COMPARATIVE

VERTEBRATE
ANATOMY
Lecture 2 GENERAL VERTEBRATE
BODY PLAN

Vertebrate Body Plan

a) Regional Differentiation

1) The typical vertebrate body has three

regions:

head,
trunk, and
tail.

Vertebrate Body Plan

a) Regional Differentiation

1] The head contains the brain, a number, of

special sense organs, often jaws, and gills in
fishes for respiration.

2] The trunk contains the Coelom, a body

cavity that houses the visceral organs.

a} The coelom is surrounded by the body wall.

1} The body wall consists of muscle, vertebrae, and
ribs primarily.

Vertebrate Body Plan

a) Regional Differentiation

b} The trunks of the Gnathostomata, the

jawed vertebrates and most numerous
vertebrates, will typically have paired pelvic
and pectoral appendages (ex; fins, wings,
legs).

c} Many vertebrates have a Neck. The neck is

a narrow structure connecting the head to the
trunk.

Vertebrate Body Plan

a) Regional Differentiation

3] The tail is postanal in vertebrates meaning

that it originates posterior to the anus.

a} The tail is present all embryonic vertebrates

but may be lacking in the adult form.

Vertebrate Body Plan

b) Bilateral Symmetry

1) Bilateral symmetry means that the

vertebrate body can be divided into two equal
right and left hand portions.

2) This allows vertebrate anatomy to be studied

by dividing the body into Planes.

There are three major planes of the body:

Vertebrate Body Plan

1] Transverse Plane
(aka; horizontal
plane, cross
section) a plane
running horizontally
(left to right)
dividing the body
into inferior and
superior portions.

Vertebrate Body Plan

2] Sagittal Plane - a vertical plane

dividing the body into left and right
portions.

a} Midsagittal (or Median Sagittal)

Plane - runs along the midline of the
body.

b} Parasagittal Plane - runs at other

than the midline of the body.

3] Frontal Plane (aka; Coronal Plane)

- a vertical plane which divides the
body into anterior and posterior
portions.