Comparative Vertebrate Morphology provides a comprehensive discussion of vertebrate morphology. The structure-function concept at the level of organs and organ systems is fundamental to an understanding of comparative evolutionary morphology. It is upon these three interrelated aspects—structure, function, and evolution— that that contents of this volume have been organized and presented. The book opens with a discussion of general concepts on vertebrate evolution. This is followed by separate chapters on vertebrate phylogeny, skeletal components, the cranial and postcranial skeleton, muscular tissues, muscular system, and development of the integument, nervous tissues, sense organs, nervous system structure, nervous pathways, and endocrines. Subsequent chapters deal with the digestive, respiratory, circulatory, excretory and water balance, and reproductive systems. This book was designed to meet the needs of a one-semester course for students who have already had an introductory course in biology. It is assumed that the lectures will be supplemented by a laboratory with its own laboratory manual. The organization of the text allows the instructor to coordinate the laboratory and lecture portions of the course. Content: Front Matter , Page iii Copyright , Page iv PREFACE , Pages xiii-xiv 1 - HOW WE GOT HERE: INTELLECTUAL BACKGROUND , Pages 1-15 2 - HOW WE GOT HERE: VERTEBRATE PHYLOGENY , Pages 17-41 3 - SKELETAL COMPONENTS , Pages 43-54 4 - SKELETON CRANIAL , Pages 55-82 5 - POSTCRANIAL SKELETON , Pages 83-108 6 - MUSCULAR TISSUES , Pages 109-120 7 - MUSCULAR SYSTEM , Pages 121-147 8 - THE INTEGUMENT , Pages 149-175,177-178,178a,178b,178c,178d,178e,178f,178g,178h,178i,178j,178k 9 - NERVOUS TISSUES , Pages 179-193 10 - SENSE ORGANS , Pages 195-234 11 - NERVOUS SYSTEM STRUCTURE , Pages 235-272 12 - NERVOUS PATHWAYS , Pages 273-298 13 - ENDOCRINES , Pages 299-318 14 - DIGESTIVE SYSTEM , Pages 319-358 15 - RESPIRATORY SYSTEM , Pages 359-389 16 - CIRCULATORY SYSTEM , Pages 391-423 17 - EXCRETORY AND WATER BALANCE SYSTEM , Pages 425-450 18 - REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM , Pages 451-480 GLOSSARY , Pages 481-502 Index , Pages 503-517 [by] Douglas Webster And Molly Webster. Includes Bibliographies.
