EXCRETION Flashcards
Define excretion
Removal of waste products of metabolism from the body
Examples of excretory substances
CO2- from aerobic respiration
Urea- produced from deamination of excess ammonia acids
What is respiratory acidosis
Blood pH drops below 7.35 (becoming acidic- enzymes denature)
Reduces ventilation causing increased blood CO2 concentration + reduces pH
Causes of respiratory acidosis
Blockage of airways
Chronic bronchitis
Asthma
Severe pneumonia
Symptoms of respiratory acidosis
Slow/difficulty breathing
Headache
Drowsiness
Confusion
The liver
Largest organ in body
Almost 30% blood pumped with each heartbeat flows through liver
Hepatic artery
From, to, contains
Aorta
Liver
Blood, O2 needed for aerobic respiration
Hepatic portal vein
From, to, contains
Small intestine
Liver
Blood, products of digestion (e.g. glucose, amino acids)
Hepatic vein
From, to, contains
Liver
Vena cava
Blood- CO2- waste product of respiration
Bile duct
From, to, contains
Liver
Gall bladder
Bile- produced by hepatocytes (emulsify fats)
Why is the hepatic portal vein an unusual blood vessel
Has capillaries on both ends of the vessel
Liver lobules
Liver made up of lobules (hexagons)
In centre of each lobule= branch of hepatic vein
Between lobules are branches of hepatic artery + hepatic portal vein, blood flows through here vessels throughout he lobules into the hepatic vein
What is each lobule made up of
Liver cells called hepatocytes
What are channels carrying blood between rows of liver cells called
Sinusoid
What are channels carrying bile (produced by hepatocytes) called
Canaliculus
What are sinusoid cells lined with
Kupffer cells (macrophages)
Hepatocytes structure
Simple cuboidal shape
Microvilli to increase SA
Many organelles (e.g. ribosomes, mitochondria, etc)
Kupffer cells
Specialised macrophages (phagocytes) Engluf bacteria Breakdown old RBC
How are amino acids broken down into ammonia
Deamination
Formation of urea
Amine group removed forming ammonia
Remainder forms kept acid
-can enter Kerbs cycle (respiration)
-or converted into fats to be stored
The ornithine cycle
Series of metabolic reactions converting toxic ammonia to urea
Takes place in mitochondria so needs ATP
Chemical equation for urea
CO(NH2)2
Ornithine
Amino acid (not used in proteins)
Ammonia
Very soluble + toxic (must be removed)
Urea
Excretory product
Less soluble + toxic, dissolves in plasma + kidneys remove
Detoxification
Conversion of toxic molecules to less toxic molecules
E.g. enzyme catalase breaks down hydrogen peroxide into oxygen + water
Toxins made harmless by oxidation, reduction, etc
Ethanol
Drug that depresses nerve activity
Small, lipid soluble molecules
Cross plasma membrane via simple diffusion
Enters bloodstream quickly as it diffuses across stomach walls
Toxic + can damage cells
Detoxification of alcohol
Alcohol broken down int he hepatocytes with the use of enzymes
EthanOl dehydrogenase reduces ethanOl to ethanAl
EthanAl dehydrogenase reduces ethanAl to ethanoate
Ethanoate combines with coenzyme A and enters Kerbs cycle
Detoxification of alcohol
How is reduced NAD formed
Reduction of hydrogen
What is NAD needed for
Breaking down fatty acids for use in respiration
What is cirrhosis
Scarring of liver caused by long term liver damage
Prevents liver working properly
Cause of cirrhosis
Drinking too much alcohol
Being infected with hepatitis for too long
Severe form of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (liver becomes inflamed from build up of excess fat)
Symptoms of cirrhosis
Fatigue, nausea, loss of appetite, weight loss