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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
What are the 3 types of reptilian skull? What is the based on?
Anapsid Synapsid Diapsid Number of temporal fenestrae
26
Some reptiles have a kinetic skull. What modifications do they have to allow jaw gape?
Jaw modifications | Skin between scales allows further stretch
27
Skin is the largest organ in reptiles and is essential to prevent water loss. It is shed periodically. What is this process called?
Ecdysis
28
What is the failure of ecdysis called? What can this be due to?
Dysecdysis | Poor husbandry e.g. humidity levels
29
What are the 3 skin layers in reptiles?
Stratum Corneum (heavily keratinised) Intermediate layer Stratum basale
30
What controls ecdysis?
Thyroid gland
31
In which reptiles is ecdysis complete? In which reptiles is it patchy?
Snakes complete | Lizards patchy
32
How many heart chambers do reptiles have? Which animal is the exception to this?
3 (1 ventricle, 2 atria) | Crocodile - has 4
33
Describe the RBCs in reptiles
Nucleated (don’t need haemoglobin space in optimum environment)
34
The ventricle in reptiles is divided into how many groups? What divides them?
3 | Muscular ridges
35
Are reptiles aerobic or anaerobic?
Aerobic but can be anaerobic if energy is required elsewhere
36
What is a problem with reptile anaesthesia?
Can hold breath for long periods of time (anaerobic) | Increases lung pressure which allows blood to bypass the heart
37
What is the renal portal system in reptiles?
Blood flow from hind limbs goes straight to kidney NOT to systemic circulation External iliac veins go straight to large renal portal vein
38
What is an issue with the renal portal system and drug administration? Why?
Drugs cannot be administered into caudal half of body | Kidney will rapidly excrete them or drug may be nephrotoxic
39
Which lung is larger in snakes? What is the name of the functioning unit in the simple sac lungs?
Right is larger, small left lung | Faveoli
40
How is surface area: volume increased in faveoli of a simple sac lung?
Reticular pattern
41
What are the functions of the lungs in reptiles?
Respiration Buoyancy Vocalisation Display
42
Do reptiles have a diaphragm? How is thoracic pressure changed?
No | Muscle contractions of limbs/neck
43
What are the three phases to respiration? What is different from mammals to reptile respiration phases?
Inspire Expire Rest Rest is much longer in reptiles!
44
How long is the gut transit time in Chelonia?
Weeks
45
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?
Short SI Large caecum and LI Cloaca
46
Which order of reptiles do not have teeth?
Chelonia
47
What is the difference between tortoises, terrapins and turtles?
Tortoises - land only Terrapins - land and water Turtles - water only (except egg laying)
48
In some reptiles, venom can be produced in the mouth. What type of glands produce venom?
Modified mucus secretory glands
49
Why is oral medication inefficient in reptiles?
Gut transit time even slower when unwell
50
Why are reptile teeth easily damaged?
They have no periodontal ligament
51
Teeth in the reptile are continuously replaced (except for Chelonia - no teeth). What is this called?
Polyphyodonty
52
What are the 3 types of teeth in reptiles?
Acrodent Pleurodont Thecodont
53
What are acrodont teeth?
Teeth attached to the crest of bone
54
What are pleurodont teeth?
Teeth attached to the medial bone
55
What are thecodont teeth? Which is the only reptile to have these?
Teeth in a socket | Crocodiles
56
What are egg teeth?
Deciduous teeth in reptile which enable them to hatch out of the egg
57
What are the 3 areas to the cloaca?
Coprodeum Urodeum Proctodeum
58
What does the coprodeum collect?
Faecal matter from colon
59
What does the urodeum collect? What is it also connected with?
Urine from ureters or bladder | Reproductive tract
60
In the urinary system of the reptiles there are no....
Renal pelvis Loop of Henle Renal pyramids
61
Which animals do not have a bladder? What do they have instead?
Snakes | Rudimentary pouch
62
Describe the tonicity of urine compared to blood?
Urine is hypotonic or isotonic to blood
63
What do reptiles excrete instead of urine? What is this the end product of?
Uric acid | Protein catabolism
64
How is water conserved in reptiles?
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
What % of body weight is made up from blood?
8-10%
66
What is the function of the proctodeum?
Storage for both faeces and uric acid before expulsion
67
What features of the nephron do reptiles possess?
Proximal, intermediate and distal convoluted tubule | Glomerulus
68
How many species of reptiles are there? Where are they found?
10,000 | Everywhere except Antarctica
69
Describe the shells reptiles produce. How much care do they need?
Leathery, not very calcified | Very little
70
What are the 2 types of egg layer? Where are the eggs layed/hatched? What is the nutrient source?
Oviparous - eggs layer and hatch externally, yolk is nutrient source Viviparous - eggs hatch internally and born live, placenta is nutrient source
71
What are the sex chromosomes in reptiles? What can influence sex?
Female = ZW Male = ZZ Temperature
72
In general, how are reptiles sexed?
Females have short distance between cloacal and caudal carapace Females have short thin tail Males have longer distances and larger tail
73
If eggs are kept at a higher temperature, how does this affect gender in Chelonia and lizards?
Chelonia - increased temperature = more females | Lizards - increased temperature = more males
74
Describe the phallus and testes in reptiles
Phallus can be visible (and mistaken for clitoral hyperplasia!) Phallus not involved in urination Testes internal close to vena cava - prolapse common
75
What are the 3 phases to the female reproductive cycle?
Quiescent Vitelline Gravid
76
What is the spectacle (or brille) in reptiles?
Fused, transparent eyelids in reptiles
77
Do reptiles have the pupillary light reflex?
No
78
What is the 3rd eyelid found in reptiles?
Modified scale on head Not for vision Detects light

Exotics and random anatomy (23 decks)

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