excretory system Flashcards
structure and specialisation of the human excretory system, malfunctions that can occur in the human excretory system, experimental design revision
Excretion
Excretion is the process of removing from the body materials which have been apart of cells
Main function of the urinary system
The urinary system’s main function is excretion.
Wastes removed by the urinary system include…
- Excess salts
- Ammonia
- Creatinine
- Water
- Urea
- Nitrogen
- Penicillin
The integumentary system
The integumentary system (the skin) excretes urea and excess salts from the body in sweat
Function of the kidneys
Kidneys filter the blood. They remove wastes, excess salts and water.
Nephrons
Nephrons are the active units of the kidney
The renal vein
Takes filtered blood from the kidney
The renal artery
Brings unfiltered blood to the kidney
The ureter
Urine exits through to ureter to the bladder
The internal environment
Everywhere inside the organism where molecules must cross molecules
All living things must regulate their internal environment
Tolerance range
Tolerance range is the range (of temperature. solute concentration, oxygen levels, etc) that functioning can be maintained in a particular species
Receptors
Receptors are used by organisms to detect change in the internal and external environments. Interoceptors are used for the internal environment. Exteroceptors are used for the external environment.
Homeostasis
Homeostasis is the tendency of biological systems to maintain relatively constant conditions in the internal environment
Negative feedback loops
Negative feedback loops maintain homeostasis. They are situations in which a change in a given direction causes change in the opposite direction.
Osmoregulation
Regulates/maintains the water levels in your body
Antidiuretic Hormone
A hormone wihch increases the permeability of the collecting duct to water and thus allows more water to be retained
Aldosterone
A hormone which pumps salts into tissues surrounding the distal tubule, resulting in water retention
Organs of excretion
Kidneys, lungs, skin
