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INTRODUCTION

Introduction to Animal Physiology provides students with an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the funda­mental functions of the various systems of the body. It illustrates the physiological processes across the animal kingdom.

The book covers a wide range of topics, including cell structure and functions and the physiology of all vital systems of the body. The way that the various parts of living things adapt to keep their internal environments consistent is always fascinating and unexpected. This process is called homeostasis and is the fundamental concept of physiology. Physiology is the branch of biology that examines the dif­ferent roles that living things play in the world. This field of study encompasses a wide range of activities, from cel­lular processes to the interactions between organ systems that support the efficient operation of extremely intricate biological processes. Similar to cell biology, within physi­ology, other subfields are more well-recognized such as biochemistry, biophysics, functional biology, and endocri­nology. Additionally, scientists watch and study how certain bodily systems - such as the respiratory, circulatory, and neurological systems - cooperate and function separately to sustain life. On the other side, ecological physiology shows how animals evolved or developed particular biological processes to deal with a given environment. One example is the characteristic of dark skin, which shields those who live in tropical areas from the sun’s harmful rays. Cell biol­ogy, often known as cellular physiology, is the study of the composition and operations of individual cells. Since physi­ological processes are regulated by signaling molecules and reactions cascade down at the cellular, biochemical, and molecular levels, it is impossible to study animal physiol­ogy in isolation. The organism’s physiology is influenced by behavior as well. The study of the functional similarities and differences across living organisms is known as physi­ology. In a way, studying physiology is studying life.

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Source: Rana Tanmoy (ed.). Principles of Veterinary Animal Physiology. CRC Press,2026. — 290 p.. 2026

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