Physiology and Cognitive Science

Modified: 2005-02-24

Take a broad view of physiology and consider the following design issues:

• Skeleton
  • Exoskeleton
    • requires replacement for growth
    • size limit
  • Endoskeleton
    • requires expandable outer covering (skin) for growth

Symmetry

• Types
  • Radial
    • like a starfish
  • Bilateral
    • most common design
    • good for forward motion
    • leads to brain (at one end)
  • Spherical
    • may become design for fastest computers
  • Cylindrical

Size

• Range is immense
  • Microworld
    • viruses, bacteria, fungi
  • Mesoworld
    • visible organisms up to our size
  • Macroworld
    • larger than humans, elephants, whales
• Surface to Volume Ratio
  • Small animals have a higher surface to volume ratio
  • Large animals have a smaller surface to volume ratio

Relationship to the Environment

• Type of Environment
  • Aquatic
  • Pelagic
  • Terrestrial
  • Aerial
  • Subterranean
  • Mixed
  • Other
• Locomotion
  • Legs
  • Wings
  • Fins
  • Other
• Energy and Food Chain
• Social or Non Social