Author:
Mindy Boland
Subject:
Applied Science, Life Science, Biology
Material Type:
Module
Level:
Community College / Lower Division, College / Upper Division
Provider:
Rice University
Provider Set:
OpenStax College
Tags:
  • Acclimatization
  • Adipose Tissue
  • Alteration
  • Animal Body
  • Animal Body Function
  • Animal Energy
  • Animal Form
  • Animal Size
  • Animal Speed
  • Animal Tissue
  • Areolar Connective Tissue
  • Asymmetry
  • BMR
  • Basal Metabolic Rate
  • Bioenergetics
  • Blood
  • Body Cavity
  • Body Defense
  • Body Motility
  • Body Plan
  • Body Plane
  • Body Symmetry
  • Bone
  • Cardiac Muscle
  • Cartilage
  • Circulatory System
  • Coelom
  • Columnar Epithelia
  • Connective Tissue
  • Control of Homeostasis
  • Coronal Plane
  • Cuboidal Epithelia
  • Diffusion
  • Digestive System
  • Dorsal Cavity
  • Ectoderm
  • Ectotherm
  • Embryonic Animal Tissue
  • Endocrine System
  • Endoderm
  • Endotherm
  • Energy Requirements
  • Epithelial Tissue
  • Estivation
  • Fibrous Connective Tissue
  • Frontal Plane
  • Fusiform
  • Heat Conservation
  • Heat Dissipation
  • Hibernation
  • Homeostasis
  • Homeostatic Process
  • Horizontal Plane
  • Integumentary System
  • Loose Connective Tissue
  • Mesoderm
  • Midsagittal Plane
  • Mobility
  • Muscle Tissue
  • Muscular System
  • Negative-feedback Loop
  • Nervous System
  • Nervous Tissue
  • Neural Thermoregulation
  • Organ System
  • Pathologist
  • Physical Anthropologist
  • Positive Feedback Loop
  • Respiratory System
  • SMR
  • Sagittal Plane
  • Set Point
  • Skeletal Muscle
  • Skeletal System
  • Smooth Muscle
  • Squamous Epithelia
  • Standard Metabolic Rate
  • Thermoregulation
  • Torpor
  • Transitional Epithelia
  • Transverse Plane
  • Ventral Cavity
  • License:
    Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial
    Language:
    English

    Introduction

    Introduction

    Photo shows a white arctic fox that blends in with the snow.
    An arctic fox is a complex animal, well adapted to its environment. It changes coat color with the seasons, and has longer fur in winter to trap heat. (credit: modification of work by Keith Morehouse, USFWS)

    The arctic fox is an example of a complex animal that has adapted to its environment and illustrates the relationships between an animal’s form and function. The structures of animals consist of primary tissues that make up more complex organs and organ systems. Homeostasis allows an animal to maintain a balance between its internal and external environments.