Excretory system Flashcards
Role of the excretory system
to remove waste from the body and reduce the chance of a buildup
what happens without the excretory system
Without the excretory system, the build-up of waste products would eventually poison our cells, resulting in death!
which organs are involved in the system
kidney, ureters, bladder, urethra, renal artery, renal vein, liver, lungs and skin
Kidneys structure and function
The main excretory organs are the kidneys. These are the bean-shaped organs responsible for removing urine for the body.
Our kidneys filter wastes from our blood. They excrete urea, which is a waste product made in the liver, while also controlling the levels of salt and water in our blood, excreting these if necessary.
ureters function
The ureters function is transporting urine from the renal pelvis into the bladder.
bladders role
to store urine before it is excreted
urethra function
the urethra is a tube that allows urine to be passed outside of the body
renal arteries role
the renal arteries support the kidneys by carrying the majority of the blood needed
renal vein
carries filtered blood away from the kidneys to the vena cava
consequences of kidney failure
If kidney failure occurs it can lead up to a buildup of fluid in the lungs causing a shortness of breath, heart disease, higher blood pressure, bone weakness, nerve damage, anemia etc. Kindey failures can be fatal if not treated.
