COMPARATIVE ANATOMY 3023 By Brian Matchett and Alyson Walaskay

COMPARATIVE ANATOMY
3023
By
Brian Matchett and Alyson Walaskay
WHAT IS
COMPARATIVE
ANATOMY?
Comparative Anatomy
• The study of and comparison of body parts
of different species
Comparative Anatomy Includes:
•
Change, adaptation, and mutation of species
•
The invasion of new territories
•
Species compatibility with surroundings
How Can Comparative Anatomy
Help Us?
• Understand our history
• Consider plans for change
• Improve animal genetics
• Preserve endangered species
Why Should We be Aware of
Comparative Anatomy?
• Variations in care for animals
• Differences in animal habits
Adaptation
• Genetic and physiological changes that
occur due to pressures or changes in an
animal’s environment
Adaptation Changes
Examples:
• Forelimb of humans used for manipulating
• Webbed foot of seal used for swimming
• Front feet of a mole used for digging
Structural Development
• Homologous Structures
• Analogous Structures
Homologous Structures
• Have similar
structures, but
different uses
• E.g. Turtle leg
and bird wing
Analogous Structures
• Body parts similar in
use, but different in
structure
• E.g. Bird wing and
insect wing
Directional Terms
• Used to describe the positions of structures
on the body relative to other structures or
locations
Cranial – closer to the head of the animal
Caudal – closer to the tail
Medial – closer to the midline of the limb, trunk or head
Lateral – farther away from the midline
Dorsal – close rot the top side (back) of the animal
Ventral – closer to the bottom side (belly) of the animal
Proximal – closer to the attachment of the appendage to the
body
Distal – farther away from the attachment of the body
Comparative Anatomy of Typical
Farm Animal Species Includes
• Skeletal Structures
• Reproduction
• Digestive Systems
Skeletal Structures
• Protects vital organs
and gives basic form
and shape to an
animals body
Reproduction
• The production of live,
normal offspring
Puberty – age at which reproductive organs become
functionally operative
Gestation – time from breeding or conception of a female
until she gives birth to her young
Estrus – time for acceptance of the male and normally
coincides approximately with ovulation
“Heat”
Estrous Cycle – Estrus cycle or the time from one estrus to
Digestion
• Includes all the organs that are involved in
the digestion of food
Types of Digestion
• Monogastric or Simple Stomach
• Ruminant
• Avian
Monogastric
• Characterized by the
inability to digest
roughage efficiently
• Enzymes used to
break food down
• Includes: humans,
swine, rabbits and
horses
Ruminant
• Handles the breakdown of large amounts
lignified fiber
• Has four different compartments:
– Rumen
– Reticulum
- Omasum
- Abomasum
• Includes: sheep, cows, goats
Avian
• Designed for grinding
hard or encased food
• Has a gizzard
• Have no teeth
• Includes: all birds
WEB CITATIONS
• BSC Courseware
http://tidepool.st.usm.edu/crswr/homologou
sstructs.html
• Homologous Structures
http://www.kent.wednet.edu/staff/rlynch/sci
_class/chap06/homologous.html
WEB CITATIONS cont.
• Animal Feeds and Nutrition
http://www.cals.ncsu.edu/course/ans012/gi_
tract.htm
• Michael's Photo Gallery
http://www.netaxs.com/~mhmyers/image.ht
ml