Poultry Anatomy & Physiology — Chapter 2 Vocabulary Flashcards

Poultry Biology Basics

Poultry science is the study of all aspects of poultry, including production.
Ornithology is the study of birds.
Anatomy: science of the structure of animals; derived from the Greek word to cut up.
Physiology: science that deals with the functions of the living organism and its parts.

There are 11 body systems in the animal body.
The 11 systems are: Integumentary, Skeletal, Muscular, Respiratory, Circulatory, Immune, Nervous, Endocrine, Excretory, Reproductive, Digestive.

In poultry, the skin and feathers collectively form the integument (outer protection).
Functions: protect from injury; help maintain a relatively constant body temperature; aid in flight; act as receptors for sensory stimuli.
Skin is thin; yellow skin in some birds due to xanthophylls from feed.
Specialized structures: comb, wattles, snood (turkeys), earlobes, beak, claws, and spurs.
Preen gland.

Major externally visible parts include: comb, head, eye, nostril, neck, beak, breast, wing, tail feathers, shank, hock, foot with toes, wattle, ear, ear lobe.
Rooster vs hen features include variations in combs, saddle/hackle, cape, and tail structures.

The comb is usually red and comes in several shapes: 1) single, 2) rose, 3) pea, 4) cushion, 5) buttercup, 6) strawberry, 7) V-shaped.
Wattles: red, pendulous at base of beak and upper throat.
Snood: fleshy protuberance at the base of the upper beak (turkeys).
Beak, claws, and spurs are horny, keratinized structures.

Feathers are epidermal outgrowths forming the plumage.
Hatchlings have down feathers (plumules) which are replaced by coarser adult feathers.
Adult feathers are of 3 types: contour feathers, plumules, and filoplumes.
1) Contour feathers have 4 parts: quill, shaft (rachis), fluff/undercolor, and web; the web is formed by barbs with barbules; undercolor is barbs with no barbules.
2) Plumules: soft downy undercoat; short rachis; barbs and barbules radiate freely.
3) Filoplume: short, flexible rachis with barbules at the apex.
Feathers are distributed in well-defined tracts on the skin.

Contour feathers have: quill, rachis, fluff/undercolor, and web; barbs and barbules maintain the feather surface.
Calamus and umbilici are other structural terms sometimes used in cross-sections.

Key differences: feathers; lack of teeth; eggs; ability to float and fly; waste excreted from a single cloacal opening (cloaca).