BIOL 2867 Physiology of Animals
Course Description
Physiology of Animals is the study of how animals’ function. The course provides an introduction to molecular and cellular physiology and the principal physiological systems in animals, and how these systems function to maintain homeostasis in various environments. It covers fundamental concepts in osmoregulation and excretion, neurophysiology, muscle physiology, respiration, thermo-physiology, circulation and gas transport, endocrinology, and cardiovascular physiology. It also looks at some of the major stressors on physiological processes and how animals have been able to deal them. Typical stressors that are covered include osmotic pressures, water limitation, hypoxia, altitude, depth, temperature extremes and exercise. While animal physiology examines systems and processes common to all animal species, this course will focus on vertebrates, with a special emphasis on mammalian systems.
