Basic zoophysiology – what you’re expected to know from before
Although mammals are often used at the model for many physiological processes you are expected to also
have some knowledge on different adaptations in other vertebrate groups, and sometimes also
invertebrates.
Homeostasis and metabolism
Receptor types and second messenger involved
(this will to some extent be covered by the initial
lecture about Temperature regulation)
Internal vs. external environment
The definition of homeostasis and why it is
important
How feedback mechanisms work
Energy metabolism and the role of ATP.
Hormonal control of metabolism.
Temperature regulation
See also Osmoregulation and Cardiac physiology
Nervous system and electrophysiology
Membrane properties and how membrane
potentials develop. Ions and channels involved.
Definitions:
 Conductance
 Capacitance
 Refractory period
 Action potential
 Resting potential
 Synapse
 Presynaptic inhibition
 Excitatory and inhibitory postsynaptic
potentials
 Spatial summation
 Temporal summation
Endocrinology
´The basics of the Nernst and
Goldman equation.
How an action potential develops and spread
along the nerve.
Main components of the nervous system (central
vs. peripheral)
Main categories of nerve cells (sensory, motor
and interneuron)
Structure and function of reflex pathways
The main endocrine organs and their role in
maintain homeostasis in the body.
 Pineal gland
 Pituitary gland
 Pancreas
 Ovaries
 Testes
 Thyroid gland
 Parathyroid gland
 Hypothalamus
 Gastrointestinal tract
 Adrenal glands
Nerve cell structure and function of different
parts of the nerve cell
Factors that affect conduction velocity
The relation between neurohypophysis adenohypophysis - hypothalamus
Autonomic nervous system: structure,
nomenclature, how it works and what it controls.
 Parasympathetic
 Sympathetic
 Enteric
Main types of hormone
 Amines
 Prostaglandins
 Steroids
 Peptides
The main transmitter categories:
 Acetylcholine
 Monoamines
 Amino acids
 Neuropeptids
Ways of action for different types of hormones,
including receptor types and second messenger
involved
Regulation of endocrine systems
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Negative feedback
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Definitions:
 Autocrine
 Paracrine
 Neuroendocrine
 Endocrine
Differences in composition and cell structure in
different groups of animals.
Thrombocytes
Where and how blood cells are produced, how it
is regulated.
Definitions:
 Hematocrit
 Viscosity
Muscle physiology
Structure and function of different types of
muscle cells:
 Striated muscles
 Cardiac muscles
 Smooth muscles
Immune system to be expanded
Cardiac and circulatory physiology
Functional anatomy of the heart and circulatory
systems in different groups of animals.
"Sliding-filament-theory" – the different
components involved and how contraction
develops. Role of calcium.
Control of muscle activity by nerves and
hormones
The properties of cardiac muscle cells, how
contraction is initiated and spread over the
entire heart.
Definitions:
 Isotonic contraction
 Isometric contraction
The relationship between blood flow, blood
pressure and the beating of the heart. Other
factors that affect blood pressure.
Sensory organs
Nervous and endocrine control of blood pressure
and the heart. Transmitters and receptors
involved.
The five main senses.
Functional anatomy of the eye in different
groups of animals
Functional anatomy of the ear
Receptor types involved in different senses, how
they are built and how they function:
 Chemoreceptors
 Mechanoreceptors
 Electroreceptors
 Thermoreceptors
 Photoreceptors
Receptor adaption to different stimuli, benefits
and possible disadvantages.
Reflex pathways and receptors involved in
maintaining homeostasis:
 Baroreceptors
 Chemoreceptors
 Vasomotor center (VMC)
The structure and function of the capillary
network. Exchange mechanisms.
Lymphatic system – function and general
anatomy
Definitions:
 Pacemaker cells
 Cardiac output
 Heart rate
 Stroke volume
 Systolic end volume
 Diastolic end volume
Blood
The main components of blood:
 Plasma
 White blood cells (leukocytes)
 Red blood cells (erythrocytes)
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Osmoregulation and excretion
Hemodynamic
Laminar flow
Tubular flow
Plasma skimming
Capacitance
Resistance
TPR
ECG
Ion and water balance (to maintain
homeostasis). Organs and mechanisms involved
in exchange between an animal and its
surrounding environment (terrestrial and
aquatic)
Osmoregulators vs. osmoconformers
Control system involved (hormones, nerves,
feedback signals) in maintaining a constant
osmolarity.
Respiration
Functional anatomy of the respiratory organs
(airways, gills etc) in different groups of animals
Functional anatomy of the kidneys (or XXX) in
different groups of animals
Transportation of O2 and CO2 in the blood
Structure, function and types of haemoglobin
Understand the different steps (secretion and
absorption) in the vertebrate kidney involved in
urine production. The importance of the counter
current -system to produce concentrated urine.
Factors that affect gas exchange, both uptake
and delivery to the cells (temperature,
pH, pressure etc)
The relation between pH, CO2 and O2 (Bohr
effect)
Regulation of kidney function:
 Renin-angiotensin system
 Aldosteron
 ADH
Ventilation by lungs – mechanism
Ventilation by gills– mechanism
Counter-current exchangers – mechanism behind
Excretion of nitrogen – differences between
animal groups
Definitions:
 Glomerular filtration rate
 Nephron
 Clearance
 Osmosis
 Hyperosmotic
 Hypoosmotic
 Isoosmotic
 Euryhaline
 Stenohaline
 Permeability
Voluntary and involuntary (reflexes) control of
ventilation rate
Mechanoreceptors (stretch)
Chemoreceptors (peripheral and central)
Definitions:
 Eupnoea
 Hyperpnoea
 Hyper- vs hypoventilation
 Anatomic and physiologic dead space
 Tidal volume
 Residual volume
 Vital capacity
 Allosteric interactions
 Cooperativity
 Partial pressure
 Inspiration centre
 Expiration centre
 Pneumotactic loop
Reproduction
The main sex steroids, structure, secretion and
control of secretion.
Functional anatomy of vertebrate gonads
Effect of:
 Gonadotropin
 Prolaktin
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Prostaglandins
Reproduction cycles:
Factors that synchronise cycles, how hormones
interact to obtain cyclic patterns.
The menstrual cycle vs. oestrus cycle. What
happens around fertilization (in primates but also
in other groups vertebrates)
Digestion
Functional anatomy of the gastrointestinal tract,
the role of the different parts (e.g. stomach,
intestine, liver, pancreas, gallbladder).
Understanding of the different cell layers in the
gut wall.
How food and other particles are transported
along the gut. Control of motility.
Gastric acid – its role, how it is secreted and the
control of secretion
Break down of food – chemical (enzymes and
acid) and mechanical.
Absorption of water and nutrients
Definitions:
 Motility
 Secretion
 Absorption
 Enteric nervous system
Suggested reading
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