Animal Nutrition and Physiology

These flashcards cover important terms and concepts related to animal nutrition, physiology, and development based on lecture notes.

Amino Acids

Organic molecules that are the building blocks of proteins; animals require 20 amino acids but can only synthesize about half.

Essential Nutrients

Nutrients that must be obtained through diet, as they cannot be synthesized by the body.

Malnutrition

A condition resulting from a diet lacking sufficient essential nutrients.

Carnivores

Animals that primarily eat other animals.

Herbivores

Animals that primarily eat plants or autotrophs.

Omnivores

Animals that consume both plant and animal sources.

Minerals

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

Vitamins

Organic molecules required in the diet, functioning as coenzymes and cofactors for enzymatic reactions.

Digestion

The process of breaking down food into smaller molecules that can be absorbed by the body.

Absorption

The uptake of nutrients by body cells following digestion.

Excretion

The elimination of undigested material and waste products from the digestive system.

Alimentary Canal

The continuous tube running from the mouth to the anus, where digestion and absorption occur.

Peristalsis

Rhythmic contractions of muscles that move food through the digestive tract.

Chyme

The semi-liquid food mass that enters the small intestine from the stomach.

Gastric Juices

Digestive fluids secreted by the stomach, including hydrochloric acid and enzymes like pepsin.

Nutrient Absorption

The process by which digested food components are taken up into the bloodstream or lymph.

Hemolymph

The fluid equivalent of blood in arthropods and some mollusks in an open circulatory system.

Circulatory System

System responsible for transporting blood and nutrients throughout the body.

Closed Circulatory System

A circulatory system where blood is contained within vessels at all times.

Open Circulatory System

A circulatory system where hemolymph bathes the organs directly.

Gas Exchange

The biological process by which oxygen is taken up and carbon dioxide is released, occurring in lungs or gills.

Respiratory Surface

A large and moist surface area in animals dedicated to gas exchange with the environment.

Countercurrent Exchange System

A mechanism that maximizes gas exchange efficiency by having blood and water flow in opposite directions in gills.

Synaptic Signaling

A form of communication in the nervous system, where neurons transmit signals across synapses.

Hormones

Chemical messengers released into the bloodstream by endocrine glands to regulate physiological processes.

Negative Feedback

A regulatory mechanism that counteracts a change, maintaining homeostasis.

Positive Feedback

A regulatory mechanism that amplifies responses or stimuli.

Thyroid Hormone

A hormone that regulates metabolism and affects various physiological functions.

Endocrine Glands

Ductless glands that secrete hormones directly into the bloodstream.

Neurulation

The process during embryonic development that forms the neural tube.

Amniotic Fluid

Fluid surrounding the embryo in amniotes, providing cushioning and facilitating development.

Epigenetics

The study of changes in gene expression that do not involve alterations to the DNA sequence itself.