Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Skeletal/Muscular System

 



Humans and giraffes have the same amount of bones in their neck! Their vertebrae are just much larger than ours.

Giraffes are the tallest standMing creature known today with a height maxing at approximately 19ft. The majority of their length is actuall in their neck which can weigh up to 600lbs alone!
As you can see in the picture they have a skull. This equipped with teeth adapted for consumption of leaves. Giraffes also have horns placed on top of their skull. Following the diagram you can see that the have large vertebrae in their neck, shoulder and hip joints, ribs, fore legs, hind legs, feet, heel bones, and wristbones. Unlike humans, a giraffes heel is not directly on their feet, it is higher up the leg. The front pair of legs are slightly longer than their hindlegs.

Muscular System

The reason the giraffe's forelegs are longer than their hindlegs is because of the heavy muscular development on the base of their neck, or their shoulders. Most of their muscle is found in their neck, which is fairly flexible to aid in fethcing water down low or plants up high. Another muscular adaptation is that their tongues were formed to extend up to 18 inches.

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