How Animals Work

by Knut Schmidt-Nielsen

An elegant analysis of how animals work and function. Professor Schmidt-Nielsen's incisive account gives a clear understanding of comparative physiology in relation to body size, form and function, energy supply, and environment. The author is concerned with principles. For example, he explains how difficult it may be to lose heat and water from the respiratory tract. This leads to a consideration of the mechanism of panting as a means of heat loss. The author describes the centuries-old problem of how birds breathe, which now has been solved in his laboratory. He then discusses energy expenditure for swimming, running, and flying, and the effects of activity on heat balance. The ability of mammals to maintain different parts of the body at different temperatures is explained on the basis of counter-current heat exchange; a related mechanism permits the fast-swimming tuna to enjoy some of the advantages of being warm-blooded. The problems raised by being small in size, or large, are considered in detail. It is shown that many physiological variables can be placed on a scale which permits the derivation of non-dimensional numbers to describe the interrelations between different parameters. This interesting and stimulating account was written primarily for students, but since it brings together and synthesizes much new and up-to-date information it will interest all biologists and physiologists.

Genres: Science, Biology, Nonfiction

124 pages, Paperback

First published June 30, 1972

Reviews

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kind of a weird product, but a reasonable primer on a handful of physiology topics. It assumes a very specific level of prior knowledge which may have been reasonable among zoology undergrads 50 years ago, but just seems poorly explained now. As well, Schmidt-Nielsen's writing isn't always as clear as it could be. The figures are a mixed bag; many of the drawings are difficult to interpret, but the graphs at least are straightforward. It's a shame, because it's worth learning about stuff like how birds breathe and the difference between a counter-current exchanger and a counter-current multiplier. You just kind of already have to know a fair bit about these things in the first place to enjoy this book.

[Wilte · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short book on animal physiology; mainly on ratio’s between volume and surface (eg in the lungs) and also chapters on counter currents (how not to loose too much heat in appendages). Many and great graphs.