Anatomy and Physiology of Chickens

LESSON #2

Let’s Preview!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3BW6m1HyII

Lesson #2

Lesson Essential Question

Why is it important to understand the anatomy and physiology of animals we raise or care for?

Objectives:

1. Define anatomy and physiology

2. Describe the importance of anatomy and physiology in animal production

3. Create a 3-dimensional model of the digestive system of a chicken

4. Label the digestive system of a chicken

5. Label the external parts of a chicken

Definition

• Anatomy: the study of the form, shape, and appearance of an animal.

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• Physiology: study of the functions of the cells, tissues, organs, and organ systems of the living organism. Physiology includes relationships among functions by different systems of an organism, such as secretion and digestion. Diseases can cause the systems to fail to work properly.

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• Why is it important to understand the anatomy and physiology of the animals we care for?

Digestive System

• Mouth: It all starts here. Beak with no teeth
• Esophagus (Gullet): Transports food from the mouth to the stomach.
• Crop: A pouch in the esophagus used to store food temporarily before moving it on to the stomach.
• Stomach (Proventriculus/Gizzard): Principally the organ where food is broken into smaller units. It has two parts: the proventriculus for storage and the gizzard. The gizzard is a muscular part of the stomach that uses grit to grind grains and fiber into smaller particles.

Digestive System

• Small Intestine: Aids in digestion and nutrient absorption. Composed of the duodenum, jejunum and ileum.
• Liver: The largest glandular organ in the body. Aids in the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats and proteins.
• Ceca: Bacterial action in the ceca helps break down undigested food passing through the intestine. The ceca turn into the large intestine, which connects with the cloaca.
• Large Intestine aka Colon: Functions primarily to absorb water, dry out indigestible foods and eliminate waste products.

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Digestive System

• Cloaca: Where the digestive, urinary and reproductive systems meet.
• Urinary System: Consists of two kidneys and two ureters. The kidneys are located in the pelvic bones. They filter waste from the blood and pass it through the ureter to the outside via the cloaca/vent.
• Vent: The external opening of the cloaca that passes waste to the outside.

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Digestive System

• Gallbladder: small pouch that sits under the liver to store bile produced by the liver. Bile – substances used to break down fat in food. Can live without
• Spleen: acts as a primarily as a blood filter. Helps with red blood cells to recognize and remove old, malformed, or damaged RBC and the immune system. Can live without it.

Let’s Label

• Using the blank chicken provided, you will draw, label, and describe each of the 11 organ/parts of the DIGESTIVE System of a chicken

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• Organs: mouth/beak, esophagus, crop, proventriculus, gizzard, small intestine, liver, ceca, large intestine, cloaca, vent
• Each organ needs to be a different color to show where it starts and stop in the digestive system

Chicken Digestive System

• Mouth
• Esophagus
• Crop
• Proventriculus
• Grizzard
• Liver with gallbladder
• Small Intestine
• Ceca
• Large Intestine/Colon
• Cloaca
• Vent

Let’s Play!

https://www.purposegames.com/game/chicken-digestion-game

Let’s see how much you know!

• Play a quick round of the following matching game of identifying the digestive organs of a chicken

https://www.purposegames.com/game/chicken-digestion-game

• Ready??
• Fastest time gets candy!

Digestive System Model

• Create model of digestive system using Play-Doh complete with labels for each organ. (list on next slide)
• Materials: Play-Doh (3 colors), toothpicks, masking/painters’ tape, sharpies or pens, paper plates
• Everyone will create a model but will share the supplies with a group of 3. You may pick your own groups but you have to stay focused to complete the activity in 15 minutes (time will be extended with hard work)
• Finished? Let me check you off, be prepared to explain the process to me. After you clean up, you can practice the game to decrease time
• First group, collect supplies, start modeling!

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Chicken External Parts

Chicken External Anatomy

• Comb: It is the fleshy attachment on the top part of the chicken’s head, and it is usually red.
• Eyes: A chicken possesses two eyes, and each eye is located on each side of the head.
• Beak: The beak of a chicken is made up of the upper beak and the lower beak.
• Earlobes: The earlobes are two in number. Each lobe is located at one side of a chicken’s head.
• Wattles: They are the two red fleshy skins hanging below the beak.
• Breast: It is the broad, plump part located at the front of a chicken.

Chicken External Anatomy

• Shank: It is the lower leg of a chicken that is covered by scales.
• Hock: It is the leg joint of a chicken, and it bends in the opposite direction.
• Wings: They are the two wings, each located on one side of a chicken’s body.
• Tail Feathers: They are the feathers located at the posterior or caudal part, and they point upwards.
• Cloaca: This is the anus of a chicken. It is the opening through which chickens pass out feces or lay eggs.
• Toes: A chicken has eight toes. Each foot has four toes—three toes point forward while one points backward for balancing purpose.

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Let’s Label

• Using the blank chicken provided, you will draw, label, and describe each of the 11 organ/parts of the EXTERNAL System of a chicken

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• Parts: comb, eyes, beak, earlobes, wattle, breast, shank, hock, wings, tail feathers, toes
• Each organ needs to be a different color to show where it starts and stop in the external parts

Let’s Build

• Using the Play-Doh, tape, and toothpicks, you will construct a standing 3-D model of a chicken and then label with small flags each of the 11 organ/parts of the EXTERNAL System of a chicken

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• Parts: comb, eyes, beak, earlobes, wattle, breast, shank, hock, wings, tail feathers, toes

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Let’s fill out the worksheet!

Chicken Parts Booklet

• Using transparent sheets to create a study tool for labeling of a chicken
• Materials: 2 transparent sheets, vis a vis pens, blank chicken picture, yarn, 3-hole punch,

Direction:

1. Gather materials
2. Place the blank chicken behind one of the transparent sheets
3. With the Vis A Vis pen mark on the transparent sheet the digestive system, complete with the correct organ location and their label. ADD YOUR INITIALS TO EACH SHEET!
4. Mistake? Wet a paper towel with a little water to erase
5. Repeat the same on a NEW transparent sheet for the external sheet
6. Hole punch transparent sheets and tie with yarn to keep together
7. Place the blank chicken (with your name) in between the transparent sheets. I will collect them

Include all parts from notes!

Finished early? Practice the matching games for the digestive system and external anatomy

Summary

• Digestive Organs: mouth, esophagus, crop, stomach (proventriculus and gizzard), small intestine, liver, ceca, large intestine, cloaca, urinary system, vent
• External Parts: comb, eyes, beak, earlobes, wattles, breast, shank, hock, wings, tail feathers, cloaca, toes

Exit Ticket

“Why is it important to know and understand the anatomy and physiology of the animals we are caring for and raising?”

Write answers on half sheet and turn in on way out the door.

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Tomorrow

Introduce male and female reproductive systems of chickens and the egg

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Bellwork

Today’s Prompt

What do you think anatomy and physiology mean? Why is it important to understand these when caring for animals?

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Answer the prompt using at least 5 complete sentences

Chicken Digestion �Worksheet