Dermal Protection in Mammalian Species Essay

1. Many experiments were conducted during the 1950s and 1960s with chick embryos and they showed that two patches of tissue essentially controlled the development of the pattern of bones inside limbs.  Describe at

| - osteoblasts begin to replace the fibrocartilage splint with spongy and compact bone, forming a bulge that is initially wider than the original bony shaft

The skeletal system is made up of cartilage and bone. Both bone and cartilage are connective tissues, that is, they are composed of cells in a matrix with intracellular fibers. Just imagine connective tissue as a gelatin salad with grapes and coconut. The grapes would represent cells, the gelatin the support material for matrix, and the pieces of coconut the intracellular fibers. By changing the amounts of each ingredient and adding extra substances, we can produce a material that is very hard like bone and can withstand weight or softer like cartilage which can be used as a cushioning material.

Protection – 3 different barriers: Chemical Barriers (skin secretion and melanin) Physical/Mechanical Barriers – continuity of the

The armadillo is the only remaining member of the Cingulata order of the animal kingdom (www.factzoo.com). All species of armadillo are characterized by the number of bands they have (Brittanica, 563). Armadillo in Spanish means “little armored one” which hints at their armored bands. An armadillo’s armor is made of dermal bone plates which are covered with overlapping epidermal scales called scutes (www.factzoo.com).The armadillo’s armor works well against predators, not cars. They are known as the “Hillbilly Speed Bump” for their tendency to get run over by cars. They have bony rings or plates that protect their tails. The plates are separated by movable bands. Only one species of armadillo can actually roll up into a ball to defend itself. Armadillos have strong short legs, suited for digging. With their strong legs, they also have strong claws

The skeletal system is made up of cartilage and bone. Both bone and cartilage are connective tissues, that is, they are composed of cells in a matrix with intracellular fibers. Just imagine connective tissue as a gelatin salad with grapes and coconut. The grapes would represent cells, the gelatin the support material for matrix, and the pieces of coconut the intracellular fibers. By changing the amounts of each ingredient and adding extra substances, we can produce a material that is very hard like bone and can withstand weight or softer like cartilage which can be used as a cushioning material. In this exercise, we will examine a fresh raw chicken bone to study bone

Amphibians skin is moist and they do not consist of scales. The skin of an amphibian is also permeable. Permeable means that gases can pass through their skin. A reptiles’ scales provide them with a protective layer of skin that is tough and dry. The scales help to minimize the loss of body moisture, the reptilian scales consists of a protein called keratin. The scale structure of a reptile are not individual like those of a fish, but are a continuous sheet of epidermal tissue. Hard-shelled eggs provide a protective environment in which the embryo can develop and enables reptiles to lay their eggs in dry environments. On the other hand, amphibians must lay their eggs in or near water. The reptilian skeleton differs from other vertebrates in many ways. For example, reptiles have many bones in their lower jaw to enable them a greater bite mobility, but mammals only have one bone in their lower jaw called the mandible. Mammals ears consist of three bones(the malleus, incus, and stapes) while reptiles have just one bone(stapes). Reptiles also have only one occipital condyle(a protrusion on the skull that forms a joint that enables movement of the head) mammals on the other hand consist of two occipital condyles (Laura Klappenbach 2014).

The bony collar of long bones helps them withstand compressive stress by the mechanism described in #4A above (i.e. hydroxyapatite, weight-bearing pillars). In addition, long bones also withstand compressive forces by virtue of the spongy ("cancellous") bone in the epiphyses. The interlocking network of bony plates (called "trabeculae") found in spongy bone help to distribute the weight of the body out to the tough bony collar of the diaphysis. In this way, bony plates act much like the trusses or struts in old-time railroad bridges which distribute the weight of the train evenly over the entire bridge.

The three layers that make up healthy skin: Epidermis, Dermis and Hypodermis. Epidermis is composed of keratinized, stratified squamous epithelium. This layer provides a thick, water proof protective covering over the underlying skins. The dermis layer is composed of primarily of dense, irregular, fibrous connective tissue that is rich in collagen and elastin. The dermis contains blood vessels, nerve ending, and epidermally derived cutaneous oranges such as sweat glands, sebaceous glands and hair follicles. The last layer is Hypodermis this layer is composed primarily of loose dead skin. The fat layer provides cushioning and insulation for

Maceo, A. (2011). Anatomy and Physiology of Adult Friction Ridge Skin. Retrieved January 26, 2015,

The outermost layer of the epidermis is known as the stratum corneum, it is water resistant and when not damaged, it protects the body from foreign substances such as bacteria, virus etc. it also ensures the protection of muscles, blood vessels, nerves and internal organs. The skin is also thicker in regions that requires more protection such as the sole of the feet and palms.

The epidermis type of this animal is that their skin is porous. Fascinating facts about the axolotl is that they can only be located

In this paper we will prepare a species account for the native Floridian mammalian species Dasypus noveminctus. We will discuss the nine-banded armadillo’s distribution, physical characteristics, reproduction, behavior and habitat. Economic importance and the current conservation status of this armadillo species will also be addressed.

The skeletal system is made up of bones and joints. Bones are a dry dense tissue that is composed of calcium phosphorous and organic matter. The bones are protected and covered by a layer of fibrous connective tissue membrane called the periosteum (Brown, et al., 2015, p. 1547). There are two basic types of bone tissue: Compact Bone and Spongy Bone. Compact bones are dense smooth bones, while Spongy bones are composed of small needle-like pieces of bones and open space. Bones are then categorised according to the shape of the bone into four groups: long, short, flat and irregular. Long bones characteristically are typically longer then they are wide and generally have a shaft with heads at either ends e.g. the humerus. They are mainly compact bones. Short bones

Calcium phosphate crystals are very strong, but inflexible. They can withstand compression, but the crystals are likely to shatter when exposed to bending, twisting, or sudden impacts. Collagen fibers are extremely tough, but quite flexible. They can easily tolerate stretching, twisting, and bending, but when compressed they simply bend out of the way. In bone, the collagen fibers