The skeletal system is the framework upon which our body is built, providing support and protection to our softer tissues.
A skeleton is composed of many bones, each with a particularly descriptive name and a function. These bones are linked together by means of joints.
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What is Articulation?
Articulation is the ability to form clear and distinct sounds in speech, with coordinated movements of your lips, tongue, teeth, palate (top of the mouth), and respiratory system. It’s the key to speaking clearly, and it’s what makes it possible for you to understand other people’s conversations and to express your basic wants and needs.
It’s also a skill used in speech pathology, where a speech pathologist can help children with articulation issues. Typically, children who need help with their articulation skills will have a difficult time pronouncing certain sounds, such as r and s. However, with the right support, they can learn to say these sounds in ways that make sense to them and others.
Skeletal articulation is a unique skill that few museums have on staff, and most skeletons are articulated by volunteers who have a passion for a particular animal. Some skeletons have been commissioned by museum design firms, but many are put together by enthusiastic hobbyists or students in school who have an hour or two to spend on their projects.
A pet skeleton is an excellent way to teach students about anatomy, as it allows them to see the bones of a creature in its natural habitat. It also helps to teach them how bones work together since they can easily identify individual bones as well as skeletal groups and entire sections of the skeleton.
The process of transforming an animal’s dead bones into an articulated skeleton can be tedious, but it can be done with the help of a few tools and a little bit of time. After the skeleton has been cleaned and prepared, it will need to be assembled into an interesting pose. This requires glue, wires, metal rods, drill bits, and time.
Some schools have a bone-building club, where students can use manuals that take them step-by-step from cleaning to assembling a skeleton. They can then display the completed skeleton.
Despite the challenges, skeleton articulation is a rewarding experience. It’s a great way to learn more about animals and their lives, and it also teaches kids that it’s not necessary to waste a perfectly good animal when it dies.
Why Articulate?
For some, it may seem a bit morbid to assemble the dead body of an animal, but when done correctly, skeleton articulation can be a great way to preserve the bones for future generations to study. It’s an art and a science, but with a little planning, you can turn your pet’s skeleton into a museum display that’s sure to impress your friends, family, and students alike.
The process starts with a bit of research into the best method to clean and prepare the bone jargon of your choosing. There are many ways to go about it, from letting the carcass rot and soaking the bones in bleach to a combination of the two. Once the skeleton is ready to go, there’s nothing quite like the feeling of putting it together. Depending on the size of the beast, this task can be completed in as little as an hour or two or as long as several months, but it’s worth the effort.
How Articulate?
Articulating a skeleton requires more than a little glue and wire. It takes time, albeit a lot of it. It can be a fun activity for kids and adults alike, from school class projects to community-based clubs at nature centers and beyond.
It is also a great way to reminisce about the deceased animal by providing a more dignified resting place and a more interactive display for those interested in the science and history of our favorite mammals.
There are several notable companies that produce the goods, including Skulls Unlimited, of course, as well as many others, from small boutique firms to large-scale manufacturers and contractors. One of the most unique areas is a collection of small businesses called the Bone Building Museum, which sells a wide variety of books and videos that help anyone from the seasoned vet to the beginner put on a show.
What to Expect
Articulating a pet skeleton can be a very unique way to memorialize your loved one. It allows you to display your cherished pet without the risk of anyone mistaking your beloved for its living counterpart (this is also known as pet taxidermy).
If you are considering having your pet’s skeleton articulated, there are a few things that you should consider before beginning this process. First, you’ll need to find a reputable skeleton articulator that can help you get started.
Second, you’ll need to get a good animal carcass from your vet that has been completely dead and removed from any soft tissue. This will take some time and effort.
Third, you will need to be prepared to work with a non-living animal for at least a couple of weeks or months. You will need to clean the animal, degrease it, and whiten it. This is a very laborious process that can sometimes take a week or two of soaking and cleaning, depending on the size and condition of the animal.
You will also need to find a bone-building book that can help you with the assembly portion of the project. Bone building books are designed with students in mind and can guide you through the entire process, from cleaning to assembling your skeleton.
Once you have completed the preparation of the skeleton, it will need to be posed. This is where the glues, wires, metal rods, and drill bits come in handy.
Then, you will need to assemble the bones in a way that is realistic and accurate for the particular animal. This requires flexibility, creativity, and a lot of skill.
For example, if you are articulating a whale, you will need to angle the ribs in a way that is anatomically correct, and you may need to manipulate some of the other bones around them.
You will also need to make sure that the skeleton is solidly fastened together. This can be done with glues, pins, or wires and can be very precise.
For most skeletons, it takes between a couple of months and a year for the entire process to be complete. This can include a long period of soaking in a bleaching solution, followed by more soaking and degreasing, and then finally, putting the bones back together.
