Summarizing Animal Form and Function

Summary

Animal bodies come in a variety of sizes and shapes. Limits on animal size and shape include impacts to their movement. Diffusion affects their size and development. Bioenergetics describes how animals use and obtain energy in relation to their body size, activity level, and environment.

Glossary

apodeme

ingrowth of an animal’s exoskeleton that functions as an attachment site for muscles

asymmetrical

describes animals with no axis of symmetry in their body pattern

basal metabolic rate (BMR)

metabolic rate at rest in endothermic animals

dorsal cavity

body cavity on the posterior or back portion of an animal; includes the cranial and vertebral cavities

ectotherm

animal incapable of maintaining a relatively constant internal body temperature

endotherm

animal capable of maintaining a relatively constant internal body temperature

estivation

torpor in response to extremely high temperatures and low water availability

frontal (coronal) plane

plane cutting through an animal separating the individual into front and back portions

fusiform

animal body shape that is tubular and tapered at both ends

hibernation

torpor over a long period of time, such as a winter

midsagittal plane

plane cutting through an animal separating the individual into even right and left sides

sagittal plane

plane cutting through an animal separating the individual into right and left sides

standard metabolic rate (SMR)

metabolic rate at rest in ectothermic animals

torpor

decrease in activity and metabolism that allows an animal to survive adverse conditions

transverse (horizontal) plane

plane cutting through an animal separating the individual into upper and lower portions

ventral cavity

body cavity on the anterior or front portion of an animal that includes the thoracic cavities and the abdominopelvic cavities