Poultry Improvement Project

The Skeletal System

Skeleton of the Chicken

• Basic skeleton is similar to other mammals with several differences.

• Birds possess a pair of extra bones in the shoulder area called the coracoids.

– This pair of bones facilitates wing movement and offers additional support for the wings.

– Also the cervical vertebrae (neck bones) form an S-shaped column connecting the body to the head.

• When the bird lands, the pressure is exerted thoughout the body and the S-shaped column acts as a spring.

• The vertebrae along the trunk and body are fused together to provide support for the wings.

• Skeletal system is connected to the respiratory system and many bones are pneumatic.

• Pneumatic bones are hollow and are connected to the respiratory system, thereby serving as a reservoir for air and reducing the weight of the bird for flight.

Vertebrae Column

• Includes• skull

• humerus

• keel

• clavicle

• lumbar

• sacral