Section 1
Animal Form and Function
Book
Version 32
By Boundless
By Boundless
Boundless Biology
Biology
by Boundless
6 concepts
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Characteristics of the Animal Body
Every animal has a distinct body plan, adapted in response to environmental pressures, that limits its size and shape.
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Body Plans
Animal body plans can have varying degrees of symmetry and can be described as asymmetrical, bilateral, or radial.
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Limits on Animal Size and Shape
Animal shape and body size are influenced by environmental factors as well as the presence of an exoskeleton or an endoskeleton.
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Limiting Effects of Diffusion on Size and Development
Less efficient diffusion in larger cells led to multicellular organisms with specialized tissues that supply nutrients and remove waste.
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Animal Bioenergetics
An animal's body size, activity level, and environment impacts the ways it uses and obtains energy.
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Animal Body Planes and Cavities
Vertebrates can be divided along different planes in order to reference the locations of defined cavities.