Animal Physiology: Life Sustaining Systems (With Practical) is a comprehensive textbook designed according to the FYUGP–NEP and CBCS syllabus prescribed for B.Sc. 4th Semester Zoology Honours students under Dibrugarh University and Gauhati University.

The book offers a detailed understanding of the physiological mechanisms that sustain life in animals, including the study of nutrition, respiration, circulation, excretion, nervous coordination, and endocrine regulation. Each unit is structured to help students grasp both the theoretical foundations and functional aspects of animal systems.

The practical section of the book is carefully designed to enhance students’ hands-on experience with physiological experiments, data recording, and interpretation — fostering critical thinking and analytical skills in laboratory settings.

Written in a clear and student-friendly language, this textbook serves as an ideal resource for undergraduate zoology students, teachers, and aspirants preparing for higher studies or competitive examinations in life sciences.

Key Features:

• Based on FYUGP–NEP and CBCS curriculum guidelines.

• Comprehensive coverage of life-sustaining physiological systems.

• Includes well-illustrated diagrams and practical exercises.

• Authored by experienced academicians, Dr. Diwakar Mishra and Dr. Tripurari Mishra.

• Published by Mahaveer Publications, a trusted name in academic publishing.

Contents

SECTION – A: THEORY

Chapter 1: Physiology of Digestion

• Nutrition

• Nutritional Types

• Food

• Feeding Mechanisms

• Microphages and Macrophages

• Feeding Fluid or Soft Tissues

• Digestion and Its Types

• Digestive System

• Functional Regions of Digestive Tract

• Human Digestive System

• Facts About Digestive Systems

• Physiology and Process of Digestion

• Hormonal Control of Digestion

• Important Questions

Chapter 2: Physiology of Respiration

• Necessity of Respiration

• Types and Phases of Respiration

• Characteristics of Respiratory Surface

• Respiratory System of Man

• Mechanism of Respiration

• Artificial Respiration

• Pulmonary Air Volumes and Lung Capacities

• Respiratory Pigments

• Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

• Control of Respiration

• Rhythm and Control of Breathing

• Factors Affecting Respiratory Centre

• Sound Producing Organs (Larynx)

• Disorders of Respiratory System

• Internal Respiration

• Carbohydrate Metabolism

• Hexose Monophosphate Shunt (HMP Shunt)

• Lipid and Protein Metabolism

• Important Questions

Chapter 3: Renal Physiology

• Necessity of Excretion and Osmoregulation

• Types of Excretion

• Ornithine Cycle

• Evolution and Structure of Kidney

• Excretory System of Man

• Renal Blood Supply and Accessory Organs

• Urine and Its Conduction

• Micturition

• Counter-current Mechanism

• Functions of Kidney

• Regulation of Kidney Functions and Urine Formation

• Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR)

• Homeostatic Regulatory Functions of Kidneys

• Osmoregulation (Salt and Water Balance)

• Regulation of Acid–Base Balance

• Diseases and Disorders of the Urinary Tract

• Artificial Kidney

• Important Questions

Unit 4: Physiology of Blood

• Vascular Tissues

• Necessity of Blood

• Haemoglobin and Erythropoietin

• Lifecycle of Erythrocytes

• Haemostasis and Blood Coagulation

• Theories of Blood Coagulation

• Kallikrein–Kininogen and Complement Systems

• Fibrinolysis

• Buffering System of Blood

• Haemopoiesis

• Blood Volume and Groups

• Types of Circulation

• General Circulation in Vertebrates

• Cardiovascular System

• Important Questions

Unit 5: Physiology of Heart

• Necessity and Function of Circulatory System

• Blood Vessels and Cardiac Muscles

• Structure of Mammalian Heart

• Physiology of Heart Beat

• Cardiac Cycle and Output

• Coronary Blood Flow and Nutrition of the Heart

• Conducting Tissues of the Heart

• Factors Affecting Blood Pressure

• Regulation of Blood Pressure

• Electrocardiogram (ECG)

• Important Questions

SECTION – B: PRACTICALS

• Exercise No. 1

• Exercise No. 2

• Exercise No. 3

• Exercise No. 4

• Exercise No. 5

• Exercise No. 6

• Exercise No. 7

• Exercise No. 8

• Exercise No. 9