Re: Nyctosaurus pectoral girdle

["Chris Bennett" <cbennett@bridgeport.edu>]

----- Original Message -----
From: "David Peters" <davidrpeters@earthlink.net>
To: "dinosaur list" <dinosaur@usc.edu>; "Chris Bennett"
<cbennett@bridgeport.edu>
Sent: Saturday, August 16, 2003 8:11 AM
Subject: Nyctosaurus pectoral girdle


> Although I understand the differences in articulation between the
> scapula and spine in Pteranodon and Nyctosaurus, I am still perplexed by
> Chris Bennett's statement that in Nyctosaurus the scapula did not
> articulate with the notarium.
>

May I respectfully suggest that if you understood the differences between
Pteranodon and Nyctosaurus, then you would not be perplexed by my statement.

The word articulation refers to a joint between two bones.  Joints may be of
three basic types:  1) synovial joints with each bone bearing an articular
cartilage, which move on one another within a synovial sac; 2) cartilage
joints, in which the bones are connected by a single cartilage, as in the
costal cartilages between the ribs and sternum in humans; and 3) fibrous
joints, in which the two bones are joined by fibrous connective tissues, as
in the distal tibiofibular joint in humans.  In Nyctosaurus there is no
evidence of any sort of joint between the scapula and notarium, hence my
statement: "the scapula did not articulate with the notarium."

Chris


S. Christopher Bennett, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Basic Sciences
College of Chiropractic
University of Bridgeport
Bridgeport, CT  06601