SUBJECT
Title
Environmental physiology
Type of instruction
lecture
Level
master
Faculty
Part of degree program
Credits
2
Recommended in
Semester 1
Typically offered in
Autumn semester
Course description
- Introduction Interaction of organisms with their environment (role of physiology), homeostatic processes for thermoregulation, fever
- Muscle and Movement: Muscle structure and function, energetics of locomotion, exercise physiology, cost of transport (swimming, flying, running), control of voluntary movements
- Gas exchange and physiology of ventilation: Respiratory organs, ventilation in aquatic environments, ventilation in amphibians, reptiles, and birds and mammals, regulation of breathing
- Anatomy and physiology of the circulatory system: Fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals, hemodynamics, regulatory processes
- Blood components function in exchange, transport and defense. Innate and adaptive immunity, recognition and response
- Food, nutrition, digestion. Adaptations of digestive systems to diet, energy metabolism (aerobic and anaerobic), regulation of digestion and energy storage
- Water and Electrolyte Balance. Osmoregulation: aquatic and terrestrial animals, nitrogen excretion and kidney function amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals, hormonal control of kidney function
- Endocrine and neuroendocrine physiology, Endocrine tissues and organs, response to stress
- Reproduction, Hormonal control of reproductive systems, gametogenesis, fertilization, embryonic development and birth
- Higher functions of the nervous system: Biological clocks, physiology of sleep, navigation and seasonality, behavior and learning, communication
- Processing of the information from the environment. Sensory systems, touch, taste, smell, sound and vision, Sensation and perception
Readings
Campbell Biology by Jane B. Reece, Lisa A. Urry, Michael L. Cain, Steven A. Wasserman, Peter V. Minorsky, Robert B. Jackson Pearson Education, Inc. ISBN-13: 978-0321775658 ISBN-10: 0321775651