Instructor: Dr Chong Yee Ling & Badiozaman Sulaiman

Course Synopsis

This course covers the fundamental knowledge of how animals adapt physiologically to environmental challenges and addresses the basic physical and chemical principles that underlie physiological processes. Several selected biological systems are covered in this course, which include respiratory, circulatory, thermoregulatory, endocrine and nervous systems.

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 At the end of this topic, you should be able to:

1) Discuss the importance of physiological adaptation.

2) Compare the different levels of physiological adaptation.

3) Explain the importance of plasma membrane in cell's physiological function.

At the end of this topic, you should be able to:

1) Differentiate internal and external respiration.

2) Contrast the mechanics of respiration in a variety of air-breathing vertebrates.

3) Discuss the advantages and limitations of different ways of breathing.

4) Explain oxygen equilibrium curve and factors that affect oxygen binding.

Don't forget to try the topic activities provided below.

At the end of this topic, you should be able to:

1) Discuss the importance of blood circulation & transportation.

2) Compare different circulation systems in different invertebrates (e.g. gastrovascular, open versus closed circulatory system).

3) Compare different circulation systems in different vertebrates (e.g. open versus closed circulatory system [two-chamber, three-chamber and four-chamber hearts]).

At the end of this topic, you should be able to:

1) Define thermoregulation and how temperature influence the metabolic and physiological processes of living organism.

2) Calculate temperature coefficient, Q10.

3) Describe factors that could be responsible for death at high temperature and factors that allow animals to survive at extreme cold temperature.

4) Discuss how body temperature heat is transferred.

5) Explain the temperature regulation of various animals in different environment.

At the end of this topic, you should be able to:

1) Discuss the function of endocrine system.

2) Explain the process of hormone signalling and stimulation.

3) Compare the signalling process of lipid-soluble hormones and water soluble hormones.

4) Describe the positive and negative feedback mechanisms.

At the end of this topic, you should be able to:

1) Discuss the coordination process in nervous system.

2) Compare the invertebrate and vertebrate nervous organizations.

3) Describe the somatic and autonomic nervous systems.

4) Explain the function, structure and types of neurons.