Introduction to Animals

A collection of vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts related to animal biology based on the provided lecture notes.

Heterotrophy

The ability to obtain energy and organic molecules by ingesting other organisms.

Multicellularity

A characteristic of many animals that indicates a complex body structure with more than one cell.

Active movement

The capability of animals to move rapidly and in complex ways compared to other organisms.

Radial symmetry

A body symmetry where body parts are arranged around a central axis and can be divided into equal halves by any plane passing through the center.

Bilateral symmetry

A body structure with right and left halves that are mirror images, with a specific plane (sagittal plane) dividing it into two equal halves.

Cephalization

The evolution of a distinct brain area concentrated at one end of the body, providing directional movement advantages to bilateral animals.

Tissues

Groups of cells organized into structural and functional units in most animals.

Acoelomates

Animals that do not have a body cavity.

Pseudocoelomates

Animals that have a body cavity located between the mesoderm and endoderm.

Coelomates

Animals with a body cavity fully lined by mesoderm tissue.

Protostomes

Bilaterians in which the mouth develops first from or near the blastopore.

Deuterostomes

Bilaterians in which the anus develops first from the blastopore and the mouth forms later.

Transformational (Spiral) cleavage

A pattern of cleavage where new cells are formed to the right or left of the previous cells.

Indeterminate development

A developmental pattern where cell fate is not determined until after several cell divisions.

Cnidarians

A group of animals characterized as diploblastic, having tissues but no organs, and employing nematocysts to capture prey.

Nematocysts

Specialized cells in cnidarians that contain venom and are used for capturing prey.

Symmetry

The arrangement of body parts in a symmetrical pattern, influencing an animal's body plan and functionality.

Embryonic development

The process where a zygote undergoes a series of mitotic divisions to form a multicellular organism.

Germ layers

The three primary layers of cells (ectoderm, mesoderm, endoderm) formed during embryonic development that give rise to various tissues and organs.

Eumetazoa

Animals that display true tissues and a defined symmetry as opposed to Parazoa, which lack these features.