Excretion Flashcards
Flashcard 1:
Q: What is excretion?
A: The removal of toxic materials, the waste products of metabolism, and substances in excess of requirements from organisms.
Flashcard 2:
Q: What is deamination?
A: The removal of the nitrogen-containing part of amino acids to form urea.
Flashcard 3:
Q: How is urea formed in the liver?
A: The amino group is removed from excess amino acids (deamination) forming ammonia, which then reacts with carbon dioxide to form urea.
Flashcard 4:
Q: How is alcohol broken down in the liver?
A: Alcohol is broken down into water and carbon dioxide in a process known as detoxification.
Flashcard 5:
Q: How are drugs processed by the liver?
A: Drugs are broken down into less harmful substances and expelled from the body in urine.
Flashcard 6:
Q: How does the liver handle excess hormones?
A: Excess hormones are metabolized into inactive molecules and expelled in urine to prevent accumulation in tissues.
Flashcard 7:
Q: Identify the positions of the ureter, bladder, and urethra in the excretory system.
A: The ureter carries urine from the kidneys to the bladder, the bladder stores urine, and the urethra expels urine from the body.
Flashcard 8:
Q: What are the primary functions of the kidney?
A: The kidneys remove urea and excess water from the blood, reabsorb glucose and some salts, and regulate the body’s fluid balance.
Flashcard 9:
Q: Describe the process of re-absorption in the kidneys.
A: Useful substances like glucose are reabsorbed into the blood by diffusion and active transport, while most water and some salts are reabsorbed by osmosis.
Flashcard 10:
Q: What is dialysis?
A: A process of removing waste products and excess fluid from the blood when the kidneys cannot filter blood adequately.
Flashcard 11:
Q: How does a dialysis machine work?
:
- Blood enters the machine from a patient’s artery.
- A pump pushes blood into the dialyser.
- Blood passes through partially permeable tubing (dialyser) surrounded by dialysis fluid.
- Waste substances pass from the blood to the dialysis fluid by diffusion.
- Cleaned blood returns to the patient’s circulation via a vein.
Flashcard 12:
Q: What are the advantages of dialysis?
A: No donor needed, no risk of rejection, and it’s a lifesaver if a transplant is not possible.
Flashcard 13:
Q: What are the disadvantages of dialysis?
A:
- Time-consuming and expensive.
- Requires frequent hospital visits.
- Possible mineral loss and dietary restrictions.
- No continuous blood filtration leading to accumulation of waste between sessions.
Flashcard 14:
Q: What are the advantages of kidney transplants?
A:
- Allows for a normal life post-transplant.
- Continuous filtration of blood.
- Better quality of life and longer life expectancy.
- Cheaper in the long run compared to dialysis.
Flashcard 15:
Q: What are the disadvantages of kidney transplants?
A:
- Risk of rejection and need for immunosuppressant drugs.
- Potential side effects of drugs, like infection vulnerability.
- Surgical risks and need for a closely matched donor.
