Animal Structure and Function

The course covers the connection between structure and function at the organ- and organism level. Animal physiology explains how organs work together to ensure survival of the animal and enable it to adapt to different environments. The course will provide current knowledge of general physiological principles, organ physiology, regulatory mechanisms, and key physiological mechanisms involved in animal adaptions to different environments. The animal groups covered will range from invertebrates to vertebrates and the habitats discussed will include aquatic, terrestrial and aerial. In addition to the lectures, the student will also participate in laboratory exercises that involve animal physiology experiments. These exercises will be related to the information in the lectures and help the student to understand important concepts.

After finishing the course the student should have good insight into the relationship between structure and function at organ and organism level of a wide variety of animals. The student should also have knowledge about how animals adapt physiologically to different environments.

To understand how animals work and how this enables them to survive, the student should obtain knowledge about:

• How animals, from invertebrates to vertebrates, function in their natural habitat, including aquatic, terrestrial and aerial environments.
• How animals respond to and physiologically cope with environmental challenges.
• The structure and function of organ systems in various animals.
• Central methods in studying animal physiological problems.

With the knowledge received throughout the course, the student should acquire the following skills:

• Knowledge of central subjects in animal physiology.
• Experience with methodology and equipment for physiological experiments.
• Conduct a physiological experiment on animals to collect data.
• Experience in analysing and interpreting physiological information.

With the background provided by this course, the student should have a general competence in:

• Presenting relevant information in response to specific tasks and questions in writing.
• Handling biological material and scientific equipment.
• Working independently and as part of a group.

The language of instruction is Norwegian and English (i.e. some lectures and activities are taught in Norwegian, some in English). The course is typically taught every other week.

Lectures and discussions: 37 hours

Laboratory work: 4 hours