Intro to Animal Physiology Flashcards
pp 920 - pp 940
What is the relationship between organisms and their external environments?
Organisms are SHAPED by their external environments.
They must cope with the challenges posed by their immediately surrounding environments.
What is adaptation?
Beneficial adjustments, recorded as genetic changes, in populations, across generations.
What two types of stresses do organisms face?
Those that are short-term, and others that are long-term.
The external environment is constant and favourable. Is the organism in A+ shape?
Nope! The organism must maintain the optimal INTERNAL environment, by coordinating and balancing numerous systems.
What is the relationship between form and function?
The FORM (size & shape) of an organism influences they way in which they interact with their environment (FUNCTION)
Physiological functions are tightly integrated and permit organisms to cope with environmental challenges.
Why is exchange so crucial to organisms and their individual cells?
Nutrients, waste products, and gases must move in and out of the cell. Typically, this is across a cell membrane.
_________ govern the strength/rate of diffusion, movement, and heat exchange
Physical laws
Why is it more challenging for bigger organisms to fulfill their basic exchange processes?
In multicellular animals, these processes often require specialized structures.
What is the relationship between the internal and external environment?
The internal environment accommodates and tolerates the challenges posed by the external environment, by the means of multiple processes and tightly integrated systems.
What is the hierarchical structure organization of an animal?
- Organism;
- Organ systems: Groups of organs that work together, providing further organization and coordination.
- Organs: Functional units containing different types of tissues.
- Tissues: Groups of cells with a similar appearance and a common functions.
- Cells
Why do we have different types of tissues?
They have different structures, suited to their functions
What are the four main categories of tissues?
Epithelial;
Connective;
Muscle;
Nervous
Epithelial tissue: Definition
Tissue that covers the outside of the body, while lining organs and cavities within the body.
Epithelial tissue: Structure and sub-types
Often sheet-like, comprised of closely-packed, connected cells. They often have tight junctions.
There are three main types (shapes):
- Cuboidal (like dice): Specialized for secretion.
- Found in the kidney and many glands - Columnar (like bricks on end): Where secretion or active absorption is important.
- Found in the intestine - Squamous (like floor tiles): Exchanges material by diffusion
- Found in the lungs
Epithelial tissue: Function
These form ‘seamless barriers’ with the surrounding internal/external environment. Shields the inside from the outside.
Barrier against mechanical injury, pathogens, fluid loss.
Form active interfaces with the environment.
What are the six main types of connective tissue?
- LOOSE
Binds epithelia to underlying tissues and holds organs in place. Found in the skin, throughout the body. - FIBROUS
Found in tendons (attach muscles to bones), and ligaments (connects bones at joints)
Firm structure - collagenous fibres. - BONE
Mineralized, forming the skeleton - CARTILAGE
- Strong, flexible support material
- Can act as cushions between vertebrae - ADIPOSE
- Stores fat for insulation and fuel - BLOOD
- Composed of blood cells and cell fragments in blood plasma
CONNECT physical, solid, and liquid structures.
What are the three main types of muscle tissue in vertebrates?
- Skeletal muscle (striated)
Voluntary movement
Optimized for directional contraction (movement of limbs) = Pushing and pulling = Force
Muscle lengthens and relaxes (horizontal)
Fibres, giving a striped appearance - Smooth muscle
Involuntary movement
Optimized for squeezing (digestive track)
Muscle compresses and relaxes - Cardiac muscle
Contraction of the heart, which is a nonstop job!
Loaded with mitochondria, so they don’t fatigue
What types of cells does nervous tissue contain?
- Neurons (nerve cells): Transmit nerve impulses
- Glial cells (glia): Nourish, insulate, replenish neurons
These two types are tightly integrated.
Which type of tissue is to the outermost part, etc.?
Epithelial;
Nervous;
Connective;
Muscle;
What are the sub-components of neurons?
- Dendrites: Root-like, “sensory”, receives signals
- Cell body
- Axon: Carries nerve impulses and signals
What is a basic requirement, for all living organisms?
Energy!
What is the energy used for?
Energy allows…
New biochemical processes to synthesize!
It also powers cell functions!
What is the primary currency for storing and releasing energy in organisms?
ATP. Some of the chemical energy is used to do WORK; the other part used to SYNTHESIZE organic molecules.
What happens to a considerable amount of energy from the food we consume?
It is lost in organic waste, or as heat
What is metabolism?
The chemical processes surrounding the conversion and the consumption of energy, and the synthesis of organic material within a living organism.
How do different animals vary in relation to energy?
They allocate energy in different ways;
They vary in their total energy use;
They vary in their rate of energy consumption for different functions (ie. Growth vs Maintenance)
The fraction of an animal’s energy budget devoted to activity depends on…
- Environment;
- Behaviour
- Size
- Thermoregulators or not
