The document summarizes key aspects of chicken skeletal structure in 3 paragraphs. It describes how (1) pneumatic bones are hollow and connected to the respiratory system, examples being the skull, humerus, and sternum; (2) medullary bones are an important calcium source for egg shell formation; and (3) the skull has small bones protecting the rear processing structures and a food-handling area in front, with the frontal, parietal, and temporal bones making up the cranium.

1. Chicken Skeletal

2. Pneumatic bones
• The pneumatic bones are important to the
chicken for respiration.
• They are hollow bones
• connected to the chicken’s respiratory system and
are important for the chicken
• Examples of pneumatic bones:
– skull, humerus, clavicle, keel(sternum)
– pelvic girdle
– lumbar and sacral vertebrae.

3. Medullary bones
• The medullary bones are an important source of
calcium for the laying hen.
• Calcium is the primary component of egg shells and a
hen
– Mobilizes 47% of her body calcium to make an egg shell.
• Examples:
– tibia, femur, pubic bones, ribs, ulna, toes, and scapula.

4. Skull

5. SKULL
• Skull of the chicken is made up many
small bones.
• The rear protects all the structures needed
for input and processing of information.
• The front is a food procuring and handling
area.

6. SKULL
• The largest bones in
the chicken face are
called frontal,
parietal and
temporal bone.
• They make up the
cranium which is the
back of the chicken
head. There is also a
mandible which is
another word for
the jaw bone.

7. Sternum

8. STERNUM
• large and positioned under the body
• Pectoral flight muscles are attached to this
bone