Comparative Cardiovascular Systems
This type of animal regulates its body temperature internally, often requiring higher cardiac output.
What is an endotherm?
Endotherms have higher demands for oxygen, so their blood often contains more of this molecule.
What is hemoglobin?
Ectotherms typically have this kind of resting metabolic rate compared to endotherms.
What is a lower metabolic rate?
The heart rate of ectotherms usually depends on this environmental factor.
What is temperature?
Birds and mammals have this type of heart with complete separation of oxygenated and deoxygenated blood.
What is a four-chambered heart?
Vasoconstriction occurs in these types of environments to help conserve body heat.
What is cold environments?
Fish and most amphibians are ectotherms with this kind of heart structure that results in some mixing of oxygenated and deoxygenated blood.
What is a two- or three-chambered heart?
Vasodilation occurs in these types of environments to help the body lose heat.
What is hot environments?
Some ectotherms use this seasonal strategy to survive extreme cold, lowering metabolic demand.
What is hibernation or brumation?
Ectotherms can redirect blood flow using this process, constricting or dilating vessels to conserve or release heat.
What is vasoconstriction and vasodilation?