ZoologyLesson 1 of 3 in the course The Animal Body: Basic Form and Function

Animal Body Plans, Energy Balance, and Vertebrate Anatomy

5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 5 match pairs · 5 fill-in sentences · English

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Summary

A body plan describes the general arrangement and organization of an animal’s body. Symmetry is a pattern in which body parts are arranged in relation to an axis or plane.

Directional terms help describe animal anatomy. Anterior means toward the front, posterior toward the rear, dorsal toward the back, and ventral toward the stomach or belly.

Many bilaterally symmetrical aquatic animals have a fusiform body: a tube-like shape tapered at both ends. This reduces drag as the animal moves through water and can support fast swimming. Water is more viscous than air, so drag is a major influence on aquatic body shape. Land animals are affected more strongly by gravity, while drag is generally less important.

All flashcards

ATP
A molecule cells use for short-term energy storage and cellular work.
Torpor
A state of reduced activity and metabolism that conserves energy.
Endoskeleton
An internal support system whose bones and muscles grow with the animal.
Dorsal cavity
The vertebrate body cavity containing the cranial and vertebral cavities.
Anatomical directional terms
Anterior means front, posterior rear, dorsal back, and ventral belly.

Quiz questions

  1. Which form of stored energy supports extended energy storage in animals?Answer: Triglycerides stored in adipose tissue.
  2. For which group is basal metabolic rate (BMR) the resting energy-expenditure measure?Answer: Endothermic animals.
  3. Why do small endotherms generally use more energy per unit body mass than large endotherms?Answer: They lose heat faster relative to their body mass.
  4. Which body plane separates the front of a vertebrate from its back?Answer: The frontal, or coronal, plane.
  5. Which cavity surrounds the heart in a vertebrate?Answer: The pericardial cavity.

Based on Biology 2e by Mary Ann Clark, Matthew Douglas, Jung Choi (OpenStax), licensed CC BY 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.

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