Student ID _____________________________
Animal Physiology 2009
Exam I
Name ____________________________________
Part I
Part II
Part III
Part IV
___________ (20)
___________ (20)
___________ (20)
___________ (40)
Total
___________ (100)
Please read each question carefully. Make sure you completely answer each question. In some sections, you will
be able to choose which questions you would like to answer. Please clearly indicate which of these questions you
have chosen. You are more than welcome to use properly labeled graphs, diagrams, illustrations to support your
conclusions.
No electronic devices, books or notes may be accessed during this exam.
This exam has six pages including this title page.
Animal Physiology regrade policy: If you feel a mistake has been made in the grading of your exam, please
submit a typed explanation along with the original test to Dr. Mensinger within one week of your exam being
returned. You should detail why you feel your answer deserves more credit.
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Student ID _____________________________
Part I. Choose 5 of the following that were discussed in lecture. If a person, name what their contribution
was to muscle physiology or science in general. If an animal, name the physiological specializations and/or
specific systems that they were used to illustrate. Please make sure you indicate which 5 you want graded
(4 pts each)
1) toadfish
2) giraffe
3) Larry Rome
4) aadvark
5) sea otter
6) August Krogh
7) lungfish
8) sperm whale
9) HE Huxley
10) AF Huxley
11) Carol W. Greider
12) Clara Franzini Armstrong
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Student ID _____________________________
Part II)
1) Draw a sarcomere and properly label all its components (10 pts)
2) Identify/define any four of the following terms AND explain its role in muscle contraction. Be specific.
(2.5 pts each)
Calsequestrin
Tropomyosin
Troponin
Cross bridge
Tropoglycerin
Calcium
Dihydropyridine receptors
Ductus ovale
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Student ID _____________________________
Part III (Do 4 of 5). 5 pts each
1) What is the proper sequence of a blood cell through the four chambers of the mammalian heart as it
returns from the systemic system.
2) Draw an EKG, properly label the PQRST complex and indicate the functional significance of each peak.
3) Explain the physiological differences between skeletal and cardiac muscle as shown in the above figure.
What is the functional significance of this for heart contraction.
4) Compare and contrast the undivided vs divided vertebrate heart in terms of output (volume) and
pressure differential.
5) What gas is responsible for causing the bends in human divers
What major difference between human divers and diving mammals most likely accounts for the much
greater susceptibility of humans to getting the bends
What is the main difference in diving strategy between shallow and deep diving mammals –Why
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Student ID _____________________________
IV) On a recent intergalactic collecting expedition, a new animal was discovered on the third moon of the
Channa system. It is an amphibious, flying animal with a long whip like tail ending in a barb. The animal
can slowly swim by oscillating its tail back and forth. For this activity it uses muscle group A which
resembles teleost red muscle. It can also undergo rapid swimming bursts by contracting its tail, so that is
resembles the letter “C”. For rapid swimming it uses muscle group B which resembles teleost white
muscle. The animal’s swim speed ranged from 0.1 to 5 m/s. On land, it has an entirely different mode of
locomotion, where it will stick the barbed end of its tail into the ground, contract and hop on its tail. The
“hopping” muscles are remarkable similar to the frog gastrocnemeis muscle and was classified as muscle
group C. It could hop up to 10 m. The animal also has its two forelimbs modified into wings and is able to
fly up to 1 km. The wing muscles were classified as muscle group D. The animal also possesses a swim
bladder that is surrounded by muscles (muscle group E) that can contract at 100 Hz. A review of its
circulatory system reveals a three chambered serial heart and its blood pressure is 200/100 mm Hg.
A) While the scientists were able to collect several specimens and take physiological recordings, some of the
tissue was harmed during the processing and it is up to you to assist the scientists in filling in the missing values
in the table. Determine the missing values wherever there is any empty box (Note: you do not have to worry
about units for filling in the table) (2.5 pts for each - there are 4 open boxes in the table)
Muscle
Group
Actin
length
Myosin
Length
Bare
zone
A
B
C
6
7
10
12
15
2
the plateau
range
(sarcomere
length) for
maximal
force
At what sarcomere
length would you
expect the filaments to
be pulled beyond
overlap and generate
no force
14 to 18
4
31
V/Vmax
2
4
7
B) Construct a length tension curve for muscle group B. Only complete the tension portion of the curve for the
tension that DOES NOT have to be experimentally determined and that you can predict from the above data table.
Please remember to label the graph (5 pts)
C) Plot twitch tension over time for muscle groups A, B and E. Label the curves and axis. ( 5 pts)
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Student ID _____________________________
D) The wing muscles resemble the flight muscle of birds. Please specify what type of vertebrate skeletal muscle
you would expect to see. (3 pts)
E) The blood of the animal is 20x less dense mercury. If you cut off the tail of the animal, what would be
minimum and maximal distance that you would expect the blood to squirt initially (5 pts).
F) Speculate on the functional significance of muscle group E (what is their probable function). (2 pts)
Name three adaptations that allow muscle E to contract so rapidly ( 3pts)
G) Using power vs contraction velocity graphs, show the difference in function between muscle group A and B
(5pts).
H) What type of neuron controls the “C” start function ( 2 pts)
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