Avian cranio-cervical systems. Part I: Anatomy of the cervical column in the chicken (Gallus gallus L.).

Abstract

The osteology, arthrology and myology of the cervical column in the chicken (Gallus gallus L.) are described. The description serves as a basis for comparative and mechanical analysis of the development of stereotypic behavioural patterns. The section on osteology describes about 20 occipital elements and over 50 vertebral elements, and also informs about size differences of homologous vertebral elements. A series of suggestions concerning terminological questions refers to earlier nomenclatures. The section on arthrology comprises descriptions of intra-, capsular and extra-capsular ligaments, as well as a description of the boundaries of the work-envelope of the cervical column from an X-ray analysis. The section on myology comprises a detailed description of the occipito-cervical, ventral and dorsal subsystems of the cervical column. Special attention is given to often incompletely described muscles like the medial part of the musculus flexor colli, the musculus longus colli ventralis, the medial part of the musculus longus colli dorsalis pars caudalis.