Introduction to Animal Physiology [Paperback]

Introduction to Animal Physiology provides students with a thorough, easy-to-understand introduction to the principles of animal physiology. It uses a comparative approach, with a broad spectrum of examples chosen to illustrate physiological processes from across the animal kingdom. The book covers a wide range of topics, including neurons and nervous systems, endocrine function, ventilation and gas exchange, thermoregulation, gastrointestinal function and reproduction. It also present topics that students typically struggle with, including neuronal membrane function, in a logical, structured format, highlighting to core concepts. Simple analogies are used to clarify important facts.

Preface -- Abbreviations -- I Homeostasis: The central concept in physiology -- An introduction to animal physiology -- The body fluids of animals -- Homeostasis -- Homeostatic control systems - feedback -- Feedforward -- Non-physiological homeostatic mechanisms -- Acclimatization -- 2 Neurons and nervous systems -- Introduction -- Cellular elements of the nervous system -- How neurons work -- Synaptic transmission -- Organization of nervous systems -- 3 Receptors and effectors -- Introduction -- Sensory neurophysiology -- Classification of sensory receptors -- Sensory receptor function -- Sensory reception -- Effectors - the responses to sensory information -- Intracellular movement -- Amoeboid movement -- Muscle and movement -- Skeletal systems -- 4 Endocrine function -- Introduction -- Definition of endocrine systems -- Identification of endocrine organs -- The chemical nature of hormones -- The mechanism of hormone action -- Invertebrate endocrine systems -- Vertebrate endocrine systems -- S Ventilation and gas exchange -- Introduction -- Gases in air and water -- A comparison of air and water as respiratory media -- Gas exchange by simple diffusion across the general body surface area -- The evolution and design considerations of gas exchangel£”