CSIR NET Life Sciences System Physiology - Animal Syllabus

System Physiology - Animal syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for System Physiology - Animal in CSIR NET Life Sciences, not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Blood and Circulation

   8 topics

   • Blood Corpuscles
   • Haemopoiesis and Formed Elements
   • Plasma Function
   • Blood Volume and Regulation
   • Blood Groups
   • Haemoglobin
   • Immunity
   • Haemostasis
2. 2

   Cardiovascular System

   7 topics

   • Comparative Anatomy of Heart Structure
   • Myogenic Heart and Specialized Tissue
   • ECG – Principle and Significance
   • Cardiac Cycle
   • Heart as a Pump
   • Blood Pressure
   • Neural and Chemical Regulation
3. 3

   Respiratory System

   6 topics

   • Comparison of Respiration in Different Species
   • Anatomical Considerations
   • Transport of Gases
   • Exchange of Gases
   • Waste Elimination
   • Neural and Chemical Regulation
4. 4

   Nervous System

   5 topics

   • Neurons
   • Action Potential
   • Gross Neuroanatomy of the Brain and Spinal Cord
   • Central and Peripheral Nervous System
   • Neural Control of Muscle Tone and Posture
5. 5

   Sense Organs

   3 topics

   • Vision
   • Hearing
   • Tactile Response
6. 6

   Excretory System

   7 topics

   • Comparative Physiology of Excretion
   • Kidney
   • Urine Formation
   • Urine Concentration
   • Waste Elimination
   • Micturition
   • Regulation of Water Balance, Blood Volume, Blood Pressure, Electrolyte Balance, Acid-Base Balance
7. 7

   Thermoregulation

   4 topics

   • Comfort Zone
   • Body Temperature Regulation
   • Physical, Chemical, Neural Regulation
   • Acclimatization
8. 8

   Stress and Adaptation

   overview

   Examined as a single unit within System Physiology - Animal — no further topic split in the official outline.

9. 9

   Digestive System

   4 topics

   • Digestion
   • Absorption
   • Energy Balance
   • BMR (Basal Metabolic Rate)
10. 10

    Endocrinology and Reproduction

    6 topics

    • Endocrine Glands
    • Basic Mechanism of Hormone Action
    • Hormones and Diseases
    • Reproductive Processes
    • Gametogenesis and Ovulation
    • Neuroendocrine Regulation

System Physiology - Animal flashcards for CSIR NET Life Sciences

21 of 60 cards from the System Physiology - Animal deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. What are the three formed elements of blood and their primary functions?

   Erythrocytes (RBCs) — O2/CO2 transport via haemoglobin; Leukocytes (WBCs) — immune defence; Thrombocytes (platelets) — haemostasis/clotting.

2. What is haemopoiesis, and where does it occur in the adult mammal?

   Haemopoiesis is the formation of blood cells from haemopoietic stem cells. In adults it occurs in the red bone marrow (sternum, ribs, vertebrae, pelvis); fetal sites include yolk sac, liver and spleen.

3. List the granulocytes and agranulocytes among white blood cells.

   Granulocytes: neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils. Agranulocytes: lymphocytes and monocytes.

4. What is the normal lifespan of a human RBC and where are old RBCs destroyed?

   About 120 days; destroyed mainly in the spleen (and liver) by macrophages of the reticuloendothelial system.

5. Name four major functions of blood plasma proteins.

   Maintain colloid osmotic (oncotic) pressure (albumin); immunity (globulins/antibodies); blood clotting (fibrinogen); transport of hormones, lipids and ions. They also buffer pH.

6. What is the approximate total blood volume in an average adult human and what fraction is plasma?

   About 5 litres (~8% of body weight); plasma is ~55% of blood volume, formed elements ~45% (haematocrit).

7. Which hormone regulates RBC production and where is it produced?

   Erythropoietin, produced mainly by the kidneys in response to hypoxia; it stimulates erythropoiesis in bone marrow.

8. Describe the ABO blood group antigen-antibody relationship.

   Group A: A antigen, anti-B antibody; Group B: B antigen, anti-A; Group AB: both antigens, no antibodies (universal recipient); Group O: no antigens, both anti-A and anti-B (universal donor).

9. What causes erythroblastosis fetalis (haemolytic disease of the newborn)?

   An Rh-negative mother carrying an Rh-positive fetus produces anti-Rh (anti-D) antibodies that cross the placenta and haemolyse fetal RBCs in subsequent Rh+ pregnancies.

10. Describe the quaternary structure of adult human haemoglobin (HbA).

    A tetramer of four polypeptide chains (2 alpha + 2 beta), each bound to one iron-containing haem group; it can bind up to four O2 molecules.

11. What is the Bohr effect?

    A decrease in blood pH (increased CO2/H+) lowers haemoglobin's affinity for O2, shifting the O2-dissociation curve to the right and promoting O2 release in tissues.

12. Distinguish innate from adaptive immunity.

    Innate immunity is non-specific, immediate, with no memory (skin, phagocytes, complement). Adaptive immunity is antigen-specific, slower, and shows memory (B and T lymphocytes).

13. What is the difference between humoral and cell-mediated immunity?

    Humoral immunity is mediated by B-cell-produced antibodies acting against extracellular pathogens; cell-mediated immunity is mediated by T cells (cytotoxic and helper) against intracellular pathogens and infected/tumor cells.

14. Name the five classes of immunoglobulins and a key feature of each.

    IgG (most abundant, crosses placenta), IgM (largest, first in primary response, pentamer), IgA (mucosal/secretions), IgE (allergy, parasites), IgD (B-cell receptor).

15. Outline the three main steps of haemostasis.

    1) Vascular spasm (vasoconstriction); 2) Platelet plug formation; 3) Coagulation — fibrin clot formation via the clotting cascade.

16. What is the central reaction of blood coagulation involving fibrin?

    Thrombin (activated from prothrombin by factor Xa) converts soluble fibrinogen into insoluble fibrin, which forms the meshwork of the clot; vitamin K and Ca2+ are required for the cascade.

17. Compare the number of heart chambers in fish, amphibians, reptiles, and mammals/birds.

    Fish: 2 (one atrium, one ventricle); Amphibians: 3 (two atria, one ventricle); Reptiles: 3 (incompletely divided ventricle; crocodiles 4); Birds & mammals: 4 (complete double circulation).

18. What does it mean that the vertebrate heart is myogenic, and where does the heartbeat originate?

    Myogenic means the heartbeat is initiated within the cardiac muscle itself, not by nerves. It originates at the sinoatrial (SA) node, the pacemaker.

19. Trace the conduction pathway of the cardiac impulse.

    SA node → atrial muscle → AV node → bundle of His → right and left bundle branches → Purkinje fibres → ventricular muscle.

20. What do the P wave, QRS complex, and T wave of an ECG represent?

    P wave = atrial depolarization; QRS complex = ventricular depolarization (atrial repolarization is masked); T wave = ventricular repolarization.

21. Name the phases of the cardiac cycle and their approximate durations at 75 bpm.

    Atrial systole (~0.1 s), ventricular systole (~0.3 s), and joint diastole (~0.4 s); total cycle ~0.8 s.

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