Understanding Fauna: Animal Physiology and Excretion

These flashcards cover key terminologies and concepts related to animal physiology, focusing primarily on digestion, osmoregulation, and excretion, providing a comprehensive study aid for the exam.

Biodiversity

The variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat or ecosystem.

Animal Nutrition

The process by which animals obtain and utilize food.

Digestion

The process of breaking down food into smaller components to absorb nutrients.

Osmoregulation

The process by which an organism regulates the concentration of water and salts in its body.

Circulation

The movement of blood or other fluids through the body.

Immune System

The body's defense system against pathogens.

Reproductive System

The organ system responsible for reproduction.

Control Systems

Systems within organisms that regulate functions, typically involving hormones and the nervous system.

Ingestion

The intake of food into the body.

Absorption

The process of taking up nutrients from the digestive system into the body.

Elimination

The removal of undigested waste from the body.

Mechanical Digestion

The physical breakdown of food into smaller pieces.

Chemical Digestion

The enzymatic breakdown of food into smaller molecules.

Small Intestine

The part of the intestine where most digestion and absorption occurs.

Pancreas

An organ that produces digestive enzymes and hormones.

Liver

An organ that produces bile and processes nutrients.

Gallbladder

A small organ that stores bile produced by the liver.

Jejunum

The middle section of the small intestine where absorption of nutrients occurs.

Ileum

The last section of the small intestine that connects to the large intestine.

Foregut Fermenters

Animals that digest food using symbiotic bacteria and archaea in their stomach.

Hindgut Fermenters

Animals that ferment food in the cecum or large intestine.

Herbivores

Animals that primarily eat plants.

Omnivores

Animals that eat both plants and animals.

Polysaccharides

Complex carbohydrates consisting of long chains of sugar units.

Disaccharides

Carbohydrates composed of two sugar units.

Salivary Amylase

An enzyme that begins the digestion of carbohydrates in the mouth.

Pepsin

An enzyme in the stomach that digests proteins.

Pancreatic Amylases

Enzymes produced by the pancreas that digest carbohydrates.

Proteases

Enzymes that break down proteins into smaller peptides.

Nucleases

Enzymes that digest nucleic acids into nucleotides.

Fat Digestion

The process of breaking down fats into fatty acids and glycerol.

Cecum

A pouch connected to the junction of the small and large intestines, where fermentation occurs in herbivores.

Appendix

A small, tube-like structure attached to the cecum, thought to play a role in gut flora.

Colon

The main part of the large intestine, responsible for reabsorbing water.

Rectum

The final section of the large intestine, leading to the anus.

Anus

The opening through which waste is excreted from the body.

Osmoconformers

Organisms that maintain osmotic equilibrium with their environment.

Osmoregulators

Organisms that actively regulate their internal osmotic environment.

Hyperosmotic

Having a higher concentration of solutes compared to another solution.

Hypoosmotic

Having a lower concentration of solutes compared to another solution.

Isosmotic

Having equal concentrations of solutes.

Nitrogenous Waste

Waste products generated from the breakdown of proteins and nucleic acids.

Ammonia

Highly toxic nitrogenous waste that requires large amounts of water to excrete.

Urea

A less toxic form of nitrogenous waste produced in the liver.

Uric Acid

The least toxic nitrogenous waste, requiring minimal water for excretion.

Excretory System Functions

Filtration, reabsorption, secretion, and excretion of waste.

Filtration

The process of removing waste and excess substances from the blood in the kidneys.

Reabsorption

The uptake of water and solutes back into the bloodstream.

Secretion

The process of actively adding substances to the filtrate from the blood.

Kidney

The organ responsible for filtering blood and producing urine.

Nephron

The functional unit of the kidney, responsible for urine formation.

Glomerulus

A network of capillaries where blood filtration occurs in the nephron.

Bowman's Capsule

Structure surrounding the glomerulus that collects filtrate.

Renal Medulla

The inner region of the kidney where urine concentration occurs.

Renal Cortex

The outer region of the kidney where filtration occurs.

ADH (Antidiuretic Hormone)

Hormone that regulates water reabsorption in kidneys.

Aldosterone

Hormone that increases sodium reabsorption, affecting water balance.

Loop of Henle

Part of the nephron responsible for creating a concentration gradient in the renal medulla.

Counter-current Exchange

The mechanism in the Loop of Henle that maximizes the efficiency of water and salt reabsorption.

Osmotic Pressure

The pressure required to prevent the flow of water across a semipermeable membrane.

Dehydration

A condition resulting from excessive loss of water in the body.

Water Intoxication

A condition in which water intake exceeds the body's electrolytic balance.

Marine Fish Adaptations

Mechanisms that allow marine fish to excrete excess salt and conserve water.

Freshwater Fish Adaptations

Mechanisms that allow freshwater fish to excrete excess water and absorb salts.

Tetrapods

Four-limbed vertebrates including amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals.

Amniotes

Vertebrates that lay eggs on land or retain them in the mother, characterized by an amniotic egg.

Echinodermata

A phylum of marine animals that includes starfish and sea urchins.

Osteichthyes

Class of fish with a bony skeleton, including most modern fish.

Gnathostomes

Jawed vertebrates.

Protonephridia

Excretory structures found in some invertebrates, consisting of a network of tubules.

Chondrichthyes

Class of cartilaginous fish, such as sharks and rays.

Comparative Excretory Systems

A study of the differences in excretory and osmoregulatory systems across species.