Comparative Computed Tomographic Measurements of the Synsacrum in Some Birds

Abstract

The Synsacrum is constructed of pelvic bones, sacral, lumbar vertebrae and some thoracic vertebrae, and it takes the form of a thin sheet of bone which is curled downwards at the sides.This study is designed to assess the morphometric specialization of the lumbosacral portion of the vertebral section in flying and non-flying winged creatures.Several parameters (ratio of cranial/caudal parts and diameter/length) of the lumbosacral vertebral column were calculated in computed tomography (CT).The ratio of diameter/length of the synsacrum was the narrowest in ostrich while the widest was in pigeon.While the cranial/caudal ratio was the smallest in ostrich and the largest in pigeon.The parameters of penguin were closed to that of pigeon.It is supposed that this ratio is related to the bird locomotion, flying, swimming or/and strolling.