Animal Architecture: Levels of Organization and Tissue Types

These flashcards cover key vocabulary terms and concepts from the lecture on animal architecture, specifically focusing on levels of organization, tissue types, and body plans.

Levels of Organization

The hierarchical structure of biological organization, including cellular, tissue, organ, and system levels.

Tissue Types

Groups of similar cells that work together to perform a specific function, including epithelial, connective, muscular, and nervous tissues.

Extracellular Components

Non-cellular parts that provide structural and functional support to cells, including interstitial fluid and blood plasma.

Epithelial Tissue

Tissue that covers the surfaces of the body and lines cavities, functioning in protection, absorption, and secretion.

Connective Tissue

A diverse group of tissues that provide support, binding, and protection for other tissues and organs.

Muscular Tissue

Tissue specialized for contraction and movement, including skeletal, cardiac, and smooth muscle.

Nervous Tissue

Tissue specialized for communication and signal transmission, composed of neurons and supporting glial cells.

Bilateral Symmetry

A body plan in which an organism can be divided into two identical halves along one plane.

Radial Symmetry

A body plan in which body parts are arranged around a central axis, allowing for multiple planes of symmetry.

Asymmetry

A body plan with no symmetry, where parts are not arranged in any coordinated way.

Coelom

A fluid-filled body cavity between the outer body wall and the gut, allowing for the development and accommodation of organs.

Acoelomate

An organism without a true coelom, where mesoderm occupies the space between ectoderm and gut.

Pseudocoelomate

An organism with a pseudocoel, a body cavity that is not fully lined with mesoderm.

Coelomate

An organism with a true coelom, where the body cavity is entirely lined by mesoderm.

Eumetazoans

Multicellular organisms with true tissues, including diploblastic and triploblastic forms.

Metazoans

Multicellular eukaryotic organisms that have specialized cells forming tissues and organs.

Grades of Organization

Classes of biological arrangement, including unicellular organisms like protozoa and multicellular organisms like metazoans.

Embryonic Tissue Formation

The process by which cells differentiate and organize into specific tissues during the development of multicellular organisms.