Vertebrate Zoology Lab Practical 2 - Nervous, Respiratory, Circulatory, Digestive

Auditory (Tympanic) Bulla

An enlarged capsule that houses the inner ear in mammals; derived in part from the angular bone.

Brain

An enlargement of the anterior portion of the dorsal nerve chord; located within the cranium in all vertebrates.

Dorsal Nerve Chord

Component of the Nervous System; hollow nerve cord responsible for rapid internal signaling and information processing via electrical impulses.

External Auditory Meatus

The external opening to the ear canal.

Eye

Paired (in vertebrates) structures for detecting light and processing visual information.

Nostril

External opening used for olfaction. In fishes, it is distinct from respiratory structures, but in tetrapods it connects to the respiratory system and is also used for breathing.

Pinna (plural Pinnae)

The fleshy external ear of mammals that direct sound to the external auditory meatus.

Spinal Cord

The main, dorsal nerve cord in vertebrates that is contiguous with the brain.

Stapes

A middle ear bone of tetrapods.

Tympanum

Eardrum; a disk-like membrane that picks up sound vibrations.

Diaphragm

A large skeletal muscle that separate the thoracic and abdominal cavities in mammals and functions in respiration (breathing).

External Nares

Opening to the nasal (olfactory) cavity.

Internal Nares

The opening of the nares located inside the oral or buccal cavity.

Glottis

The opening in the oral or buccal cavity leading to the trachea.

Lung

A typically sac-like organ (usually paired) filled with air that carries out gas-exchange (respiration).

Syrinx (plural Syringes)

The sound-producing organ in birds, located at the junction of the trachea and bronchi (lungs).

Trachea

A tube-like structure (typically with cartilaginous rings) that connects the pharynx with the lungs.

Atrium

A thinner-walled chamber of the heart that pumps blood into a ventricle.

Aorta

A major blood vessel that carries blood away from the heart and to the tissues.

Heart

Muscular organ the pumps blood.

Ventricle

The most muscular, primary pumping portion of the heart, divided into right and left portions in some amniotes.

Spleen

An organ (part of the circulatory and immune system) that filters blood and regulates and/or produces red blood cells.

4nus

The posterior end of the digestive tract through which undigested waste is eliminated.

Cecum

A sac-like extension of the digestive tract; in invertebrate chordates it stores lipids and glycogen and may be homologous to the liver; in vertebrates, it is located at the junction of the small and large intestine and houses bacteria that aid in digestion.

Colon

The large intestine; the posterior portion of the intestine that is usually larger in diameter (but shorter) than the small intestine; function to absorb nutrients, secondary fermentation and absorption of water.

Crop

A thin-walled expansion of the esophagus of birds that functions to temporarily hold food (and secretes crop milk in pigeons).

Duodenum

The first (anterior most) portion of the small intestine; the primary site of chemical digestion of food.

Esophagus

A portion of the digestive tract between the pharynx and the stomach or intestine.

Gall Bladder

A sac-like organ near the liver that stores bile (used to aid the digestion of lipids).

Ileum (NOTE SPELLING!)

The posterior portion of the small intestine that functions primarily in the absorption of nutrients.

Intestine

Elongated portion of the digestive tract posterior to the stomach; function in chemical digestion of food and absorption of nutrients.

Jejuno-ileum

The remainder of the small intestine posterior to the duodenum.

Liver

An accessory organ of the digestive system that stores lipids and glycogen, and regulates blood nutrients; breaks down toxins.

Mouth

The anterior opening of the digestive system for food intake.

Pancreas

An accessory organ of the digestive system that secretes digestive enzymes into the duodenum and also produces some regulatory hormones.

Pharynx

The throat; the part of the digestive canal immediately behind the mouth.

Proventriculus

The glandular anterior portion of the bird stomach that secretes digestive enzymes and acids.

Rectum

Connects the colon and 4nus.

Small Intestine

The anterior portion of the intestines that is generally smaller in diameter (but often longer) than the large intestine.

Stomach

A compact organ of the digestive tract that concentrates and breaks down food; often muscular.

Tongue

A muscular structure located in the buccal cavity and used to manipulate food.