What structure does the cat's skeleton have?

Cats are one of the most popular types of pets in the world. Since the days of the Ancient World, they enjoy special respect among people and are surrounded by a real aura of mystery. Proof of this is the fact that scientists have discovered evidence of their special relationship with man. On the island of Cyprus, a burial dating from the eighth century BC was discovered. In this tomb next to human remains was the skeleton of a cat.

But very few people know what lies behind these beautiful fluffy muzzles. To better understand what allows this creature to have such phenomenal abilities, one must consider the structure of his body. Such extraordinary maneuverability and gracefulness is provided by the skeleton of a cat. According to their physical abilities, cats outnumber most animals. In their arsenal there are many complex tricks. They can climb trees, jump high, creep silently, perfectly balance, have high sprint speed and lightning speed reaction.

The skeleton of a cat includes 230 bones, which is 24 units larger than a person has. This beast has the shortest skull of all kinds of pets. The spine of the mammal includes 7 cervical and 13 thoracic vertebrae. Thirteen pairs of ribs are attached to this ridge. They form the thorax. The cat has 7 lumbar, 3 sacral and about 26 caudal vertebrae. The number of the latter can vary, depending on the length of the tail.

The central nervous system of the animal has a reliable protection, due to the fact that the cat has a very flexible skeleton of the spine. A feature of the breast bone is that it is connected only to the first nine pairs of ribs. Four more pairs forming an arc are free.

Unlike all other pets, the cat's skeleton does not have collarbones, so the chest of this animal connects with the bones of the forelimbs with the help of muscles and special tissue. This feature of the body allows them to squeeze into the narrowest passages that only the head can crawl through. This also explains the soft, cushioned landing of the beast during the jump.

The limb of the forelimbs includes a scapula, an ulnar, humerus and radius bone plus the bones of the paws and wrists. In the pelvic belt are the pelvis, femur, throat, knee cups, heel bones and metatarsals with phalanges of fingers. Elements of the pelvic limb are more developed than parts of the chest. This determines the characteristic "jumping" movement of the animal. These animals conquer the height, 5 times higher than their own growth.

Joints in cats are divided into three groups: sutures, cartilaginous and synovial. The first form between the fused bones of the skull. They are formed by solid fibers, and they are immovable. The second consist of their solid cartilage. Thanks to them, the cat has its uncommon flexibility. The third species connects bones with each other. The mobility of the animal depends on them.

That you could see the skeleton of a cat, pictures are presented in the article.