Vertebrate Structure & Function
This course is about the bones, muscles, and the amazing functions of vertebrate (backboned) animals. First we look at bones and muscles and how they change across fish, reptile, bird and mammal. Then we study how bones and muscles operate together to allow animals to feed in so many ways, swim, leap, dig, run and fly. The course culminates in an individually designed lab project based on the many unusual specimens preserved in the lab. These projects —skulls, skeletons or elaborate bone-muscle mounts— join a growing teaching collection associated with the class.