Keel (bird anatomy) Keel (bird anatomy) A keel or carina (plural carinae) in bird anatomy is an extension of the sternum (breastbone) which runs axially along the midline of the sternum and extends outward, perpendicular to the plane of the ribs. The keel provides an anchor to which a bird's wing muscles attach, thereby providing adequate leverage for flight. Keels do not exist on all birds; in particular, some flightless birds lack a keel structure. Historically, the presence or absence of a pronounced keel structure was used as a broad classification of birds into two orders: Carinatae (from "carina", "keel"), having a pronounced
History of anatomy in the 19th century the third volume and the work was completed by P.J. Roux and M.F.R. Buisson. Henry Gray, an English anatomist and surgeon at St. George's Hospital, published "Gray's Anatomy". With the artist abilities and help of Henry Vandyke Carter, Gray produced an inexpensive and accessible anatomy textbook for medical students. Dissecting unclaimed bodies from workhouse and hospital mortuaries through the Anatomy Act of 1832, the two worked for 18 months on what would form the basis of the book. Their work was first published in 1858. The growth of medical science and medical practice created an increased demand for human cadavers