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Skulls : structure and function

URL: http://www.calacademy.org/exhibits/skulls/structure_and_function.html
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Skulls have been designed for both form and function. Through the use of text and labeled photographs, this website explains how specific skull adaptations meet the needs of organisms. For instance, visitors will discover that some beaks of macaws are attached to their skull only through ligaments to limit the amount of force put on the skull when the birds crack open nuts. The site also presents a series of skull facts, questions, and answers provided by scientists. A unique feature allows visitors to rotate images of skulls 360 degrees, so they can view the different adaptations in form from all angles. Copyright 2005 Eisenhower National Clearinghouse

Summary

Subject keyword(s)Animals, Life science, Life Science, Organ systems, Skeletal system
Grade levelHigh School, Informal Education
Intended audienceLearner
Resource typeAudio/Visual, Community, Instructional Material
Resource formatimage, image/jpeg, text, text/html, video
RightsCopyright 2005 California Academy of Sciences.

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Giraffe Giraffa camelopardalis Mouse over image to rotate Explore more fully rotatable skulls Requires QuickTime A skull is a machine — one designed by nature nearly 500 million years ago to protect the brain and sensory organs in vertebrate animals. A model of mechanical efficiency, each of the skull�s features is built to support specific functions, including food procurement and processing, optimal sensory intake, and impact absorption. Based on the architecture of an animal�s skull, scientists can deduce many of its dietary and social patterns. Click on the skulls above to view complete specimens. Requires QuickTime   SKULL FACT Instead of being fused to the skull, some bird beaks are connected to the skull with ligaments, so both the top and bottom portions can move. This adaptation helps predatory birds avoid beak breakage while holding wriggling prey in their mouths. It also allows macaws to crack open nuts without transferring that pressure to the skull. SKULL FACT The elongated structure on top of the cassowary’s skull, called a casque, is filled with a network of very thin bone. The reason that cassowaries evolved casques is still debated, but the protruding structures may help them poke through the dense vegetation of their rainforest habitat without hurting their heads.   Q: Is convergent evolution common? PR: Although species normally diverge from their ancestors over time, many distantly related animals develop similar adaptations. This convergence can complicate the process of reconstructing evolutionary paths, since shared traits are often used to determine relatedness. Dr. Peter D. Roopnarine Assistant Curator and Department Chair Department of Invertebrate Zoology & Geology         SKULL FACT In high-impact sports like football, players wear helmets to protect their heads. Nature designed the first helmet nearly 500 million years ago, when vertebrate fish developed skulls to protect their brains. Over time, these early skulls have been modified to match a variety of high and low impact lifestyles. Q: Why do some animals have a large sagittal crest? NJ: Predators that tackle large prey often develop a sagittal crest, since it provides attachment space for the temporalis muscle, which is used to snap the jaws shut. Sagittal crests are often larger in males than in females, because they are associated with larger body size. Dr. Nina Jablonski Curator and Department Chair Department of Anthropology     Q: Why is there a large hole at the base of each skull? NJ: This hole, called the foramen magnum, allows the spinal cord and nerves to pass from the base of the brain through to the rest of the body. Because it connects the skull to the spine, its placement can be used to determine an animal’s typical posture. Dr. Nina Jablonski Curator and Department Chair Department of Anthropology   Q: How do skulls protect horned animals during head butting matches? DL: A special honeycombed bone structure around the base of the horns absorbs the shock of impact during repeated head-on collisions, allowing the muskox and many other horned animals to survive dominance competitions without damaging the skull or brain. Dr. Douglas J. Long Collections Manager and Acting Department Chairman Department of Ornithology & Mammalogy   Q: Are skulls specialized to help an animal chew? NJ: The skull provides a framework for the face and neck muscles – animals that need stronger chewing muscles will develop larger bony attachment ridges for these muscles, such as the sagittal crest along the top of the skull and the zygomatic arches on the sides. Q: Why do humans have such large brains? NJ: A large brain gives humans the ability to process, integrate and compare a tremendous amount of sensory stimuli. It also allows a great degree of behavioral flexibility and provides an immensely increased capacity for memory. Dr. Nina Jablonski Curator and Department Chair Department of Anthropology Q: Why does the owl monkey have such enormous eye sockets? RB: The owl monkey is the only nocturnal anthropoid, or higher primate. In order to avoid predators that prowl during the day, it feeds on fruits and insects in the dark of night. Its large eyes allow it to collect more available light, giving it sharper night vision. SKULL FACT Due to their environments and lifestyles, many animals require particularly acute senses. These adaptations are sometimes recorded in an animal’s skull, where bone has grown to accommodate larger sense organs or a larger brain – the center where all sensory intake is processed. What is a Skull? | Structure & Function | Diversity | Living Tissue | Academy Mission | Skulls in Culture | Store © 2002 California Academy of Sciences