BIO1022 Week 4
Animal Solutions to Life: Move the Animal
Note: This document outlines the major concepts for the week and is intended as a basis
for structuring your study. The questions listed following this page are only intended to
guide your understanding of the week’s content and not as example/practice questions.
Answers will not be provided.
Learning Outcomes for this week:
1. Compare the characteristics of animal skeletons
○ Detail the main components of hydrostatic, exo- and endo- skeletons
○ Describe how each differs with regards to mechanical support, protection
and growth
○ Consider vertebrates, explain how do muscles work?
2. Compare the characteristics of various forms of respiration
○ Detail the differences between gas exchange by direct diffusion, trachea, gills
and lungs
○ Describe the structure and function of an effective gas exchange system at
the whole-body and organ-level
3. Describe the components of animal circulatory systems
○ Understand how and why blood vessel diameter and blood pressure changes
throughout the circulatory system
○ Explain the difference between open, closed, single- and double circulation
○ Explain the difference between a two-, three- and four-chambered heart and
how these relate to animal activity and physical capabilities
i. How does this relate to pressure within the circulatory system?
Suggested Skeleton Notes:
Note: The following will help indicate the specific concepts, key terms and useful diagrams to
construct for this week’s learning outcomes. You can use the weekly material, including the
workshop, to make your notes on the following topics.
LO 1. Compare the characteristics of animal skeletons
How do hydrostatic skeletons work? Where in the vertebrate body can we see an example
of a hydrostatic skeletal element?
Which type of animals have heavy exoskeletons and what sort of animals have light
exoskeletons? What are the advantages of each? And what disadvantage do they share?
What are the two main advantages of endoskeletons? What are the main anatomical
components of the human endoskeleton and explain how muscles work.
LO 2. Compare the characteristics of various forms of respiration
Why can gas exchange take place by diffusion in marine flatworms?
How have insects increased the surface area for gas exchange? Why do insects that are not
particularly active not need an active air pumping mechanism?
How do gills help fish maximise oxygen absorption from water? Draw and discuss the overall
structure and directions of flow.
Lungs of non-avian land animals have an enormous surface area, how is this achieved
anatomically?
How does the structure of the respiratory system of birds allow for unidirectional airflow,
and what is the advantage relative to tidal flow lungs?
LO 3. Describe the components of animal circulatory systems
Why are open circulatory systems only found in relatively small animals?
Closed circulatory systems have evolved numerous times - what is their main advantage
over an open system? What are the main components of any circulatory system?
Draw a diagram of the fish heart and circulatory system, how does oxygen level and blood
pressure change across the system?
Draw a diagram of a frog heart and circulatory system, indicate how oxygen level and blood
pressure changes across the system?
Draw a diagram of a mammalian heart and circulatory system, and indicate how oxygen
level and blood pressure changes across the system?
Glossary
Alveoli
Capillary
Circular muscle
Closed / Open circulation
Counter current flow
Flow through lung
Longitudinal muscle
Tidal lung
Vein