BIOL 411 Animal Physiology

Fall 2007

Dr. Scott Creel

 

Office: 302 Lewis Hall

Office Hours:  Tu & Th 10:00

Phone: x7033

Email: screel@montana.edu

 

Topics to be covered, time permitting:

 

1.  Muscle:  structure and function, excitation-contraction coupling, biomechanics of whole muscle contraction, energetics and fiber types

2.  Endocrinology: basic principles, cellular mechanisms of action, structural and functional differences between peptide and steroid hormones, organization of endocrine systems, negative and positive feedback control

3.  Stress physiology:  organization and function of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, interactions with other physiological systems, case studies of stress and dominance in social carnivores (dwarf mongooses, African wild dogs, wolves)

4.  Female reproduction:  Estrous cycles and control of ovulation, pregnancy, lactation

5.  Male reproduction: spermatogenesis and steroidogenesis

6.  Case study of ecological impacts of predation on reproduction in elk

 

Resources in addition to lectures:

 

1. Packet of overheads at Cards & Copies

2. Lecture notes, posted after lectures:   These will be linked below, if you are reading this online.  (If your’re reading a paper copy, go to http://www.montana.edu/wwwbi/staff/creel/creel.html  and follow the links for animal physiology lectures in the teaching section)

3. Textbook readings

 

Here are a few example test questions, just so you can see the sort of questions that I typically write



Reading List

 

Pages             Subject Matter

 

465-472         Muscle structure and function, excitation-contraction coupling.  Structure-function notes.

 

473- 482        Whole muscle forces, energetics. Some brief notes to clarify the definitions of force, work and power

                       Main notes on  force, energetics and efficiency.

389-406         General principles of endocrinology:  steroid and peptide hormones, regulation of action, mechanisms of action, feedback loops, organizational effects

 

423-434         Hormonal control of female reproduction

 

435-445         Hormonal control of male reproduction    


The FINAL EXAM is in the regular room on Friday 12/14 from 8:00 - 9:50 AM

There will be 50 multiple choice questions.  15 will be over the new material (endocrine principles, female and male reproduction).  The remainder will emphasize the major points from the entire class, covering all systems.