bulla (auditory bulla) : a hollow, thin-walled, rounded chamber at the posterior
of skull on each side enclosing the middie ear: present in therian mammals only; in
Marsupials it is formed by alisphenoid bone and so is called alisphenoid bulla , in Eutheria it
is formed by the tympanic bone and so is called tympanic bulla,
Canine tooth : conical pointed tooth
for piercing into flesh ; strongly developed in Enamel /
carnivorous mammals (Lion, Tiger, Leopard, Vitrodentine

etc); absent in purely herbivorous forms -Denfine

(Hare,Guineapig, Rabbit, ete,). (Fig. 1.3) - Pulpcavity
Carina or Keel : a fat plate-like bone
atached ventrally at right angles to sternum Basic structure of tooth (L.S)
of lying birds and bats ; flight muscles are
attached on either side of it. -Root
Carnassial tooth: large tooth with
pointed cusps (last premolar in upper jaw and
first molar in lower jaw) for cutting of lesh ; Incisor Carngssial
(Covia)
present in tiger, lion, wolf, dog. etc. (Fig. 1.3) Canine (Dog)
(Dog)
Cartilage : a semi-rigid, transluscent,
flexible connective tissue making up whole of
the skeleton in Cyclostomata and Chondrich
thyes but part of skeleton in other vertebrates ;
also associated with respiratory system in
Prernolaor Molar
tetrapods ; esentially consists of Chondroitin (Boar) (Boar)
sulphate and Hyaluronic acid laid down in a
matrix of collagen and/or elastic fibrils : Fig, 13
blood vessels and Derves absent ; component Basic Structure of Tooth
types of mamm lian teth
cell is called Chondrocyte; Haversian system is never present,
 GLOSSARY-BONES 3

Centrum: a large ventral mass of bone or cartilage present below the neural canal
in a vertebra ; formed by the transformation of embryonic notochord; absent in
Cyclostomata and in the Atlas vertebra of adult amniota.
Cervical vertebra : vertebra of neck ; found only in tetrapods 1in amphibia ;
absent in snakes ; 7 in all mammals except Bradypus (9), Choleopus (6), Trichechus (6) ;
number variable in others,
Condylar facet : shallow, ventral concavity in the anterior face of Atlas vertebra in
tetrapods ; l in reptiles and birds, 2 in amphibians and mammals.
Cranium or Skull: compound structure made up of bones and/or cartilages enclosing
the brain of vertebrates
Dental for mula : it is the number of kinds of teeth present, in mammals, on each
half of upper and lower jaw ; it is written in order of incisor, canine, premolar and
2 1.2.3,
molar ; e.g.
2.1.2,3. (Man)
Desmognathous skull : a type of bird skull in which Vomer is small and not pointed
or truncaled, Maxillo-palatine processes are stout and spongy and united in the midline
forming a shelf-like structure ; found in ducks, swans, geese, parrots, etc.; the term was
coined by T, H. Huxley in 1867.
Diapsid skull : a type of reptilian skull in which 2 lateral temporal vacuities are
present in the cheek region ; typically present in Sphenodon and Crocodiles, much modiied
in lizards and snakes.
Diastema : a natural gap in the tooth row between 2 kinds of teeth ; in rabbits,
guineapigs, hares, etc. diastema is present between incisor and premolar, there being no
canine ; in horses, diastema is present between canine and premolar.
Diphyodont : 2 succesive generations of teeth occur in the life historymilk and
permanent : this is charaeteristic of most mammals,
Dromeognathous skull : a type of bird skull in which Vomer is large and broad,
maxillo-palatine processes are short and separate, found in non-flying birds (Ratitae) and in
Tinamous: the term was coined by T, H, Huxley in 1867,
Endoskeleton: skeletal framework inside the body ; gives support and shape to the
body, protects vital organs and provides surfaces for muscle attachement : divided into axial
skeleton (skull, lower jaw, Vertebral Columa, ribs and Sternum) and appendicular skele ton
(bones of paired appendages, Pectoral girdle and Pelvic girdle).
Exoskeleton : hard protective structure outside the body: in vertebrates, exoskeleton
originates either from epidermis (amniote scales, feather, hair, claw, hoof, nail, etc.) or from
dermis (fish scales).
Femur : bone of thigh of hind limb ; articulates proximally with the pelvic girdle
 Acetabulum ; present only in tetrapods ; secondarily absent where hind limb is
utting into
absent (e. g. apodans, snakes, limbless lizards, etc.). brain
magnum : large central opening in the base of skull through which
rOramen
is continued into spinai cord,
U-shaped structure attached laterally to Coracoid-Scapula by ligaments;
Purcula :
birds ; also known as
Tormed by the fusion of pairedclavicles and an interclavicle: found in
<Wish bone or Merry thought bone'.
the pectoral girdle of
Glenoid cavity or fossa : (1) a cup-shaped concavity in
tetrapods ; head of Humerus fits into it : (2) transversely elongated shallow concavity in the
undersurface of Squamosal in skull of mammals : mandibular condyle fits ioto it,
arch with a
Haemal (Hemal) arch : Y-shaped ventrally directed cartilaginous or bony
median spine, attached to the undersurface of centrum ; encloses the caudal artery and ven ;
found in the caudal vertebra of fishes ; haemal arch in tetrapoda is called Chevron bone.
Heterocoelous centrumn: anterior face of centrum is concaye from side to side and
convex from above downwards ; posterior face of centrum is opposite ; found in birds,
Heterodont teeth : teeth are differentiated into various kinds (incisor, canine,
premolar and molar) having different form and function ; found in most mammals (Fig. 1.3)
Homodont teeth : teeth similar in shape and form may be dissimilar in size ;
found in fishes, amphibians, reptiles and some mammals (dolphin, porpoise).
Humeras : bone of the upper arm of fore limb ; articulates proximally with the
pectoral g1rdle firting into glenoid cavity ; present only in tetrapods ; secondarily absent
where forelimb is absent (e. g. apodans, snakes, limbless lizards etc.)
Ilium : largest bone of pelvic girdle ; does not form symphysis,
Incisor : chisel-shaped tooth present anterior to canine : used for cutting of food ;
anteriormost tooth in the tooth row ; found in mammals only,
Innominate bone half of pelvic girdle in mammals ; component bones become
indistinguishably fused in adult giving the appearance of a single bone ; also known as Os
innominatum,
Ischium: posterior ventral component of pelvic girdle ; forms symphysis (e.g. anura,
lizards).
Keel : see Carina,
Lumbar vertebra: vertebra of anterior abdominal region
vertebra and Lhe sacral vertebra ;
located between the thoracic
stouter than other vertebrae distinguishable
: in
amniotes only,
Molar tooth : occurs behind the pre molar tooth ; has
msed for chewing, crushing or grinding of food ; 2-3 roots and many cusps ;
onlaced once lost : forms the posteriormost toothunlike incisor, canine and premolar, it is not
in the toothrow : found in
mammals only.
 Monophyodont : only oneset of teeth develop in the life history once lost are not
replaced ; e.g. armadillo, dolphin, porpoise, seacow, dugong.
Neural arch : bony or cartilaginous arch-shaped structure attached ventrally to the
centrum and enclosing a central space, the neural canal , typically bears neural spine,
transverse process and zygapophyses
Neural canal : central space in a vertebra bounded by centrum ventrally and by
neural arch dorsally and laterally ; in life spinalcord runs through it,
Neural spine : median, single projection from the dorsal end of neural arch: also
called spinous process,
Obturator foramen : an aperture in the pelvic girdle of amniotes through which
obturator nerve and bloodvessesls pass ; in reptiles it is a very small foramen in the pubis ;
in birds, it is a narrow and elongated canal separating the ischium and pubis ; in mammals it
is a large ovoid opening separating the ischium and pubis,
Obturator notch: another name for the long and narrow obturator foramen in the
pelvic girdle of birds,
Occipital condyle : convexity in the base of skull of tetrapods close to foramen
magnum; articulates with atlas vertebra, permitting rotation of head; one in number in
reptiles and birds; two in number in amphibians and mammals.
centrum of
Odontoid process : a small tooth-l1ke process from the anterior end of
axis vertebra ; represents the centrum of atlas vertebra; occurs only in amniota,
Opisthocoelous centrum: anterior face of centrum is conyex and the posterior face is
COncave found in most urodeles; also found in the cervical vertebrae of horse, zebra
and ass.
Orbital fossa : paired cavity in the anterior end of skull housing in life the eyes :
also called orbit,
Os innominatum: see Innominate bone,
Osteology : study of skeletal system, particularly endoskeleton,
the
Pectoral girdle : part of appendicular skeleton (see Endoskeleton) associated with
vertebrates
anterior paired appendages (pectoral fin or forelimb) ; occurs in gnathostome
only; may be secondarily lost (apodans, snakes, limb-less lizards,cetaceans etc).
with the
Pelvic girdle : part of appendicular skeleton (see Endoskeleton) associated
only
posterior paired appendages (pelvic fin, hindlimb) ; occurs in gnathostome vertebrates
may be secondarily reduced or absent (apodans, snakes, limbless lizards, cetaceans, etc) ;
always made up of 3 components--ilium, ischium and pubis.
a type of tooth attachement in which the tooth is attached to a
Pleurodont tooth :
members of family
depression on the inner side of bone : found in all lizards except the
Agamidae (Calotes, Draco, Uromastix, etc.) (Fig 1,2)
 throughout life
Polyphyodont teeth: new teeth continually replace old and lost teeth
history ; found in fishes, amphibians and reptiles,
Post-zygapophysis see Zygapophysis.
Premolar tooth : OCcurs between canine and molar teeth:
has 2-3 roots and a few
cusps cn the crowa;for grinding food ;
Pre-zygapophysis : see Zygapophysis,
face is convex ;
Procoelous centrum : anterior face of centrum concave and posterior
occurs in anurans, lizards,snakes and crocodiles. (Fig. 1.1)
Pubic symphysis : see Symphysis.
usually takes part in
Pubis : component bone of pelvic girdle of tetrapods:
sympbysIS, alone or with ischium,
Pubo-ischiatic symphysis : see Symphysis.
may be fused
Radius and Ulna: 2 bones present in the forearm of tetrapods ;
together forming Radio-Ulna (Anura) or may remain unfused (Urodela and Amniota).
; located between
Sacral vertebra : vertebra of posterior abdominal or hip region
anurans ; 2 in number
the lumbar and caudal vertebrae : 1in number in most urodeles and
adjacent vertebrae
in reptiles and birds ; 3--5 in number in mammals : in birds fused with
froming Synsacrum; in mammals all sacral vertebrae fused to form a roughly triangular
structure named Sacrum,
Sacrum: see Sacral vertebra,
Scapula : a component of pectoral girdle of all gnathostome vertebrates
except
where secondarily lost (apodans, snakes, limb-less lizards, etc.) forms practically whole of
the pectoral girdle in mammals where it is a large, almost flat, triangular bone.
Schizognathous skull : a type of bird skull in which vomer is small and pointed, or
absent, maxillo-palatine processes slender and separate , found in pigeon, fowl, peacock,
woodpecker, etc ; the term was coined by T, H, Huxley in 1867.
Seroll bones : thin, spirally rolled bones present within the nasal cavity of mammals ;
help in heating or cooling the incoming air; also provide additional sensory area ; also
known as Naso-turbinal or Turbinal bones,
Secondary palate : shelf-like tructure separating the air passage from food passage
in the head ; occurs in crOcodiles and mammals.
Skeleton : aframework of hard material that gives shape to the body, provides
support and protection to the internal organs aud serves for attachment of muscles : may be
external to body (exoskeleton) or internal to the body (endoskeleton) in vertebrates both
Occur but endoskeleton is far more important.
Skull : see Cranium,
Shornum: longitudinal, ventral, median, unpaired skeletal structure present in the
 prescnt dorsally in the
Vertebra : One of a series of bony or ccrtilaginous structures
neural arch, centrum
trunk and tail (where present ): typically consists of a ncural canal,
vertebrac are lacking in
ncural spine, transverse process and zygapophyses ; fully-formed for the insertion
cyclostomes and Iungfishes : encloses and protccts the spinal cord also serves
of dorsal body muscles.
cartilaginous
Vertebral column : also known as backbone ; is a longitudinal bony or
column prescnt dorsally ; made up ofa series of separate units, th vertcbrac.
Vertebrarterial foramen: also known as vertcbro-arterial foramen or foramea
transversarium : small opening in the base of transyersc process of cervical vertebra of birds
and mammals ; vertebral artery and vein and a sympathctic nerve plexus pass through the
foramen,
Zygantrum : cavity or depression present on the posterior face of neural arch above
the post-zygapophysis in the vertebra of snake ; zygosphene of next vertebra fits into it;
together with zygosphene act as an additional interlocking device to present twisting.
Zygapophy sis : plate-like small projection present on the neural arch of vertebra
whea present on the anterior face it is called pre-zygapophysis ; when present on the posterior
face it is post-zygapophysis ; prezygapophysis is directed upward or dorsalward while the
post-zygapophysis is directed downward or ventralward ; articulating device to preveat undue
twisting of vertebral column,
Zygosphene : a process or projection present on the anterior face of neural arch above
the prezy gapophysis ; in vertebra of snake ; zygantrum of preceeding vertebra its into it ;
together with zygantrum form additional interlocking device to prevent twisting of vertebral
column.
 GILOSS ARY BONES 7

anterior part of trunk it is a part of axial skeleton but is secondarily associated with
appendicular skeleton: in flying birds and bats it has a Carina or keel for attachment of
flight muscles
Suture : Zigzag line of union between adjacent bones and/or cartilages.
Symphysis : union between same bone or bones of either side connected by ibrous
connective tissue ; allows small movement under pressure, found in lower jaw (mandibular
symphysis) and pelvic girdle ; when Pubes of both sides unite in symphysis it
sy mphysis (e.g. primates and inscctivores) ; when both Ischia and Pubes take part,it is called
Pubo-ischiatic symphysis ; (anurans, urodeles, chelonians, crocodiles, lizards, Sphenodon,
most mammals); pelvic symphysis is absent in birds; in snakes, the mandibular symphysis is
formed by elastic fibres so that duripg feeding two halves of lower jaw can be widely
separated allowing larger animals to be taken into the mouth,
Synsacrum : a median, dorsal plate-like structure in between the 2 halves of pelvic
girdle in birds ; formed by the fusion of posterior thoracic, all lumbar, all sacral and feg
anterior caudal vertebrae.
Temporal arch : bony bar bounding the temporal fossa in reptilian skull; where 2
arches are present (diapsid skull) the upper arch is called superior and the lower one is
called inferior.
Temporal fossa or vacuity: space or cavity in the lateral wall of skull of reptiles in
the temple region bebind the orbits ; number of fossa may be none (Turtles and torteises ),
1(extinct therapsids and ichthyosa urs ) or 2 (lizards, snakes, Sphenodon, crocodiles ).
Thecodont tooth : tooth located within a socket in the bone ; found in crocodiles and
mammals, (Fig. 1,2 )
Thoracic vertebra : vertebra of chest or thorax ; has well-developed neural spine and
facets for attachment of ribs:found in amniota,
Tibia and Fibula : bones of shank of bindlimb ; occur in tetrapods except where the
bindlimb is secondarily lost ; completely fused in anurans ; distinct and unfused in urodeles
andamniotes ; in birds and in mammals tibia is stout while fibula is very slender,
Tooth : hard, dense, hollow structure present in the mouthcavity of gnathostome
vertebrates except where secondarily lost (c. g toad, turtles, tortoises, birds, monotremes, ant
eaters, ete. ) ; structurally made up of an outer Enamel (mammals ) or Vitro-dentine (non
mammals ), middle Dentine and an inner Palp cavity filled with highly vascularised soft
connective tissue,
Trochanter rough bony projection from the proximal end of Femur of amniotes ;
number may be 3(greater, lesser and third--rabbit, horse ), 2 ( greater and lesser--guincapig,
man ) or 1 ( Calotes,Columba ).
Iympanic bulla : See Bulla,