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Exotics and random anatomy > Reptile Structure And Function > Flashcards

Reptile Structure And Function Flashcards

1
Q

Most diseases are due to poor nutrition or husbandry. How does environmental stress predispose animals to infection?

A

Reduces immune system

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2
Q

What is the kingdom, phylum and class of reptiles?

A

Animalia
Chordata
Reptilia

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3
Q

Give the order for tortoises/terrapins/turtles, snakes/lizards and crocodiles?

A

Chelonia
Squamata
Crocodilia

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4
Q

Reptiles have an extremely slow metabolism (20% of a mammal their size), what does this rate depend on?

A

Diet/feeding
Size
Body temp
Species

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5
Q

Describe reptiles in terms of thermoregulation

A

Poikilothermic ectotherms

Poikilothermic = body temperatures that changes with the temperature around
Ectothermic = is an organism which derives the heat it requires from the environment.
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6
Q

Where is thermoregulation controlled?

A

Hypothalamus

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7
Q

What is behavioural fever?

A

When animals are sick, they seek areas for a higher preferred body temperature

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8
Q

How are reptiles adapted for water retention?

A

Lungs can be bypassed to prevent evaporation

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9
Q

What is the preoptic nucleus?

A

Part of the hypothalamus, to do with temperature regulation

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10
Q

What is the preferred optimum temperature zone?

A

Range of temperatures that allow thermoregulation

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11
Q

What is the preferred bodily temperature?

A

Optimum temperature for bodily functions

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12
Q

How can behaviour (specialised to reptiles) assist thermoregulation?

A

Pigmentation of scales can change

Control heat absorption

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13
Q

UV lights need replacing every 6 months. What are the 2 types of UV light and what do they do?

A

UVA - stimulates reproductive behaviour

UVB - converts 7DHC to vitamin D3 (essential for calcium metabolism)

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14
Q

How is hibernation triggered?

A

Mainly by temperature but also by body size, photoperiod, reproductive cycle and food availability
(If temperature controlled, do not hibernate)

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15
Q

Only healthy animals hibernate. What is the function of hibernation?

A

To trigger reproductive activity

Maintain thyroid function

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16
Q

When is the usual hibernation period? Why is food withheld before hibernating?

A

November to March

No digestion - prevent food rotting

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17
Q

What advice would you give to someone thinking of hibernating a reptile?

A 
Healthy animals only
Withdraw food to ensure empty GI tract
Keep in cool area
Weigh and check regularly
Wake up with warm baths
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18
Q

Why are reptiles woken up with warm baths?

A

To stimulate faeces expulsion and drinking

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19
Q

How do snakes manage propulsion with no limbs?

A

Use muscles on axial skeleton

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20
Q

When plasma calcium is low, calcium is mobilised from the bone. How much of body calcium is within reptile bones? What is the Ca:P ratio for reptiles?

A

90%

1.5:1

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21
Q

How long does bone healing take in a reptile? Why is this so slow?

A

Up to 18 months

Lack Haversian system that mammals have

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22
Q

Chelonianas, snakes and crocodiles don’t stop growing. Which plates do not close?

A

Epiphyseal growth plates

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23
Q

Do lizards reach skeletal maturity? How many ossification centres do they have?

A

Yes - later in life

2

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24
Q

What is it called when tails are shed? What are tails used for in lizards?

A

Autonomy

Fat storage

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25
Q

What are the 3 types of reptilian skull? What is the based on?

A

Anapsid
Synapsid
Diapsid
Number of temporal fenestrae

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26
Q

Some reptiles have a kinetic skull. What modifications do they have to allow jaw gape?

A

Jaw modifications

Skin between scales allows further stretch

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27
Q

Skin is the largest organ in reptiles and is essential to prevent water loss. It is shed periodically. What is this process called?

A

Ecdysis

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28
Q

What is the failure of ecdysis called? What can this be due to?

A

Dysecdysis

Poor husbandry e.g. humidity levels

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29
Q

What are the 3 skin layers in reptiles?

A

Stratum Corneum (heavily keratinised)
Intermediate layer
Stratum basale

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30
Q

What controls ecdysis?

A

Thyroid gland

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31
Q

In which reptiles is ecdysis complete? In which reptiles is it patchy?

A

Snakes complete

Lizards patchy

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32
Q

How many heart chambers do reptiles have? Which animal is the exception to this?

A

3 (1 ventricle, 2 atria)

Crocodile - has 4

33
Q

Describe the RBCs in reptiles

A

Nucleated (don’t need haemoglobin space in optimum environment)

34
Q

The ventricle in reptiles is divided into how many groups? What divides them?

A

3

Muscular ridges

35
Q

Are reptiles aerobic or anaerobic?

A

Aerobic but can be anaerobic if energy is required elsewhere

36
Q

What is a problem with reptile anaesthesia?

A

Can hold breath for long periods of time (anaerobic)

Increases lung pressure which allows blood to bypass the heart

37
Q

What is the renal portal system in reptiles?

A

Blood flow from hind limbs goes straight to kidney
NOT to systemic circulation
External iliac veins go straight to large renal portal vein

38
Q

What is an issue with the renal portal system and drug administration? Why?

A

Drugs cannot be administered into caudal half of body

Kidney will rapidly excrete them or drug may be nephrotoxic

39
Q

Which lung is larger in snakes? What is the name of the functioning unit in the simple sac lungs?

A

Right is larger, small left lung

Faveoli

40
Q

How is surface area: volume increased in faveoli of a simple sac lung?

A

Reticular pattern

41
Q

What are the functions of the lungs in reptiles?

A

Respiration
Buoyancy
Vocalisation
Display

42
Q

Do reptiles have a diaphragm? How is thoracic pressure changed?

A

No

Muscle contractions of limbs/neck

43
Q

What are the three phases to respiration? What is different from mammals to reptile respiration phases?

A

Inspire
Expire
Rest

Rest is much longer in reptiles!

44
Q

How long is the gut transit time in Chelonia?

A

Weeks

45
Q

The GI of reptiles is a simple system. Describe the relative lengths/sizes of the SI, LI and caecum. Where does the GI system terminate?

A

Short SI
Large caecum and LI
Cloaca

46
Q

Which order of reptiles do not have teeth?

A

Chelonia

47
Q

What is the difference between tortoises, terrapins and turtles?

A

Tortoises - land only
Terrapins - land and water
Turtles - water only (except egg laying)

48
Q

In some reptiles, venom can be produced in the mouth. What type of glands produce venom?

A

Modified mucus secretory glands

49
Q

Why is oral medication inefficient in reptiles?

A

Gut transit time even slower when unwell

50
Q

Why are reptile teeth easily damaged?

A

They have no periodontal ligament

51
Q

Teeth in the reptile are continuously replaced (except for Chelonia - no teeth). What is this called?

A

Polyphyodonty

52
Q

What are the 3 types of teeth in reptiles?

A

Acrodent
Pleurodont
Thecodont

53
Q

What are acrodont teeth?

A

Teeth attached to the crest of bone

54
Q

What are pleurodont teeth?

A

Teeth attached to the medial bone

55
Q

What are thecodont teeth? Which is the only reptile to have these?

A

Teeth in a socket

Crocodiles

56
Q

What are egg teeth?

A

Deciduous teeth in reptile which enable them to hatch out of the egg

57
Q

What are the 3 areas to the cloaca?

A

Coprodeum
Urodeum
Proctodeum

58
Q

What does the coprodeum collect?

A

Faecal matter from colon

59
Q

What does the urodeum collect? What is it also connected with?

A

Urine from ureters or bladder

Reproductive tract

60
Q

In the urinary system of the reptiles there are no….

A

Renal pelvis
Loop of Henle
Renal pyramids

61
Q

Which animals do not have a bladder? What do they have instead?

A

Snakes

Rudimentary pouch

62
Q

Describe the tonicity of urine compared to blood?

A

Urine is hypotonic or isotonic to blood

63
Q

What do reptiles excrete instead of urine? What is this the end product of?

A

Uric acid

Protein catabolism

64
Q

How is water conserved in reptiles?

A

Waterproof skin - however can absorb water
Cloacal reflux into colon/bladder for water rebsorption
Uric acid excretion rather than urine
Decreased glomerular filtration rate
Renal portal system

65
Q

What % of body weight is made up from blood?

A

8-10%

66
Q

What is the function of the proctodeum?

A

Storage for both faeces and uric acid before expulsion

67
Q

What features of the nephron do reptiles possess?

A

Proximal, intermediate and distal convoluted tubule

Glomerulus

68
Q

How many species of reptiles are there? Where are they found?

A

10,000

Everywhere except Antarctica

69
Q

Describe the shells reptiles produce. How much care do they need?

A

Leathery, not very calcified

Very little

70
Q

What are the 2 types of egg layer? Where are the eggs layed/hatched? What is the nutrient source?

A

Oviparous - eggs layer and hatch externally, yolk is nutrient source
Viviparous - eggs hatch internally and born live, placenta is nutrient source

71
Q

What are the sex chromosomes in reptiles? What can influence sex?

A

Female = ZW
Male = ZZ
Temperature

72
Q

In general, how are reptiles sexed?

A

Females have short distance between cloacal and caudal carapace
Females have short thin tail
Males have longer distances and larger tail

73
Q

If eggs are kept at a higher temperature, how does this affect gender in Chelonia and lizards?

A

Chelonia - increased temperature = more females

Lizards - increased temperature = more males

74
Q

Describe the phallus and testes in reptiles

A

Phallus can be visible (and mistaken for clitoral hyperplasia!)
Phallus not involved in urination
Testes internal close to vena cava - prolapse common

75
Q

What are the 3 phases to the female reproductive cycle?

A

Quiescent
Vitelline
Gravid

76
Q

What is the spectacle (or brille) in reptiles?

A

Fused, transparent eyelids in reptiles

77
Q

Do reptiles have the pupillary light reflex?

A

No

78
Q

What is the 3rd eyelid found in reptiles?

A

Modified scale on head
Not for vision
Detects light

Exotics and random anatomy (23 decks)

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