Introduction Flashcards
What is animal physiology?
The study of how animal form or structure and function sustain life and share responses to environmental conditions
At what temperature range can organismic growth occur?
From at least -15°C to about 113°C
What is hyperthermophilic?
Organisms that inhabit high-temperature environments, ranging from approximately 80°C - 113°C
What do hyperthermophilic microorganisms require? Why?
They require specialized cell components, like proteins and membranes, to be stable and function at high temperatures.
What particular organisms are quite tolerant to extreme pH values?
Microbes and other microscopic organisms
What are the limitations in environment?
Light, temperature, water, pH values and radiation
What is scaling?
The relationships between anatomical and physiological traits and body size.
What happens to the SA, V, and SA:V ratio if an object doubles in size?
SA: increases by a factor of 4
V: increases by a factor of 8
SA:V ratio decreases
How are the surface area and volume involved in an organism?
The surface of organism is involved in exchange of material with the environment while the volume is responsible for the processing and use of these materials.
What are the SA: V ratios of small and large animals?
Small animals - large SA:V
Large animals - small SA:V
What is homology?
Similarity due to ancestry
What is analogy?
Similarity due to similar environmental pressures(independent of ancestry)
What happens during homeostasis when body temperature falls?
Blood vessels constrict so that heat is conserved. Sweat glands do not secrete fluid. Shivering (involuntary contraction of muscles) generates heat, which warms the body.
What happens during homeostasis when body temperature rises?
Blood vessels dilate, resulting in heat loss to the environment. Sweat glands secrete fluid. As the fluid evaporates, heat is lost from the body.
What is homeostasis?
Steady-state of internal environment of organisms
What controls homeostasis?
Negative Feedback
What are the four basic parts of a negative feedback loop?
Stimulus, sensor, control center, and effector
What are some examples of stimulus, sensor, control center and effector?
Stimulus: oxygen, temperature
Sensor: body: receptors
Control center: body: nervous system
Effector: body: muscle, gland
What does positive feedback do to the body?
It intensifies a change in the body’s physiological condition rather than reversing it.
In what processes is positive feedback involved?
The production of the action potential, childbirth and clot production
Which of the following is the biggest challenge for animals living in aquatic environments?
Not having easy access to oxygen
True or false? Animals living in terrestrial environments have limited oxygen available in comparison to animals living in aquatic environments.
False
True or false? Size is independent of the complexity of some organ systems, like the respiratory system, of an organism.
False
Surface area to volume ratio influences thermal physiology such that
Small animals have a higher surface area to volume ratio, increasing heat loss and large animals have a smaller SA:V decreasing heat loss.
True or false? Diversity of adaptations to the environment is limited by ancestry
True
The sensor in a negative feedback loop can be?
Body receptors
