Sections

Key Terms

Key Terms

acclimatization: alteration in a body system in response to environmental change

alteration: change of the set point in a homeostatic system

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

canaliculus: microchannel that connects the lacunae and aids diffusion between cells

cartilage: type of connective tissue with a large amount of ground substance matrix, cells called chondrocytes, and some amount of fibers

chondrocyte: cell found in cartilage

columnar epithelia: epithelia made of cells taller than they are wide, specialized in absorption

connective tissue: type of tissue made of cells, ground substance matrix, and fibers

cuboidal epithelia: epithelia made of cube-shaped cells, specialized in glandular functions

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

epithelial tissue: tissue that either lines or covers organs or other tissues

estivation: torpor in response to extremely high temperatures and low water availability

fibrous connective tissue: type of connective tissue with a high concentration of fibers

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

homeostasis: dynamic equilibrium maintaining appropriate body functions

lacuna: space in cartilage and bone that contains living cells

loose (areolar) connective tissue: type of connective tissue with small amounts of cells, matrix, and fibers; found around blood vessels

matrix: component of connective tissue made of both living and nonliving—ground substances—cells

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

negative feedback loop: feedback to a control mechanism that increases or decreases a stimulus instead of maintaining it

osteon: subunit of compact bone

positive feedback loop: feedback to a control mechanism that continues the direction of a stimulus

pseudostratified: layer of epithelia that appears multilayered, but is a simple covering

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

set point: midpoint or target point in homeostasis

simple epithelia: single layer of epithelial cells

squamous epithelia: type of epithelia made of flat cells, specialized in aiding diffusion or preventing abrasion

standard metabolic rate (SMR): metabolic rate at rest in ectothermic animals

stratified epithelia: multiple layers of epithelial cells

thermoregulation: regulation of body temperature

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

trabecula: tiny plate that makes up spongy bone and gives it strength

transitional epithelia: epithelia that can transition for appearing multilayered to simple; also called uroepithelial

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