Poultry Anatomy
Poultry Anatomy
6-6-08
Poultry Anatomy
Objectives
After a student completed this module, he or she will be able to accomplish the following
1. On a real specimen or drawing of a young chicken, identify and locate the following
anatomical structures:
(a) External Anatomy:
(1) Uropygial gland/ oil gland/ oil sack/ preen gland
(2) Feather follicle
(3) Different feather tracts
(4) Comb
(5) Wattles
(6) Shank
(7) Hock joint
(8) Vent opening
(b) Internal Anatomy:
(1) Esophagus/ gullet/ goozle
(2) Crop/ ingluvies/ craw
(3) Proventriculus/ true stomach/ glandular stomach
(4) Ventriculus/ gizzard/ muscular stomach
(5) Small intestine
(6) Duodenum
(7) Pancreas (located in the loop of the duodenum)
(8) Large intestine/ rectum/ colon
(9) Cecum (a pair of ceca present)
(10)
Cloaca/ Vent (anus)
(11) Mesentery
vessels
(12) Heart
(13) Coronary
band
(14) Pericardial
sac
(15) Spleen
(16) Liver
(17) Gall
bladder
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(18) Kidneys
(19) Thymus
(20)
Bursa of fabricius
(21) Trachea/
windpipe
(22) Lungs
(23) Syrinx
(24) Air
sacs:
(a) Interclavicular
(b) Thoracic
(c) Abdominal
(25) Reproductive
system:
(a) Ovary/oviduct
(b) Testicles
(c) Skeletal anatomy:
(1) Vertebral column consists of:
(a) Cervical vertebrae
(b) Thoracic vertebrae
(c) Lumbar vertebrae
(d) Sacral vertebrae
(e) Coccygeal vertebrae
(2) Pectoral girdle consists of:
(a) Clavicle/ wishbone/ pulleybone/ furculum
(b) Coracoid
(c) Scapula/ shoulder blade
(3) Wing consists of:
(a) Humerus
(b) Radius
(c) Ulna
(d) Wing tip
(4) Pelvic girdle consists of:
(a) Ilium
(b) Ischium
(c) Pubis
(d) synsacrum
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(5) Legs consist of:
(a) Femur
(b) Tibia
(c) Fibula
(d) shank
(6) Other skeletal bones:
(a) Sternum/ keel/ breast bone
(b) Vertebral ribs
(c) Sternal ribs
2. Identify at least one general difference between avian species and mammals in the
following categories:
a. Lymphatic
system
b. Respiratory
system
c. Skeletal
system
d. Urinary
system
3. Identify three organs (glands or tissues) in the avian species that are major sites of
lymphatic tissue.
4. Identify the number of air sacs found in young chickens and indicate which are fused
or paired.
5. Name the air sac in young chickens that is observed on postmortem inspection and
has communication with bone.
6. Name three body systems in young chickens that terminate through the cloaca.
7. Name three organs or tissues that are present in the young bird or embryo that either
fail to develop or diminish in size as the bird matures.
8. Identify the anatomical location of diverticula from the interclavicular air sac.
9. Describe why inflammation of the interclavicular air sac is significant as compared to
inflammation of the abdominal air sacs.
10. Identify two reasons the skin of poultry may be different colors when observed at the
postmortem inspection station.
11. Name the organs used for giblets.
12. Name the bone that is located in the thigh.
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13. Name the two bones that are located in the drumstick.
14. Identify three major areas where fat is commonly stored in the live bird.
15. Define “debeaking” and identify the reason this practice is followed by many poultry
growers.
16. Identify at least two proposed functions of air sacs in live poultry.
17. Identify at least two reasons why the color of fat might differ between lots of young
chickens presented for postmortem inspection.
18. Identify the anatomical location of poultry kidneys.
19. Give the main function of each major organ or portion of the digestive tract.
20. Identify the only skin gland of significance in the chicken.
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Poultry Anatomy
Introduction
This module is designed to fill any voids you may have on poultry anatomy, and to
familiarize you with both the technical and common terms for different anatomical
features of poultry. The species selected to serve as our example throughout this
module is the young chicken.
External Anatomy
The comb and wattles are external structures on the head of poultry and are largely
ornamental. The size and color are associated with gonad development and secretion
of the sex hormones. The red color can be attributed to the high vascularity of the
dermis covering these structures. The comb and waddles have different characteristics
in male vs. female birds, and among different poultry species.
Snoods and whiskers (beards) are external structures only found in turkeys.
Feathers cover almost the entire surface of the bird. They grow from follicles, which
are organized into tracts. Feather tracts are named according to the structure they are
associated with. For example, the femoral feather tract is on the thigh, which contains
the femur. Most birds lose their feathers or mold once a year and replace their feathers
by growing new ones. Generally speaking, young chickens come to slaughter before
going through a complete molt.
The skin of chickens is thinner and more delicate than that of mammals. In addition, the
color of the skin varies. Some of the factors contributing to this variation of species, age,
diet and breed. The skin of young chickens at postmortem inspection may also be
affected by the scalder temperature.
The uropygial gland, preen gland, oil gland, or oil bag is considered the only
significant gland of the skin. It is located dorsally and near the tip of the tail. In the
chicken there are two lobes that drain through a median nipple-like papilla. The function
of the gland is somewhat uncertain but preening chickens take oil from this gland and
apply it to their feathers.
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Internal Anatomy
Respiratory System:
The respiratory system of birds is more complex than the mammalian counterpart. For
our purposes, the system in the bird is comprised of the trachea, syrinx, lungs, and air
sacs.
The trachea, or windpipe, is the structure through which air enters the bird, and has
cartilaginous rings along its length. The syrinx is located where the trachea bifurcates
(splits into two separate branches), and is similar to the larynx (voice box) of mammals.
Air passes through the trachea and at the terminal portions of the trachea the air sac
structures bud out. These are very thin, colorless membranes that, when inflated with
air, resemble tiny balloons inside the body cavity.
The function of the lungs is to facilitate gas exchange, as it is in mammals. However,
because avians have air sacs, air flows through avian lungs on both inspiration and
expiration. As well as functioning in respiration, air sacs may also regulate intrabody
pressure and body temperature. The number of air sacs varies in different species.
There is a chart in this module that lists the air sacs of each species of poultry.
The most anterior air sac is the cervical. It lies, as the name implies, in the neck area
and is not observed during postmortem inspection. It is the only air sac in the young
chicken not observed during postmortem inspection.
The next air sac, moving in a caudal direction, is the interclavicular air sac. Some
information to remember about this particular air sac is that it lies between the clavicles
(as the name implies), is the most anterior air sac observed on postmortem inspection,
and has communication with other tissues, including bone, through diverticula (tiny
fingerlike projections). The diverticula from the interclavicular air sac have the following
communications: (1) into the breastbone, (2) into the bones of the shoulder girdle, and
(3) around the shoulder joint.
The thoracic air sacs are next and lie in the rib cage area. In chickens and ducks there
are two pairs- anterior and posterior- whereas the turkey only has one pair of thoracic air
sacs.
The abdominal air sacs are paired and are located in the abdominal part of the body
cavity. Because of their location, these air sacs are typically destroyed or displaced
during the evisceration process.
Digestive System:
The digestive tract of the bird begins with the mouth, which does not contain lips or
teeth. As in mammals, the mouth is connected to the esophagus, also called the
goozle or gullet. In chickens the distal end of the esophagus has a specialized area for
the storage of feed called the, crop, craw, or ingluvies. The crop is located at the base
of the neck as it is viewed externally.
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Following the crop is another short section of esophagus ending in the stomach. In birds
the stomach consists of two parts. The proventriculus, also called the glandular
stomach or true stomach, is located caudal to the crop. It secretes hydrochloric acid
and pepsin, which are used to aid in protein digestion. The ventriculus, also called the
gizzard or the muscular stomach, is caudal to the proventriculus, and is much larger
and more muscular in appearance when compared to the proventriculus. The major
function of the ventriculus is to grind the food. This grinding action prepares the food for
digestion. Birds frequently deposit substantial amounts of fat around the gizzard.
The ventriculus empties into the small intestine, which consists of the duodenum, the
jejunum, and the ileum. The duodenal portion is the most cranial, and is significant
because the pancreas is located in the duodenal loop. The secretions of the pancreas
contain enzymes, which enter the duodenum through the pancreatic ducts. This organ
is seldom involved in pathology.
The large intestine consists of a pair of cecae and a short straight intestine, called the
colon or rectum. This section of large intestine is similar to the rectum of mammals.
The cloaca is the termination of the digestive system. This portion of the digestive
system represents a common passage for digestive, urinary, and reproductive systems.
The cloaca opens externally in what is called the vent.
The bursa of Fabricius is located as a diverticulum in the dorsal wall of the cloaca.
This bursa contains lymphatic tissue and has a function related to immunity and antibody
production. It regresses in size and disappears as the bird matures. On postmortem
inspection, the bursa of Fabricius is called the “rosebud”. When it is intact, it appears as
a small sac on the side of the cloaca. When it has been opened during the evisceration
process, it appears like a rosebud, which is the common name for this structure because
it has several small folds in its mucosal surface.
Birds that are healthy and well-nourished will usually deposit substantial amount of fat
throughout their tissues. The abdominal area and vent flaps are major fat depots, as are
the areas surrounding the gizzard and the coronary band of the heart. There may be
considerable variation in the color of poultry fat. Diet, age, health status, and breed are
all factors that can influence this color
The normal liver is a single organ which has two lobes. The color varies somewhat
depending on the fat content. Each lobe of the liver is drained by a bile duct. The right
lobe is drained by the hepatocystic duct and the left lobe is drained by the hepatoenteric
duct. The duct from the right lobe is enlarged to form the gallbladder. Both ducts enter
the small intestine together.
Circulatory System:
The heart of the chicken is four-chambered, like those of mammals, and beats at a rate
of 250 beats per minute for larger breeds and up to around 350 beats per minute for
smaller breeds. In contrast, the heart rate for human beings is typically around 80 beats
per minute. The deep body temperature of a chicken is around 107 degrees F, versus
that of mammals which is typically between 98 and 102 degrees F. Avian red blood
cells, or erythrocytes, are nucleated, whereas mammalian red blood cells are not.
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Some points to remember about the heart are that the heart’s coronary band (around the
top portion) has a normal fat structure that may show changes in quantity and
appearance when a systemic disease occurs. Other points to remember are that the
pericardial sac is the thin membrane that encloses the heart, and that they heart
normally has a small deposit of fat at the tip as well as around the coronary band.
Lymphatic System:
The lymphatic system of chickens does not contain lymph nodes and in general is poorly
developed when compared with mammals. There are several organs which contain
lymphatic tissue- the bursa of Fabricius, the spleen, and the thymus. The thymus
gland consists of about five pairs of pale pink, flattened, irregularly shaped lobes strung
out along both sides of the neck, just superficial to the jugular veins. The thymus
decreases in size as the bird matures.
The spleen is a small, round, soft organ similar in color to the liver. The normal spleen
is about ¾ inch in diameter, located near the ventriculus (gizzard) in the body cavity.
Histologically, it is composed of red and white pulp. The functions of the spleen include
phagocytosis of worn-out erythrocytes in red pulp, lymphocyte production in white pulp,
and antibody production in both the red and white pulp.
Urinary System:
The urinary system of the chicken does not contain a urinary bladder. There are two tri-
lobed kidneys, one on each side of the ventral surface of the vertebral column. This
pair of kidneys is embedded in the deep bony crypts of the pelvic and synsacral area of
the skeleton. Ureters carry the urinary waste to the cloaca. The uric acid is discharged
into the cloaca and excreted with the feces. The white pasty material in chicken
droppings is considered to be urinary system excretion. Birds excrete their nitrogen
waste as uric acid, whereas mammals excrete it in the form of urea.
Reproductive System:
The female reproductive system consists of the left ovary and oviduct. Although present
in the embryo, the right ovary and oviduct fail to develop. The oviduct terminates in the
cloaca.
The male reproductive system consists of two testicles, which secrete semen through a
vas deferens. The vas deferens terminates in the cloaca. The chicken has a
rudimentary penis.
Skeletal System:
The chicken’s beak is composed of hard keratinized epidermal tissue. This rostral
structure forms part of the upper and lower jaws. The beak functions much like the lips
and teeth of mammals. Debeaking is the removal of approximately one-half of the
upper and lower level. In some cases only the upper beak is removed. Debeaking has
been used in the poultry industry to prevent cannibalism.
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Some bones of the avian species are considered pneumatic as a result of diverticula
from the air sacs. These air sac diverticula result in a direct connection between the
respiratory system and the skeletal system of avians.
The vertebral column is divided into cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral, and coccygeal
areas:
1. The
cervical vertebrae are the neck bones.
2. The
thoracic vertebrae are those in the thoracic, or chest, area.
3. The
lumbar vertebrae are those in the abdominal area.
4. The
sacral vertebrae are those in the pelvic area.
5. The
coccygeal vertebrae are those in the tail area.
The bones of the pectoral girdle are the clavicle, coracoid, and scapula:
1. The
clavicle, also called the wishbone, pulleybone, or furculum, lies at the
base of the neck. It is a fused bone. The intraclavicular air sacs are located
between the two branches of the clavicle.
2. The
coracoid bones lie on either side of the ribcage, and attach the
shoulders to the breast bone. They lie just caudal to the clavicle, and are
thick bones when compared to the clavicle.
3. The
scapula, or shoulder blade, is a long thin bone which runs along the top
of each side of the ribcage.
The bones of the wing are the humerus, radius, ulna, and wingtip:
1. The
humerus is the upper wing bone. This bone has the same name as the
upper front leg bone in mammals, and the upper arm bone in humans.
2. The
radius is the small straight lower wing bone. This bone has the same
name as the larger lower front leg bone in mammals, and the lower arm bone
in humans.
3. The
wingtip bone is the bone at the very end of the wing. It is frequently
fractured during the slaughter process.
The pelvic girdle is composed of the synsacrum, ilium, ischium, and pubis (there is not
a pubic symphysis in the chicken skeleton, probably an adaptation for egg laying):
1. The lumbar, sacral, and first six caudal (coccygeal) vertebrae are fused into
an immobile dorsal bony structure referred to as the synsacrum.
2. The
ilium is part of the pelvic girdle, and is a flat bone on each side of the
anterior half of the synsacrum.
3. The
ischium is part of the pelvic girdle, and is a flat bone on each side of the
posterior half of the synsacrum.
4. The
pubis, also known as the pin bone, is a long thin bone that runs along
the ventral side of the ischium.
The leg of the chicken is composed of the femur, tibia, fibula, and shank:
1. The
femur is the upper leg bone, which is located in the thigh of the chicken,
as in mammals.
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2. The
tibia is the major lower leg bone, which is located in the drumstick of the
chicken, as in the lower leg of mammals.
3. The
fibula is a very small bone in the lower leg, or drumstick, of chickens. It
is much smaller than it is in mammals.
4. The
shank is the portion of the leg below the hock joint. It is normally
removed during the slaughter process along with the paw.
5. The
hock joint is located between the drumstick and the shank. It is
normally exposed for postmortem inspection.
The sternum, also called the keel or breast bone, is a single large bone on the ventral
surface of the body.
Ribs are divided into two types. The vertebral ribs are those that originate from the
vertebral column. The sternal ribs are those that originate from the sternum (keel,
breast bone).
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Definitions
Abdominal: pertaining to the abdomen, or belly.
Anterior: situated in front of or in the front part of the body.
Caudal: denoting a position more toward the cauda or tail.
Cervical: pertaining to the neck.
Coronary band: the area around the top (large) end of the heart.
Cranial: pertaining to the anterior end of the body.
Dermis: connective tissue underlying the skin.
Diverticulum: a fingerlike projection of a pouch or sac.
Dorsal: pertaining to the back.
Epidermal: pertaining to the skin.
Gonad: a sex organ, such as an ovary or a testicle, which produces the gametes (egg or
sperm).
Histologically: pertaining to the microscopic structure of a tissue.
Keratinized: made hard by the deposition of keratin, an insoluble protein.
Lateral: denoting a position farther from the median plane or midline of the body or of a
structure.
Lymphatic: pertaining to the lymph or immune system.
Medial: pertaining to the middle; closer to the median plane or to the midline of a body
or structure.
Mesentery: a membranous fold attaching various organs to the body wall.
Nucleated: having a cell nucleus.
Papilla: a small nipple-shaped projection, elevation, or structure.
Pectoral: pertaining to the breast or chest.
Pelvic: pertaining to the pelvis, or hip region.
Pneumatic: pertaining to air or respiration.
Posterior: situated in back of or in the back part of the body.
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Regress: subsiding, or returning to a former or earlier state.
Rudimentary: poorly developed and not functional.
Symphysis: a type of cartilaginous joint in which the apposed bony surfaces are firmly
united by a plate of fibrocartilage.
Thoracic: pertaining to the thorax, or chest.
Ventral: pertaining to the belly.
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Appendix
Air Sacs in Poultry
The air sacs are named according to their location:
1. Cervical-
neck
2. Interclavicular- between the wish bones (clavicle)
3. Anterior Thoracic- fore portion of the chest (thorax), below and in contact with the
lungs.
4. Posterior Thoracic- hind portion of the chest (thorax), behind the lungs in the area
between the lungs and the reproductive organs.
5. Abdominal- behind the last rib backward to the pelvic cavity. Air sacs form in the
embryo in pairs but some fuse forming a single sac. Not all classes of poultry have
the same number of air sacs because different species fuse different pairs of air
sacs. The following are the air sac specifications for different species of poultry:
DUCK
AIR
SACS
CHICKEN
AIR
SACS
Cervical 1
pair
Cervical 1
Pair
Interclavicular
Fused
Interclavicular
Fused
Anterior Thoracic
1 pair
Anterior Thoracic
1 pair
Posterior Thoracic
1 pair
Posterior Thoracic
1 pair
Abdominal
1
pair
Abdominal
1
pair
TURKEY AIR SACS
Cervical Fused
Interclavicular
1 pair
Thoracic 1
pair
Abdominal
1
pair
Air sac diverticula are out-branchings of the air sacs.
The cervical air sacs have diverticula into vertebrae of the neck, back and ribs.
The interclavicular air sacs have diverticula into the breast bones and the bones of the
shoulder girdle as well as around the shoulder joint.
The thoracic air sacs have no diverticula.
The abdominal air sacs invest the abdominal viscera and extend into the kidney crypts.
They have diverticula around the hip joints.
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Air Sac System of the Chicken
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A Comparison of Scientific Terms to Common Poultry Plant Terms:
Scientific Term
Plant Term
Uropygial gland
Oil gland, preen gland, oil bag
Stifle
joint
knee
joint
Esophagus
gullet,
goozle
Ingluvies
crop,
craw
Proventriculus
stomach
Ventriculus
gizzard
Cloacal bursa (Bursa of Fabricius)
rosebud, flower
Ceca
blind
guts
Trachea windpipe
Syrinx
voice
box
Lungs
lights
Pericardium
heart
sac
Tibia
and
fibula drumstick
Femur
thigh
bone,
thigh
Pubis
pin
bone
Clavicles
(fused)
wishbone
Sternum
keel,
breast
bone
Fused
metacarpals
wing
tip
Radius
and
ulna
wing
portion
Humerus
peg
leg
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WORKSHOP
1. List two general differences between avian species and mammals with respect to the
following body systems:
a. Lymphatic
System
b. Respiratory
System
c. Skeletal
System
d. Urinary
System
e. Reproductive
System
2. List three organs (glands or tissues) in the avian species that contain lymphatic
tissue:
3. List the air sacs found in young chickens and indicate which are fused or paired:
4. Name the air sac in young chickens that is observed on postmortem inspection and
has communication with bone:
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5. List three body systems in young chickens that terminate through the cloaca:
6. List three organs or tissues that are present in the young bird or embryo that either
fail to develop or become absent in the mature bird:
7. Give the anatomical location of diverticula from the interclavicular air sac:
8. Describe why inflammation of the interclavicular air sacs is significant in the
slaughter and processing of poultry carcasses as compared to inflammation of the
abdominal air sacs:
9. List two reasons the skin of poultry may be different colors when observed at the
postmortem inspection station:
10. List the bone that is located in the thigh:
11. List the organs used for giblets:
12. List the two bones that are located in the drumstick:
13. List three major areas where fat is commonly deposited in the live bird:
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14. Match the anatomical part with the letter from Figure 1 on the next page. Some
letters may be used more than once.
Uropygial
gland
_____________________
Wing
tip
____________________
Sternum
_____________________
Shank
_____________________
Hock
joint
_____________________
Femoral feather tract
_____________________
Wattle
_____________________
Crural feather tract
_____________________
Beak
_____________________
Pectoral feather tract
_____________________
Oil
gland
_____________________
Breast
_____________________
Comb
_____________________
Thigh
_____________________
Preen
gland
_____________________
Drumstick
_____________________
Oil
bag
_____________________
Keel _____________________
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Figure 1
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15. Match the anatomical part with the letter from Figure 2 on the next page. Some
letters may be used more than once.
Tibia
_____________________
Breast
bone
____________________
Coracoid
_____________________
Pulley
bone _____________________
Femur
_____________________
Pelvic
girdle
_____________________
Cervical
vertebrae
_____________________
Clavicle
_____________________
Humerus
_____________________
Sternum
_____________________
Synsacrum _____________________
Furculum
_____________________
Neck
_____________________
Hock
joint
_____________________
Radius
_____________________
Keel _____________________
Thigh
bone _____________________
Wishbone
_____________________
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Figure 2
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16. Match the anatomical part with the letter from Figure 3 on the next page. Some
letters may be used more than once.
Proventriculus
_____________________
Blind
gut
_____________________
Goozle
_____________________
Ventriculus _____________________
Cloacal
bursa
_____________________
Crop
_____________________
Rectum
_____________________
Muscular
stomach
_____________________
Esophagus _____________________
Glandular Stomach
_____________________
Craw
_____________________
Cloaca
_____________________
Pancreas
_____________________
Colon
_____________________
Gizzard
_____________________
Gullet
_____________________
Cecum
_____________________
True
stomach
_____________________
Ingluvies
_____________________
Liver
_____________________
Bursa of Fabricius
_____________________
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Figure 3
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17. Describe what is meant by “debeaking” and the reason such practice is followed by
many poultry producers.
18. List two functions of air sacs in live poultry.
19. List three reasons why the color of fat might differ between lots of young chickens
presented for postmortem inspection:
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