A feather is a complex structure composed of several parts. The VANE is the flat, thin part of the feather that is visible when looking at it from the side. The SHAFT is the central stem of the feather, which connects the VANE to the QUILL. The QUILL is the hollow tube at the base of the feather, which attaches it to the bird's body. The BARB is the curved part of the feather that branches off from the SHAFT and gives the feather its shape. Finally, the rachis is the central SHAFT of the feather, which connects the barbs to the QUILL.