Introduction: Chapter 1 Flashcards
Mechanistic physiology
Focuses on the mechanism of a certain function. “How does it work?”
Evolutionary approach
Focuses on the evolutionary history. “Where did it come from?”
Issues of being multicellular
- Each cell has requirements
- Interstitial fluid
- Circulatory system
- Cells from tissues and organs that perform specialised functions for the whole organism
4 types of tissues
- Epithelial: covers and lines
- Connective
- Nerve: excitable and generates impulses
- Muscle: excitable and contra table
Why do large animals need complex organ systems?
Because of the low surface area to volume ratio which makes necessary functions hard to achieve. But with organ systems cells are able to special certain functions and receive the nutrients through the interstitial fluid and circulatory system
As the size of an animal increases what happens to both its surface area and volume? What happens to the ratio of surface area to volume?
The surface area is squared while the volume is cubed which causes the surface area to become significantly less than the volume of the animal. These leads to a low surface area to volume ratio which makes necessary functions for the animal hard.
Homeostasis
Ability to maintain relatively constant internal environment.
Receptor
Detects change in body
Integrator
Compares receptor input with regular body. Brains.
Effector
Organ that helps maintain homeostasis.
Feedback
Change in parameter we are measuring
Positive feedback
Creates more change away from set point
Negative feedback
Resist change causes a change to occur back to set point
Set point
Ideal state of body
Anticipation system
Reduces delay phenomenon by predicting a disturbance before regular state is changed. Mammal’s external skin detects change before core temp, triggers corrective response.
Acclimatisation system
Alter existing feedback over many days to work better for the next situation. Melting, loosing fur.
Why is curve fitting useful?
- Helps describe and communicate info effectively.
- Helps make predictions about the function of a system
- Helps formulate and select from hypothesis.
Regression coefficient
Tells you the percentage of the variability in the data that may be attributed to the proposed equation. Want something close to 1.0.
Cautions of curve fitting
Just because the equation fits does not mean that it is the correct relationship for the system. Curve fit may be caused by simultaneous events or from experimental protocol. Data never proves a hypothesis only supports.
What is physiology?
The study of the functions of organisms. “How does the body know when to make a certain hormone?” “Where did lungs derive from?”
Regulators(organisms)
Expend metabolic energy in order to maintain homeostasis
Conformers(organism)
Do not expend mats iliac everyday to maintain homeostasis. Change with environment.
