Animal Physiology Overview

Animal Physiology

• Definition: Study of the biological functions and systems of animals, including processes such as respiration, circulation, digestion, and reproduction.

• Basic Concepts:

  • Homeostasis: Maintenance of stable internal conditions despite external changes.
  • Metabolism: All biochemical reactions in an organism, including catabolism (breaking down molecules) and anabolism (building up molecules).

• Systems of Animal Physiology:

  1. Nervous System:

     • Composed of neurons and supporting cells.
     • Responsible for sensory reception, signal transmission, and response coordination.
     • Major parts: Central Nervous System (CNS) and Peripheral Nervous System (PNS).

  2. Circulatory System:

     • Transports nutrients, gases, hormones, and waste products.
     • Types: Open (e.g., arthropods) and closed (e.g., vertebrates) circulatory systems.
     • Key components: Heart, blood vessels, blood.

  3. Respiratory System:

     • Responsible for gas exchange (oxygen intake and carbon dioxide removal).
     • Structures vary: gills (fish), lungs (mammals), tracheae (insects).

  4. Digestive System:

     • Breaks down food into nutrients for absorption.
     • Types: Complete (two openings, e.g., humans) and incomplete (one opening, e.g., jellyfish) digestive systems.
     • Key components: Mouth, stomach, intestines, liver.

  5. Excretory System:

     • Eliminates waste and regulates water and electrolyte balance.
     • Main organs: Kidneys (in mammals), Malpighian tubules (insects).

  6. Endocrine System:

     • Regulates physiological processes through hormones.
     • Key glands: Pituitary, thyroid, adrenal, pancreas.

  7. Reproductive System:

     • Responsible for the production of offspring.
     • Asexual (e.g., budding, fission) and sexual reproduction (involves gametes).
     • Hormonal control of reproductive cycles.

• Adaptations:

  • Physiological adaptations: Changes in function to survive in specific environments (e.g., desert animals conserve water).
  • Behavioral adaptations: Changes in behavior to enhance survival (e.g., migration in birds).

• Physiological Measurements:

  • Common metrics: Heart rate, respiration rate, metabolic rate.
  • Techniques: Blood tests, imaging (e.g., MRI), and bioassays.

• Evolutionary Physiology:

  • Study of how physiological traits have evolved in response to environmental pressures.
  • Concepts of natural selection and adaptation play key roles.

Understanding animal physiology is essential for insights into health, disease, and the ecological impact of different species.

Overview of Animal Physiology

• Animal physiology examines biological functions and systems, including respiration, circulation, digestion, and reproduction.
• Homeostasis is crucial for maintaining stable internal conditions despite external fluctuations.

Basic Concepts

• Metabolism encompasses all biochemical reactions, divided into catabolism (breaking down molecules) and anabolism (building up molecules).

Systems of Animal Physiology

• Nervous System:

  • Composed of neurons and supporting cells.
  • Responsible for sensory transmission and coordinating responses.
  • Divided into Central Nervous System (CNS) and Peripheral Nervous System (PNS).

• Circulatory System:

  • Transports nutrients, gases, hormones, and waste products.
  • Can be open (e.g., arthropods) or closed (e.g., vertebrates).
  • Key components include the heart, blood vessels, and blood.

• Respiratory System:

  • Facilitates gas exchange, allowing oxygen intake and carbon dioxide removal.
  • Structures vary: gills for fish, lungs for mammals, and tracheae for insects.

• Digestive System:

  • Breaks down food to absorb nutrients.
  • Types include complete (two openings, e.g., humans) and incomplete (one opening, e.g., jellyfish) systems.
  • Key components: mouth, stomach, intestines, and liver.

• Excretory System:

  • Eliminates waste and maintains water and electrolyte balance.
  • Main organs include kidneys in mammals and Malpighian tubules in insects.

• Endocrine System:

  • Regulates physiological processes via hormones.
  • Key glands include the pituitary, thyroid, adrenal, and pancreas.

• Reproductive System:

  • Responsible for offspring production through asexual (e.g., budding, fission) and sexual reproduction (involves gametes).
  • Hormones regulate reproductive cycles.

Adaptations

• Physiological Adaptations:
  • Involves functional changes for survival in specific environments, such as water conservation in desert animals.
• Behavioral Adaptations:
  • Includes changes in behavior to improve survival, exemplified by bird migration.

Physiological Measurements

• Common metrics include heart rate, respiration rate, and metabolic rate.
• Techniques for assessment involve blood tests, imaging methods (e.g., MRI), and bioassays.

Evolutionary Physiology

• Explores the evolution of physiological traits in response to environmental pressures.
• Concepts such as natural selection and adaptation are fundamental to understanding these changes.

Importance of Animal Physiology

• Knowledge in this field is vital for insights into health, disease, and the ecological interactions of various species.