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Skeletal System Comparative Anatomy Lab
Pre-Lab Questions
1. What do you think the functions of the skeletal system are?
2.
What do you think the structures of the skeletal system are?
3.
What do you think the benefits are of having a backbone?
4. How do you anticipate that the skeletons of fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals will differ from one another?
Station 1: Read pages 915-917 in the red Integrated Science book and answer the following questions.
1. What are the functions of the skeletal system?
2. Draw a cross section of a bone and label the periosteum, compact bone, and spongy bone.
3. What is the function of bone marrow?
Station 2: Compare and contrast the skeletons of various vertebrate species. How are the skeletons similar to one another? How
do they differ from one another?
Organism
Similarities between different organisms
Unique characteristics
Fish
Amphibian (Frog)
Reptile (Lizard)
(picture)
Reptile (Snake)
Bird
Mammal (Rat)
Mammal (Human)
(picture)
4. Which structures above do you think are shared derived characteristics? Describe your evidence.
Station 3:
5. Compare and contrast the teeth of the carnivore and herbivore in Figure 4 on p.539 of the green Integrated Science Book. How
do the diets of these organisms influence the types of teeth that are present (incisors, canines, molars, or premolars)?
6. Compare the skulls of the zebra (p. 16 of the Skull book) and the American Alligator (p. 32). Based upon the structure of their
teeth, predict what these organisms would eat.
Station 4: Functions of the Forelimb Compare and contrast the bones of the forelimb for each vertebrate. Measure the lengths of
the humorous and radius for each species and calculate the ratio of the radius to humorous for each group. Finally, describe the
functions of each forelimb.
Organism
Common Name for
Function of Forelimb Length of Radius
Length of Humerus Ratio of radius to
Forelimb
humerus
Reptile: Frog
Reptile: Lizard
Bird
Mammal: Whale
Mammal: Cow
Mammal: Human
Mammal: Bat
7. Do you think that the forelimb is a homologous structure or an analogous structure between these different organisms? What is
your evidence?
8. Both birds and bats have evolved the ability to fly. Do you think wings are a homologous or an analogous structure? What is your
evidence?
9. Describe the selective pressures that led to the evolution of each vertebrates’ forelimb.
Station 5: Skeletal Systems of Birds
10. Read page 528 in the green Invertebrate Zoology text. How are bird skeletons unique?
Station 2: Lizard Skeleton Picture
Station 2: Human Skeleton
Station 4: Forelimb