Vertebrate Biology II

Code:

MA123

Acronym:

BV_II

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	General and Aquatic Biology

Instance: 2011/2012 - 2S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Anatomy
Course/CS Responsible:	Aquatic Sciences

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
LCMA	44	Plan 2007 to 2011	1	-	5	49	135

Teaching language

Portuguese

Objectives

The students of the Course of the Aquatic Sciences, had a previous discipline Biology of Vertebrates I, where aspects related with evolution of the life in the hearth and the aspects on morphology are discussed, including: Systematic, embryology, skeletal, muscular, digestive, respiratory and circulatory systems. In Comparative Anatomy, an initial overview is given about the historical facts, which mark its importance to the biological Sciences. Following on, studies the structure, morphology, functional interpretation, origin and evolution of the organs and/or systems: Excretory system and osmoregulation; reproductive system and urogenital ducts; nervous system; sensory organs, endocrine glands and immunologic system. Finally it is made the integration of the different systems and organs, including those that had been studied in the Biology of Vertebrates I, giving a functional vision of organism of the vertebrates, debating the characteristics of its structural elements, its participation in the movement and of its relation with the environment and of the importance of this relation for its survival.

Program

The History of Comparative Anatomy (Plato and Aristotle contributions; William Harvey, Malpighi; Linnaeus and the binomial system of classification; the European school and the “scala naturae”; Darwing, the evolutionism and fixism; concepts of homology and analogy). Excretory and water balance system (ontogeny; holonephros, mesonephros and metanephros; urinary ducts, urinary bladder; water balance). Reproductive system (ovary, testis, reproductive ducts in males and females; fertilization; parental cares; sexual cycles and endocrine regulation). Nervous system (neuron morphology and physiology; myelin, synapse; structure and development; cranial and spinal nerves; Autonomic nervous system). Sense organs (fundamental characteristics; different kind of receptors; olfactory organs, eyes, statoacoustic system, lateral line system, the inner ear; ophidian tip organ). Endocrine glands (hormones and hormonal regulation; hypophysis, thyroid, parathyroid, pancreas, adrenal glands, gastrointestinal hormones, pineal, thymus, urophysis). Immunologic system: Organs, cells and humoral factors involved in mechanisms against infection. Integration (integration mechanisms of nervous and endocrine systems in the regulation of life and in the relationship with environment).

Mandatory literature

Hildebrand Milton; Analysis of vertebrate structure. ISBN: 0-471-29505-1
Webster Douglas; Comparative vertebrate morphology. ISBN: 0-12-740850-9
Kent George C.; Comparative anatomy of the vertebrates. ISBN: 0-8016-6237-0

Complementary Bibliography

Almaça Carlos; Evolutionism
Hecht Max K. ed.; Evolutionary biology. ISBN: 0-306-35409-8

Teaching methods and learning activities

The classic methods are applied in this discipline, including: tutorials with audio-visual support, followed by practical lectures in laboratory, using macro and microscopic techniques.

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

Description	Type	Time (hours)	Weight (%)	End date
Attendance (estimated)	Participação presencial	50,00
	Exame	2,00
	Total:	-	0,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Description	Type	Time (hours)	End date
	Estudo autónomo	83
	Total:	83,00

Eligibility for exams

According National legislation

Classification improvement

Continuous evaluation is preformed by the seminar presentations (10% of the total mark). Final evaluation includes work group presentation (40% of the total mark) and a written final examination (50% of the total mark) with theoretical and practical questions.

Observations

- Vertebrates Comparative Anatomy, Function, Evolution - 3rd Edition (2002). Kardong, K. V. - McGram-Hill Higher Education. New York. ISBN 0-07-112235-4
- Analysis of Vertebrate Structure – 5th Edition (2001). Hildebrand, M. & Goslow, G. E. - John Wiley & Sons, Inc. New York. ISBN 0-471-29505-1
- Comparative Anatomy of the Vertebrates – 7th Edition (1992). Kent, G. C. – Mosby Year book. St. Louis, USA.
- Comparative Vertebrate Morphology (1974) Webster, D. & Webster, M. – Academic Press. New York.
- Chordate Structure (1978) - Bracegirdle, B. & Miles, P. H.