Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy Goals, ZOOL 320, Spring 2008

Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy (ZOOL 321) Questions & Goals

Here you will find lecture questions and goals throughout the semester. This site is updated as the semester goes on.

You should read these questions prior to doing the assigned reading for the day -- you will find that these questions help you come away with a better understanding of the reading material.

Huge hint: these questions form the basis of quizzes and exams in this course. If you can answer these questions, you are on your way to doing well on quizzes and exams.

Please note: this site is maintained and provided to help you by Dr. Bonnan. The university does not mandate that Dr. Bonnan keep such a site, nor does it require that he provide you with any additional note-taking help at all. Dr. Bonnan provides this as a courtesy to you, the student, and expects that you will respect his time and efforts at maintaining such a site.

This site may not always be instantaneously updated throughout the course. The best place to get the lecture notes is during lecture. Although Dr. Bonnan will attempt to keep this site up-to-date, complaints about how current it is or its content will result in its removal from the internet.

Key: DoV = Dissection of Vertebrates book; The Reader refers to the on-line, PDF reader that gives synopses of important material covered in your text, the Functional Anatomy of the Vertebrates (abbreviated FAoV in the Reader). IMPORTANT: You will not see FAoV chapters listed here precisely because they are outlined in the appropriate chapters of the reader. Make sure you read your FAoV text, espeicially the portions emphasized in the on-line Reader.

The on-line Reader can be found via WebCT to registered students.

EXAM 5 (New, Non-cumulative Final Material) / Lab Practical 5 Material

Amniotes: Digestive & Respiratory Systems of the Cat: Chapter 7 [see also Reader]

See the Revised Reader Appendix on-line for the structures of the digestive and respiratory systems you are responsible for.
How many pairs of salivary glands does the cat have? Where can they be found and what are their names?
Where will you see the facial nerve? Where will you see the lingual nerve? What cranial nerve is the lingual nerve a branch of? [this part in lecture]
Why is it more appropriate to refer to the oral cavity rather than the more generic term, mouth?
What is the functional significance of the palatal rugae and the various tongue papillae? [in lecture]
What is the functional significance of the epiglottis?
Where do you find the vocal cords of the cat?
What is the functional significance of the mediastinum?
What is the functional significance of the phrenic and vagus nerves? [in lecture]
How much should you expose the bronchi of the lungs and the heart at this time?

Digestive System -- Part 2 (April 23)
What is the functional significance of the mesenteries?
Where would you find the omental bursa (greater omentum) and the lesser omentum?
What structures pass through the lesser omentum?
Can you identify each of the major digestive organs and their function?
In a predatory mammal like the cat, why is the large intestine so short? What would you predict for an herbivorous mammal? Why? [in lecture]
For the pancreas, what is the difference between the exocrine and endocrine portions? [some in lecture, some in text]

Amniotes: Viscera and Vessels of Pigeon: Chapter 8 [see also Reader]

See the Revised Reader Appendix on-line for the structures of the digestive and respiratory systems you are responsible for
How does the respiratory sysetem of birds allow them to extract enough oxygen for the high-powered demands of flight? [in lecture, lab manual, text, and Reader]
Is the heart of the pigeon three-chambered or four-chambered? How does it differ from that of a mammal?
Does the pigeon have a renal portal system? Why or why not? [lecture & Reader]
Do birds have a urinary bladder? Why or why not? [lab manual, Reader, & text]
Do birds have two oviducts or just one? Why? [lecture & see text]

Amniotes: Cardiovascular System of the Cat: Chapter 7 [see also Reader]

What is the basic pattern of blood flow through the cat’s heart? [in text & lecture]
Is this blood flow pattern similar to that of a bird? [in lecture and in text, Chapter 8]
Does the heart receive its own blood supply?
What is the difference between a vein and an artery?
What is the functional significance of the ligamentum arteriosum?
Why are the pulmonary arteries injected with blue dye in your cat?
Why are the pulmonary veins injected with red dye in your cat?
What is the azygous vein homologous to in the shark & mudpuppy? [in lecture]
What is the functional significance of the sympathetic trunk?
Why doesn’t the cat (or any mammal, for that matter) have a renal portal system? [in lecture]
Does the hepatic portal system of the cat work in ways similar to those of the other vertebrates examined in this course? [in lecture]
What is the functional significance of the umbilical arteries & veins? [in lecture]

Amniotes: Urogenital System of the Cat: Chapter 7 [see also Reader]

See the Revised Reader Appendix on-line for the structures of the urogenital systems you are responsible for.
Are the kidneys of the cat retroperitoneal?
Embryonically, what is different about the kidneys of amniotes, like the cat? [in lecture]
What happens to the mesonephric kidney in male amniotes, like the male cat? [in lecture]
Physiologically, what occurs in the renal cortex & medulla? [in lecture]
What is the functional significance of the cremasteric pouches & musculature in the male cat? [in lecture & text]
Embryonicallly, where is the ductus deferens derived from in male cats (and other mammals & amniotes)? [in lecture]
You do not need to dissect or section the penis of the cat – you are not responsible for identifying the bulbocavernosus muscle, corpus spongiosum, corpora cavernosa penis, or connective tissue septum in the penis.
Do the oocytes (eggs) of the female cat (or other mammals) still “fall” into the body cavity before being “caught” by the fimbriae of the oviduct? [in lecture]
What urogenital structures unite to form the vestibule of the female cat?
What is the clitoris homologous to in the male?
What are the labia homologous to in the male? [in lecture]

Amniotes: Brain & Cranial Nerves of the Cat: Chapter 7; Tetrapod nervous systems [see Reader]

See revised Reader Appendix for which structures of the sheep brain you need to know, and which you need to know on the brain models.
What is the functional significance of the meninges? [in lecture]
What is the functional significance of the piriform lobe in mammals? [in lecture]
What is the functional significance of the superior & inferior colliculi in mammals? [in lecture]
What is the functional significance of the mammilary body in mammals?
What are the major functions of the cranial nerves in mammals?

EXAM 4 / Lab Practical 4 Material

Amniotes: Cranial Skeleton of the Cat: Chapter 7

Classify the cat according to the lab book's scheme.
Where does the cat fit within mammalian phylogeny?
Does a cat (or any other mammal) have a chondrocranium, splanchnocranium, and dermatocranium?
What is the functional significance of the temporal fossa?
What is the functional significance of the temporal lines?
What is the functional significance of the different tooth morphologies found in the cat?
What is the functional significance of the turbinate bones?
How many inner ear bones (ossicles) does the cat have? How is this related to jaw evolution in mammals?
How many lower jaw bones does a cat have? What is the correct, anatomical name of this bone?
What two bones comprise the jaw joint in cats (and other mammals)? Why is there this evolutionary change? [in lecture & reader]
What is the functional significance of the hyoid apparatus?

Amniotes: Postcranial Skeleton of the Cat: Chapter 7

What is the functional significance of the intevertebral foramina between the vertebrae?
Functionally, what movements are possible between the atlas and axis cervical vertebrae?
What is functionally distinctive about the thoracic vertebrae? In other words, what do they articulate with that no other vertebrae do?
What bones does the sacrum articulate with?
What is the functional significance of the hemal arches?
What is the functional significance of the ribs and sternum?
Do the scapula and clavicles of the cat articulate with one another? Why do you think the clavicles of the cat are the size they are?
How does the morphology of the humerus, radius, and ulna collectively allow pronation of the manus? [in lecture & reader]
Where does the head of the femur articulate?
What is the functional significance of the patella? [in lecture & reader]
What is the functional significance of the calcaneum? [in lecture & reader]

Amniotes: Skeleton of Pigeon: Chapter 8

Classify the pigeon according to the lab book's scheme.
What is the phylogenetic position of birds within vertebrates?
What two bones form the jaw joint in birds?
How are the cervical vertebrae of the bird different from that of the cat?
What is the functional significance of the synsacrum and the pygostyle?
What is the functional significance of the vertebral and sternal ribs, and the large sternum?
What is the functional significance of the triosseal canal?
How many digits are present in the manus of the bird? What number is each digit given?
Why is there a tibiotarsus but not simply a tibia? A tarsometatarsus and not simply metatarsals?
How many digits make up the pes?

Amniotes: External Anatomy of the Cat: Chapter 7

What is the functional significance of the pinnae and vibrissae in the cat?
What is the functional significance of the tori in cats?
What are the major connective tissues and features of the muscular system?
How does one determine the action of a muscle from its origin and insertion? [in lecture & reader]
What is the functional significance of the cutaneous maximus muscle?
If you are skinning a female cat, should you keep the mammary glands?
If you are skinning a male cat, what should you watch for when dissecting the abdominal region?

Amniotes: Appendicular Muscles of the Cat – Forelimb: Chapter 7

Can you identify the general origin, general insertion, and main actions of the major muscle groups of the forelimbs? (see Table 7.2 & in lecture)? In other words, do you know what bone(s), in general, the muscles originate from and insert into?
Can you identify the specific origin, insertion, and main action of these muscles?: Acromiodeltoid, Biceps brachii, Brachioradialis, Cleidomastoid, Infraspinatus, Latissimus dorsi, Pectoralis major, Subscapularis, Supraspinatus, Teres minor, Triceps brachii (as a whole, not each separate head), and Xiphihumeralis.
What muscle in the cat’s forelimb is homologous to the cucullaris in the shark? [in lecture & text]
What muscles suspend the scapula & forelimb on the body? [in lecture, reader, & text]
What muscles in the cat’s forelimb are homologous to the supracoracoideus in the pigeon? [in lecture, reader, & text]
What muscles in the cat’s forelimb are considered part of the “rotator cuff”? [in lecture, reader, & text]
What is the significance of the brachial plexus? [in lecture & text]

Amniotes: Appendicular Muscles of the Cat – Hindlimb: Chapter 7

Can you identify the general origin, general insertion, and main actions of the major muscle groups of the hindlimbs? (see Table 7.3 & in lecture)? In other words, do you know what bone(s), in general, the muscles originate from and insert into?
Can you identify the specific origin, insertion, and main action of these muscles?: Adductor femoris, Adductor longus, Biceps femoris, Extensor digitorum longus, Flexor digitorum longus, Gastrocnemius, Gluteus superficialis/maximus, Iliopsoas, Perneous longus, Tibialis cranialis/anterior.
What muscles in the cat’s hindlimb are the major “jumping” muscles? [in lecture & reader]
What muscles in the cat’s hindlimb would you identify as the “quadriceps”? The “hamstrings”? [in lecture & reader]
What nerve innervates the extensor compartment of the leg? [in lecture & reader]

Amniotes: Musculature of the Pigeon: Chapter 8

What is the functional significance of the supracoracoideus muscle in birds?
What is the supracoracoideus muscle homologous to in the cat? [in lecture & reader]
Why are the latissimus dorsi and rhomboideus muscles so small in birds?

Amniotes: Head & Trunk Musculature of the Cat: Chapter 7

What is the functional significance of the intercostal muscles?
What is the functional significance of the diagastric muscle in mammals? [in lecture, but can be pieced together from the text & reader]
What is the functional significance of the platysma and facial muscles in mammals? [in lecture & reader]
What is the functional significance of the temporalis, masseter, and pterygoid muscles?

EXAM 3 / Lab Pratical 3 Material

Amphibians: Skeletal Anatomy of the Frog: Chapter 1 (pp. 12-15), Chapter 6; Reader Chapter 9

Classify the frog according the lab book's scheme.
Is the skeletal anatomy of a frog typical or primitive for amphibians?
Should you be surprised to see Meckel’s cartilage in the frog skull? Why or why not?
Besides the premaxilla and maxilla, what other bones in the frog’s skull bear teeth?
What two bones make up the jaw joint of a frog?
What is the functional significance of the occipital condyle?
What is the functional significance of the columella? [see page 90 of DoV]
Do frogs have ribs?
What is the functional significance of the urostyle? [in lecture]
What is the name of the shoulder socket, and what bones form it?
How many digits are present on the manus and the pes?
How does bone & cartilage grow? [Reader / Lecture]
How does a long bone (endochondral bone) grow? [Reader / Lecture]
What is the difference between the epiphysis, metaphysis, and diaphysis? What happens in these areas? [Reader / Lecture]

Amphibians: External Anatomy and Mouth, Oral Cavity, and Pharynx: Chapters 5 &6; Reader Chapter 10

Mudpuppy:

Does the mudpuppy retain pharyngeal slits? If so, how many and where?
What is the functional significance of the internal choanae and glottis?

Frog:

What is meant by the terms brachium, antebrachium, manus, crus, and pes?
Does a frog possess internal choanae and a glottis? If so, what are their functional significance?
How does the tongue of a frog attach inside the oral cavity?
Where is the opening to the esophagus located?

Amphibians: Pleuroperitoneal Cavity and Viscera: Chapters 5 &6; Reader Chapter 10

Mudpuppy:

What is the functional significance of the greater omentum?
What is the functional significance of the pyloric sphincter?
Does the mudpuppy have an hepatic portal vein? If so, does it have the same function as in the shark?
What is the functional significance of the pancreas and spleen?
What is the difference between the cystic, hepatic, and common bile ducts?
Where do lungs develop from?
What is the structure & function of the lungs in amphibians?

Frog:
• Is the liver of the frog as large as that of the mudpuppy?
• What is the functional significance of the fat body?
• Does the frog have a urinary bladder?

Amphibians: Mudpuppy Urogenital System: Chapter 5; Reader Chapter 10

What is the functional significance of the archinephric duct in male mudpuppies?
Do male mudpuppies have an oviduct?
What is the function of the cloacal gland?
What structure supports the ovary in females?
What is the functional significance of the ostium?
What are the three embryonic kidneys?
Where do kidneys develop?

Amphibians: Mudpuppy Cardiovascular System: Chapter 5; Reader Chapter 11

What is the difference between the parietal and visceral pericardium?
Why is the ventricle of the heart so muscular? [in lecture]
Does the heart of a mudpuppy ever pump oxygen-rich blood?
What is the functional significance of the afferent and efferent branchial arteries?
What is the functional significance of the hepatic portal system?
What is the functional significance of the renal portal system?
Developmentally, how many aortic arches are presented in gnathostomes (jawed vertebrates)?
What is the functional significance of the ductus arteriosus in amphibians?

EXAM 2 / Lab Practical 2 Material

Fishes: Shark Digestive & Respiratory Systems: Chapter 3, Reader Chapter 4

What are the two majorfunctions of the mouth, oral cavity, and pharynx in the shark?
What is the functionalsignificance of mesenteries?
What is the functionalsignificance of the large liver in sharks?
What is the functionalsignificance of the spiral valve in the valvular intestine?
Why are the kidneyscalled retroperitoneal organs?

Fishes: Perch Digestive & Respiratory Systems: Chapter 4, Reader Chapter 4

What are thesimilarities and differences between the shark and perch mouth, oralcavity, and pharyngeal anatomy?
What is the functionalsignificance of the swim bladder? What is it homologous to in yourown anatomy?

Fishes: Circulatory System: Chapter 3, Reader Chapter 5

Does the heart of ashark ever pump oxygen-rich blood?
What is the functionalsignificance of the afferent and efferent branchial arteries?
Why would there bespiracular arteries?
What is the source ofthe oxygen-rich blood the dorsal aorta receives?
What is the functionalsignificance of the hepatic portal system?
What is the functionalsignificance of the renal portal system?
Why are many largesystemic veins called sinuses?

Fishes: Urogenital System: Chapter 3, Reader Chapter 6

Why are the kidneyscalled retroperitoneal organs?
Is fertilization inthe shark internal or external? How do you know?
Is there a directconnection between the ovaries and oviducts?
Why is the kidneysmaller in females than in males?

Fishes: Sensory Organs: Chapter 3, Reader Chapter 7

What is the functionalsignificance of the Ampullae of Lorenzini?
Do the olfactory sacshave a connection to the oral cavity?
Does the oculomotorcranial nerve innervate all of the muscles of the eye?
What is the functionof the semicircular canals, the sacculus, and the lagena?

Fishes: Brain and Cranial Nerves: Chapter 3, Reader Chapter 8

What are the majorfunctions of the five major brain regions?
What is the functionalsignificance of the ventricles and the tela choroidea?
How many formallyrecognized cranial nerves does a shark have? How is this similar ordifferent from a mammal, and why?
What do the cranialnerves innervate?

EXAM 1 / Lab Practical 1 Material

Reader, Chapter 1

Define the theory of biological evolution in a signle sentence.
How does natural selection support the theory of biological evolution?
What is natural selection and how does it relate to evolution?
Where do genes fit into the theory of evolution?
Is historical science “worse” than experimental science?

DoV: Front Matter & Chapter 1

How many main sets of directional terms are used in anatomical studies, which will we prefer to use in this class, and why?
How do we depict and understand vertebrate evolution and relationships?
What types of similarities do we use to reconstruct vertebrate relationships?
What major clade do the vertebrates belong to, and what synapomorphies unite them in this clade?
What is the difference between a craniate and a vertebrate? Can you be both?

DoV: Chapter 2 – The Lamprey

Classify the lamprey according to the book’s scheme.
What is the velum and why would this be an important anatomical structure for the lamprey?
Does a lamprey have bone? Does it have vertebrae?
Where is the pleuroperitoneal cavity of the lamprey located, and what major organs are contained within it?
Do lampreys have stomach? Why or why not?
Starting from the heart, what is the general pathway of the blood?

DoV: Skeletal Anatomy of Fishes: Chapters 3 & 4; Reader, Chapter 2
Shark:

Classify the dogfish shark according to the book’s scheme.
What are the basic properties of cartilage?
What is the difference between the chondrocranium and the splanchnocranium?
Are the pectoral and pelvic girdles attached to the vertebral column or skull?
What do the terms palatoquadrate and Meckel’s cartilage refer to? Why would these be especially significant in sharks?
What does the centrum of a vertebra encapsulate? What is encapsulated by the neural arch?
Where, specifically, do the pectoral and pelvic fins articulate with their respective girdles?

Perch:

Classify the perch according to the book’s scheme.
What are the basic properties of bone?
Does a perch (or any other bony fish) have a chondrocranium, splanchnocranium, and dermatocranium? [in lecture]
What is the functional significance of the operculum in the perch and other bony fishes?
What is the functional significance of the suspensorium bones in the skull?
Which two bones comprise the jaw joint of the perch?
How many pairs of ribs are present in bony fishes?
How is the pectoral girdle attached to the perch’s body?

External Fish Anatomy; Skinning the Shark: Chapters 3 & 4
Shark:

What is the function of the shark’s scales?
How many openings does the naris of the shark contain?
Where is the spiracle located, and what do you imagine it does?
What are the interbrachial septa, and where are they located?
How do you determine the sex of a dogfish shark?
What is the functional significance of the lateral line canal & lateral line system in sharks and other fishes?
What is the functional significance of the endolymphatic ducts and ampullae of Lorenzini?

Perch:

What is the functional significance of the premaxilla and maxilla bones in the perch?
What type of scales do perch have, and what is their functional significance?
How is the arrangement of the pectoral and pelvic fins in the perch different from that of the shark?

Fishes: Muscular System of the Shark: Chapter 3; Reader, Chapter 3

What is the difference between epaxial and hypaxial muscles, and what do these muscles do functionally?
Functionally, what do the branchiomeric muscles do?
From an evolutionary perspective, what can we say about the significance of the branchiomeric muscles?
Functionally, what do the hypobranchial muscles do?

Last updated March 22, 2008, by M.F. Bonnan.