Course Tittle: Principles of Animal Physiology

Course Code: ZOL-203

Credit Hours: 4 (3+1)

Instructor: Sana Batool

DISCRIPTION & OBJECTIVES:

The course aims to teach the students about:

1. Animal diversity adapted in different ways for their functions through modifications in body parts.
2. The diversity in integumentary, skeletal, muscular, nervous and sensory, endocrine, circulatory, respiratory, nutritive, excretory, osmoregulatory and reproductive systems according to strategies to survive in their specific conditions.
3. Organ systems, their specialization and coordination with each other and constantly changing internal and external environment, inside and outside the animal’s body.
4. The basic structure of each system that determines its particular function.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Diversity in integumentary, skeletal, muscular, nervous and sensory, endocrine, circulatory, respiratory, nutritive, excretory, osmoregulatory and reproductive systems according to strategies to survive in their specific conditions
2. Organ systems, their specialization and coordination with each other and constantly changing internal and external environment, inside and outside the animal’s body.
3. The basic structure of each system that determines its particular function

COURSE CONTENTS:

1. Protection,Support  and movement: Protection: the integumentarysystem of invertebrates and vertebrates; movement and support: these skeletal system of invertebrates and vertebrates; movement: non-muscular movement; an introduction to animal muscles; the muscular system of invertebrates and vertebrates.

2. Communication I: Nerves: Neurons: structure and function; neuron-neuron communication: introductory accounts of resting membrane potential, action potential (nerve impulse) and transmission of the action potential between cells;  invertebrate and vertebrate nervous systems: ventral nerve cord and ganglia, the vertebrate brain, the spinal cord, 
Cranial and spinal nerves; autonomic nervous system.

3. Communication II: Senses: Sensory reception: baroreceptors,chemoreceptors, 
georeceptors, hygroreceptors, phonoreceptors, photoreceptors, proprioceptors, 
tactile receptors, and thermoreceptors of invertebrates;  lateral line system and electrical sensing, lateral-line system and mechanoreception, hearing and equilibrium in air and water, Skin sensors of mechanical stimuli, sonar, smell, taste and vision in vertebrates.

4. Communication III: The Endocrine System and Chemical Messengers: 
Chemical messengers: hormones chemistry; and their feedback systemsmechanisms of hormone action;  nematodes, molluscs, annelids, arthropods, and echinoderms invertebrates; some hormones of porifera, cnidarians, platyhelminthes, nemerteans,
an overview of the vertebrate endocrine system; endocrine systems of vertebrates
Endocrine systems of birds and mammals.

5. Circulation, Immunity, and Gas Exchange: Internal transport and circulatory systems in invertebrates: characteristics of invertebrate coelomic fluid,hemolymph, and blood cells;transport systems in vertebrates; 
Characteristics of vertebrate blood, blood cells and vessels; the hearts and circulatory systems of bony fishes,amphibians
reptiles, birds and mammals; the human heart: blood pressure and the lymphatic system;immunity: nonspecific defenses, the immune response; gas exchange: respiratory surfaces;invertebrate and vertebrate respiratory systems, cutaneous exchange, gills, lungs, and lung ventilation; human respiratory system: gas transport.

6. Nutrition and Digestion: Evolution of nutrition; the metabolic fates of nutrients in heterotrophs, digestion;animal strategies for getting and using food, Mammals; Diversity in digestive structures of invertebrates and vertebrates. The mammalian digestive system: gastrointestinal motility and its control, oral cavity, pharynx and esophagus, stomach, small intestinemain site of digestion; large intestine; role of the pancreas in digestion; and role of the liver and gallbladder in digestion. 

7. Temperature and Body Fluid Regulation: Homeostasis and Temperature, Regulation; The Impact of Temperature on Animal Life;Heat Gains Losses; Some Solutions to Temperature fluctuations. Temperature Regulation in Invertebrates, Fishes, Amphibians, Reptiles, Birds and Heat Production in Birds and Mammals; Fluctuations; Control of Water and Solutes (Osmoregulation and Excretion); Invertebrate excretory system, Vertebrate excretory system, Metanephric Kidney Functions.

8. Reproduction and Development: Asexual reproduction in invertebrates; advantages and disadvantages of asexual reproduction; Sexual reproduction in invertebrates; advantages and disadvantages of sexual reproduction; sexual reproduction in vertebrates; human male reproductive system: spermatogenesis, transport and hormonal control, reproductive function; the human female reproductive system: folliculogenesis, transport and hormonal control, reproductive function; hormonal regulation in gestation; prenatal development and birth, The placenta; milk production and lactation.

9. Descriptive Embryology: Fertilization; embryonic development: cleavage, and egg types; the primary germ layers and their derivatives; reproductive strategies; examples of reproduction among various vertebrate classes; Echinoderm embryology; vertebrate embryology: the chordate body plan Amphibian embryology, development in terrestrial environments,avian embryology and fate of mesoderm.

PRACTICALS1. Study of insect chitin, fish scale, amphibian skin, reptilian scales, feathers and mammalian skin.
2. Study and notes of skeleton of Labeo, Rana tigrina, Varanus, fowl and rabbit.
Note: Exercises of notes on the adaptations of skeletons to their function must be done.
3. Earthworm or leech; cockroach, freshwater mussel, Channaor Catlacatlaor Labeo or any other local fish, frog, pigeon and rat or mouse and rabbits are representative animals for study in dissections.
4. Study of models or preserved brains of representative animals and notes on adaptations.
5. Study of nervous system of earthworm and a fish.
6. Study of endocrine system in an insect and a rabbit.
7. Study of different types of blood cells in blood smear of rabbit.
8. Study of heart, principal arteries and veins in a representative vertebrate (dissection of representative fish/mammals).
9. Study of respiratory system in cockroach or locust and a vertebrate representative (Model).

Books recommended:

1. Miller,S.A and Harley,J.B. 2002. Zoology 8th edition. (International), Singapore, McGraw Hill.

2. Campbell,N.A. 2002. Biology, 6th edition. Menlo Park, California: Benjamin/Cummings Publishing Company, Inc.

3. Hickman, C.P., Robert, L.S., Larson,A. 2004. Integrated principles of Zoology, 11th edition. (International), Singapore: McGraw Hill

Assessment methodology

Mid Term Exam         15 Marks

Final Term Marks       45 Marks

Practical Exam           25 Marks

Sessional (Attendance, assignment & presentation) 15 Marks

Time Table: