Why would we expect secondarily marine tetrapods (like whales) to have lost the zygapophyses that interconnect their vertebrae?

What will be an ideal response?


When the body is buoyed up by water, the skeleton is no longer being used for support, so zygapophyses are not needed. Loss of the zygapophyses might make the backbone more flexible for swimming.

Anatomy & Physiology

You might also like to view...

To be classified as a male, one must have a __________ chromosome.

Fill in the blank(s) with the appropriate word(s).

Anatomy & Physiology

Which bone develops within a tendon at about 9 to 12 years of age?

A. Patella B. Ischium C. Iliac crest D. Triquetrum E. Pisiform

Anatomy & Physiology

Contraction of the ventricles is referred to as ventricular ________.

A. diastole B. ischemia C. systole D. depolarization E. fibrillation

Anatomy & Physiology

The period of life between 10 and 15 years of age is known as ________. It is during this time that the reproductive organs grow to their adult size and become functional under the influence of hormones

A) adulthood B) menarche C) puberty D) menopause

Anatomy & Physiology