The Skeleton:
The platypus has a unique skeletal structure that incorporates reptile and mammal attributes. Like other mammals, the skeleton of the platypus is essential to supply support, protection and movement. The skeleton of the platypus is arranged in a way where it is a mixture of mammal and reptile characteristics.
Movement: The platypus has a different skeletal structure to many mammals. While the elongated body is a good adaptation to swimming in the water, it is also good for diving, walking on the land and digging burrows in the soil that can get up to 25 meters deep. The reason as to why the platypus is able to move effectively through the water is its bone structure. The neck has seven cervical vertebrae but the ribs and inter clavicle are characteristics of a reptile. This is what helps the platypus swim effectively through the water.
Support: The bones in the platypus are quiet strong and most provide support for the muscles that cling to it by tendons. The forearms for example, have large muscles and also large bones. These two combined help make swimming easier for the platypus. The platypus has large leg bones and shoulder girdles which help hold together other parts of the skeletal system. These girdles have five bones with one of them being the interclavicle. It is shaped like a T and provides support for the forefoot muscles. The skeleton is firm and helps to hold all the parts of the platypus together.
Protection: The skeletons ribs' provides protection to the internal organs of the platypus such as the heart and reproductive organs. Without it, the life span of many creatures would be short due to the lack of protection from other predators.
Their are different types of bones. These are the long, irregular and fused. The long bones are found mostly found in the area of the limbs and chest cavity. A long bone in the platypus can be a part of the ribs. Irregular bones have curves and indentation as part of the structure. Examples of these in the platypus is the skull and spinal column.
The platypus has a unique skeletal structure that incorporates reptile and mammal attributes. Like other mammals, the skeleton of the platypus is essential to supply support, protection and movement. The skeleton of the platypus is arranged in a way where it is a mixture of mammal and reptile characteristics.
Movement: The platypus has a different skeletal structure to many mammals. While the elongated body is a good adaptation to swimming in the water, it is also good for diving, walking on the land and digging burrows in the soil that can get up to 25 meters deep. The reason as to why the platypus is able to move effectively through the water is its bone structure. The neck has seven cervical vertebrae but the ribs and inter clavicle are characteristics of a reptile. This is what helps the platypus swim effectively through the water.
Support: The bones in the platypus are quiet strong and most provide support for the muscles that cling to it by tendons. The forearms for example, have large muscles and also large bones. These two combined help make swimming easier for the platypus. The platypus has large leg bones and shoulder girdles which help hold together other parts of the skeletal system. These girdles have five bones with one of them being the interclavicle. It is shaped like a T and provides support for the forefoot muscles. The skeleton is firm and helps to hold all the parts of the platypus together.
Protection: The skeletons ribs' provides protection to the internal organs of the platypus such as the heart and reproductive organs. Without it, the life span of many creatures would be short due to the lack of protection from other predators.
Their are different types of bones. These are the long, irregular and fused. The long bones are found mostly found in the area of the limbs and chest cavity. A long bone in the platypus can be a part of the ribs. Irregular bones have curves and indentation as part of the structure. Examples of these in the platypus is the skull and spinal column.
Inside the bone of every organism there is a substance called bone marrow. This bone marrow is what produces the red and white blood cells in the body. A disease such as leukaemia has a great impact on the bone marrow. The red and white blood cells both have different jobs. The red blood cells are a specialised cell because they have a circular shape with dips in the middle. The red blood cell does not have a nucleus and therefore has a shorter life span.
Periosteum: Periosteum is a thick membrane made of fibres which covers the surface of its bone, not including the articular cartilage.
Periosteum: Periosteum is a thick membrane made of fibres which covers the surface of its bone, not including the articular cartilage.
The Muscles:
Their is a vast range of different muscles in every organism but their is also different names for the different types of muscles. They are called the smooth, skeletal and cardiac muscles. It is essential to have all three of these muscles. They each work together. The diagram below shows examples of the different types found in the human.
Their is a vast range of different muscles in every organism but their is also different names for the different types of muscles. They are called the smooth, skeletal and cardiac muscles. It is essential to have all three of these muscles. They each work together. The diagram below shows examples of the different types found in the human.
Smooth Muscles: Smooth muscles are the muscles which are found in internal organs. These muscles are involuntary and the platypus is unable to move it consciously. Only the brain can make these to work or move.
Smooth muscle cells are long and cylindrical shaped. The absence of striations found in the skeletal muscle is what gives smooth muscle it's name. The nucleus is found around the centre of each single cell. |
Skeletal Muscles: The skeletal muscles are the muscles which cling to the skeleton via tendons. Skeletal Muscles on the platypus would be found in places such as the feet and tail. These muscles are voluntary muscles, meaning that the platypus has control over those muscles. The skeletal muscle is the only voluntary muscle. Normally skeletal muscles are antagonistic (discussed later).
The skeletal muscle cells are made of bands of light and dark which give a striped appearance. The appearance of these strips is what gives the skeletal muscles it's second name; striated muscles. Viewed through a microscope the nucleus of this cell can be found across the striations. |
Cardiac Muscles: Hence the name, cardiac muscle is the muscle which the heart of any living creature uses. Cardiac Muscles are simultaneously moving and it is the strongest muscle in the body. The Cardiac Muscle is an involuntary muscle, meaning it cannot be controlled consciously.
The cardiac muscle cells are the cell which makes up the heart muscle. It is similar to both the smooth and skeletal muscle cells as the structure is both striated and smooth. The nucleus in these cells is found across striations.
The cardiac muscle cells are the cell which makes up the heart muscle. It is similar to both the smooth and skeletal muscle cells as the structure is both striated and smooth. The nucleus in these cells is found across striations.
Antagonistic Muscles:
Antagonistic muscles are a pair of muscles which work against each other. An example of this is the bicep and tricep. When a muscle contracts, it will be called the prime mover. The other muscle which relaxes is called the antagonist. These antagonistic muscles are usually skeletal muscles as they cling to the skeleton. Antagonistic muscles are a pair of muscles which will work against each other. These muscles are found everywhere. They are located in places like the arms and tail of the platypus.
Antagonistic muscles are a pair of muscles which work against each other. An example of this is the bicep and tricep. When a muscle contracts, it will be called the prime mover. The other muscle which relaxes is called the antagonist. These antagonistic muscles are usually skeletal muscles as they cling to the skeleton. Antagonistic muscles are a pair of muscles which will work against each other. These muscles are found everywhere. They are located in places like the arms and tail of the platypus.
Nervous System:
As the platypus is a mammal, the way the nerves work is similar to ours but the platypus also has a unique sensor in its bill (discussed later in the website). The nervous system is linked to the muscular and skeletal system as the nerves are what helps tell the different parts of the body what to do.
The nervous system has three components. The sensory, motor and response cells which are all different types of nerve cells. The sensory nerve is what sends information to the brain. The motor nerves are what receives information from your central nervous system and the response nerves or inter neurons are what links the two motor and sensory neurons together. When the platypus hits something painful, the sensory neurons will send information to the brain, then a message comes back telling the muscle to move.
As the platypus is a mammal, the way the nerves work is similar to ours but the platypus also has a unique sensor in its bill (discussed later in the website). The nervous system is linked to the muscular and skeletal system as the nerves are what helps tell the different parts of the body what to do.
The nervous system has three components. The sensory, motor and response cells which are all different types of nerve cells. The sensory nerve is what sends information to the brain. The motor nerves are what receives information from your central nervous system and the response nerves or inter neurons are what links the two motor and sensory neurons together. When the platypus hits something painful, the sensory neurons will send information to the brain, then a message comes back telling the muscle to move.
Brain: The brain is the area where all the nerve messages are sent. In here, the brain tells the body how to react to different stimuli. Once a signal has been sent, the brain will determine if the area affected is either painful or not. If it is painful, the brain will send a message to the area to move the muscle in order to escape the pain.
Specialized Cell:
The specialized cell for the nervous system is the nerve cell, also known as neurons. The neurons carry messages around the body. The structure of the neuron is found to the left.
The specialized cell for the nervous system is the nerve cell, also known as neurons. The neurons carry messages around the body. The structure of the neuron is found to the left.
