Furcula.html



This stylised bird skeleton highlights the furcula

The furcula ("little fork" in Latin) is a forked bone found in birds and theropod dinosaurs, formed by the fusion of the two clavicles. In birds, its function is the strengthening of the thoracic skeleton to withstand the rigors of flight. Also known as a fourchette, the "wishbone" is a shared, derived characteristic of birds and many dinosaurs.

The following therapods have been found to have furculae: aves, dromaeosaurids (including a new North American species of Velociraptor), Oviraptorids, Tyrannosaurids, Troodontids,Coelophysids and Allosauroids.

Evolution of the furcula

In human culture

A synthetic turkey wishbone (left), and a real turkey wishbone (right)

The furcula is commonly referred to as a wishbone or merrythought because of the tradition that when two people hold the two sides of the bone and pull it apart, the one who gets the larger part will have a wish granted. Today the wishbone, once removed from the turkey or chicken, is first dried and then held between the little fingers of two opposing "wishers". Once the wish has been made the bone is pulled by each person. The wisher who breaks off a larger section of bone is assumed to have their wishes granted. Alternately, the winner of this contest may choose to transfer the fragment of the wishbone, along with the wish, to a person of his or her choosing. Because this is commonly a Thanksgiving tradition, this bone is also called the Thanksgiving bone^{citation needed}.

In the Southern United States, it is also referred to as pulley bone, especially when served as a piece of chicken with meat from both adjacent breasts attached. ¹

See also

• Bird anatomy

References

1. ^ http://www.tnfarmbureau.org/wcms/Editor/assets/Read%20All%20About%20It/1-29-07.pdf

• "Archaeopteryx and its links to both birds and dinosaurs" at DinoData