Animal biology- Introduction to body systems

​Animal Biology:
Introduction to Body Systems

By Courtney Sweet

Introduction & Objectives

Understanding why biology matters in animal care.

• To Identify the three main functions of the skeletal system: support, protection, and movement.

• Be able to Describe the basic path food takes through the digestive system, from mouth to waste.

  To Explain how understanding these systems helps in routine animal care, such as spotting pain or choosing the right diet.

Multiple Choice

What is Animal biology?

• Animal biology is the study of plant life and ecosystems.
• Animal biology is the study of animals and their biological processes.
• Animal biology focuses on the behavior of insects and their habitats.
• Animal biology examines the geological features of animal habitats.

The Skeletal System- The body's framework.

The key functions of the skeleton:

Support-It acts as a rigid frame that holds the body up and gives the animal its shape.

Protection- Hard bone protects soft, vital organs (e.g., the skull protects the brain).

Movement- Muscles pull on bones at the joints to allow the animal to walk, run, and jump.

Major Bones & Components

Bones: Hard structures that make up the skeleton.

Joints: Places where two bones meet to allow movement.

• Skull: Protects the brain.

• Ribs: Protect the heart and lungs.

• Spine (Vertebrae): Protects the spinal cord and connects to the tail

• Femur: The large thigh bone in the hind leg.

Multiple Choice

What bone protects the brain?

• Skull
• Clavicle
• Pelvis
• Ribcage

Match

Match the following

• Ribs

• Spine

• Femur

• Skull

Protects the lungs and heart

Protects the spinal cord

The large thigh bone in the hind leg

Protects the brain

• Protects the lungs and heart

• Protects the spinal cord

• The large thigh bone in the hind leg

• Protects the brain

Why do we observe movement? A change in how an animal walks (limping, stiffness, or reluctance to jump) is often the first sign of pain or injury in the skeletal system.

Care Check

Different animals have different skeletal structures adapted to their lives. Cats have flexible spines for agility, while dogs have legs built for endurance running.

How They Move

Locomotion & Health Checks

Drag and Drop

Animals have different​

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structures which have​

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to their ​

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Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

skeletal

adapted

lives.

muscular

evolved

habitats

The Digestive System- Energy and Nutrients.

The Path of Food

1. Mouth- Chewing and mixing with saliva. -------->2. Oesophagus- The tube carrying food to the stomach.--------->3.Stomach

Breaking down food with acid. ---------> 4.Intestines- Absorbing nutrients and water.--------->5. Anus- Waste leaves the body.

Diet: Plant-eaters.

System: Have a long, complex digestive tract to break down tough plant fibre.

Care Tip: Need constant fibre (hay) to keep their gut moving and healthy.

Herbivores (e.g., Rabbits)

Diet: Meat-eaters.

System: Have a shorter, simpler digestive tract because meat is easier to digest than plants.

Care Tip: Cannot survive on a vegetarian diet; they need specific nutrients found only in meat.

Carnivores (e.g., Cats)

Dietary Differences

Categorize

Options (19)

Dog

Cat

Lion

Cheetah

Rabbit

Elephant

Goat

Cow

Sheep

Horse

Deer

Giraffe

Tiger

Wolf

Hyena

Bear

Alligator

Falcon

Put the animal into the correct category

Carnivore

Herbivore

Multiple Choice

What is a Carnivore?

• A carnivore is an animal that eats primarily meat.
• A carnivore is an animal that consumes both meat and vegetables.
• A carnivore is an animal that eats only plants.
• A carnivore is a type of herbivore that eats fruits.

Multiple Choice

What is easier to digest?

• Plant

• Meat

Reorder

Reorder the following in the correct order for the path of food in the Digestive system

• Mouth

• Oesophagus

• Stomach

• Intestines

• Anus

1

2

3

4

5

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

Signs of Digestive Health

Healthy Signs :)

• Good appetite and eagerness to eat.

• Firm, well-formed faeces.

• Maintained weight.

Warning Signs :(

• Vomiting or diarrhoea.

• Refusal to eat (Anorexia).

• Weight loss or a swollen belly.

Task time!

• Create a list of 10 carnivores and 10 omnivores

• Pick one of the omnivores and one of the carnivores and create a fact sheet with a picture of their skeletons and digestive track, then label the bones and digestive organs- you can use your computers to find pictures to copy.

• Write a few facts about each animal underneath e.g breed, lifespan, what it eats (diet)

Lesson Summary

​Framework
The skeletal system provides support, protection, and enables movement.

Fuel

The digestive system breaks down food to power the body, differing between species.

Observation

Monitoring movement and appetite are key daily tasks for animal carers.