Thermoregulation

Flashcards covering key vocabulary related to thermoregulation in animal physiology.

Morphological adaptation

Structural change which gives an animal a greater chance of survival in its habitat.

Anatomical adaptations

Physical features of the animals which help them to survive in specific environment.

Adaptations

Any behavioural or physical characteristics of an animal that help it to survive in its environment.

Temperature

Degree of hotness or coldness measured on definite scale.

Body thermoregulation

Interaction of core and surface temperature.

Endotherms

Core body temperature is relatively stable and determined mainly by internal sources of heat.

Ectotherms

Core body temperature is derived mainly by external sources of heat.

Stress or stressor

Any condition or agent that alters the resting state of a system, resulting in an adaptive response.

Strain

Displacement from base level of the system due to stressor impact.

Thermoneutral zone (TNZ)

Range of ambient temperatures where the body can maintain its core temperature through regulating dry heat loss, i.e., skin blood flow.

Lower critical temperature (LCT)

Temperature that requires an organism to increase its metabolic rate to meet the environmental demands for heat.

Upper critical zone (UCT)

Temperatures where evaporative heat loss for cooling occurs due to temperatures above the TNZ.

Conduction

Heat transfer through a medium.

Convection

Heat transfer through fluid (molecules).

Radiation

Heat transfer as waves.

Evaporation

Heat transfer usually resulting in heat loss.

Basal metabolic rate (BMR)

Rate of energy expenditure required to keep a resting animal alive