Animal Structure and Function

A collection of vocabulary related to the concepts of animal structure, function, and thermoregulation.

Thermoregulation

The process that allows animals to maintain their body temperature within certain boundaries, even when the surrounding temperature is different.

Endothermy

The ability of an organism to generate its own body heat through metabolic activity.

Ectothermy

The dependence on external sources of body heat; these animals often regulate their body temperature by changing their behavior.

Metabolic rate

The rate at which an organism converts food into energy.

Insulation

A thermoregulatory adaptation that reduces heat loss between an animal and its environment.

Evaporative heat loss

The process through which heat is lost due to the evaporation of sweat, cooling the body.

Vasodilation

The widening of blood vessels, which increases blood flow and heat loss from the body.

Vasoconstriction

The narrowing of blood vessels, which reduces blood flow and conserves body heat.

Hypothalamus

The brain region that regulates body temperature and activates cooling or warming mechanisms.

Basal metabolic rate (BMR)

The amount of energy expended while at rest in a neutrally temperate environment.

Terrestrial vertebrates

Warm-blooded or cold-blooded animals that live on land and possess a backbone.

Bioenergetics

The study of the transformation of energy in living systems.

Digestive compartments

Specialized areas within an organism’s digestive system where specific processes of digestion occur.

Essential nutrients

Nutrients that cannot be synthesized by the body and must be obtained through the diet.

Essential amino acids

Amino acids that are necessary for human health but cannot be made by the body; must be obtained from food.

Essential fatty acids

Fatty acids that are crucial for health but cannot be synthesized by the body; obtained through the diet.

Vitamins

Organic molecules required in small amounts for various biochemical processes, many serving as coenzymes.

Minerals

Inorganic substances required by the body in small amounts for various functions.

Malnutrition

A condition resulting from improper or insufficient diet, leading to health problems.

Ingestion

The process of taking food into the body.

Digestion

The mechanical and chemical breakdown of food into smaller, absorbable molecules.

Absorption

The uptake of digested nutrients by body cells.

Elimination

The removal of undigested material from the digestive system.

Alimentary canal

A complete digestive tract with two openings, allowing for more efficient digestion and absorption.

Gastrovascular cavity

A digestive compartment with a single opening used for both ingestion and elimination.

Feeding strategies

Different methods animals use to obtain food including herbivory, carnivory, and omnivory.

Herbivore

An animal that primarily eats plants.

Carnivore

An animal that primarily eats meat.

Omnivore

An animal that consumes both plants and animals.

Thermoregulation adaptation

Features or behaviors that help organisms regulate their body temperature.

Energy budget

The balance of energy intake and energy expenditure of an organism.

Sweat glands

Skin structures that produce sweat to aid in thermoregulation.

Sebaceous gland

Glands in the skin that secrete oil to lubricate and protect the skin.

Pacinian corpuscle

A type of sensory receptor that responds to pressure and vibration.

Capillary

Small blood vessels that facilitate the exchange of substances between the blood and tissues.

Collective body mass

The total mass of an individual's biological tissues.

Thermoregulatory mechanisms

Biological processes that help an organism maintain its core internal temperature.

Hypothermia

A dangerously low body temperature.

Hyperthermia

An unusually high body temperature.

Respiratory system

The system responsible for gas exchange in organisms.

Nutritional deficiency

A condition resulting from a lack of essential nutrients in the diet.

Chemical energy

Energy stored in the bonds of chemical compounds, released when those bonds are broken.

Cellular processes

Biochemical activities within cells necessary for maintaining life.

Organic molecules

Molecules that contain carbon and are essential for life, e.g., carbohydrates, proteins, lipids.

Digestive enzymes

Biological catalysts that break down food substances into smaller molecules during digestion.

Food vacuoles

Cellular structures that enclose food and digestive enzymes for the breakdown of materials.

Mechanical digestion

The physical breakdown of food into smaller pieces.

Chemical digestion

The enzymatic breakdown of food into small molecules.

Coenzymes

Organic molecules that assist enzymes in catalyzing biochemical reactions.

Animal behavior

The actions or reactions of an animal in response to external or internal stimuli.

Thermal conductivity

The ability of a material to conduct heat.

Energy allocation

The process of distributing energy among various biological functions.

Ectothermic regulation

The physiological mechanisms through which ectothermic animals maintain appropriate body temperatures.

Thermoregulatory adaptations in mammals

Features enabling mammals to maintain their body temperature within a narrow range.