Excretory System Flashcards
The Excretory System parts
Kidneys
Ureters
Bladder
Urethra
Process
Kidneys- Filtration
Ureters- Urine from kidneys to the bladder.
Bladder- Stores urine
Urethra- Urine from bladder to outside (Excretion)
Location
Kidneys- One each side of the cranial dorsal abdomen.
Ureters- Located in the abdominal and pelvic cavities, narrow tube connecting kidneys to bladder.
Bladder- Located caudal abdomen in the midline.
Urethra- Female- runs from the neck of the bladder and enters the floor of the reproductive tract.
Males- Neck of the bladder, caudally through the
pelvis and curves over the penis.
Why do we need kidneys?
Excretion of metabolic end products (urea).
Electrolyte homeostasis.
Water Homeostasis
Regulation of blood pressure
Production of erythropoietin.
Production of vitamin D
If the kidneys did not function then harmful toxins will build up in the animals body and these make the animal ill. Vomiting, lethargy and anorexia are a few signs.
Erythropoietin
Produced by the medullary interstitial cells in response to hypoxia (low oxygen)
Stimulates erthropoiesis in the bone marrow.
The Kidneys
Filter blood through nephrons, allows for selective reabsorption of water and electrolytes and produces urine.
After reabsorption has occurred and urea produced this is then transported to the bladder via ureters.
The urine is then stored within the bladder.
The urine then leaves the bladder via the urethra which carries urine out of the body.
Anti-Diuretic Hormone (ADH)
The kidneys are controlled by a substance called Anti-Diuretic Hormone.
If water concentration walls, then increased ADH is produced. In response to this the kidneys reabsorb more water. This means that a small volume of very concentrated urine is produced.
If the water concentration rises, then less ADH is produced. In response to this the kidneys reabsorb less water. This means that a small volume of very concentrated urine is produced.
