Excretory System Flashcards
Nitrogenous wastes
Amino acids are catabolizded into nitrogenous wastes (ammonia, urea, and Uric acid). Toxic to cells must be eliminated
Urea
Produced by mammals and sharks. Needs less water than ammonia to flush out.
Ammonia
Produced by fish. Very toxic. Needs a lot of water to flush out.
Uric acid
Produced by insects birds and reptiles. Non toxic.
Outer region of kidney
Renal cortex. Thicker than most of the organs inner tissues. Contains nephrons and blood vessels. Where bowmans capsule and goromuls is located
Inner region of kidney
Renal medulla. Divided into several sections (pyramids). Inside stuctures are nephrons.
Nephron
Functional unit of kidney. Produced urine. Long tube shape.
Glomerulus
A small cluster of capillaries. Bring blood to the nephron and is filtered. Filtered blood diffuses to the bowmans capsule.
Bowmans capsule
Cup shaped end of a nephron enclosing the glomerulus.
Pct (proximal convoluted pct)
Connects bowmans capsule with proximal straight tubule. Absorbs back nutrients from the filtrate that we do not want to lose. Nutrients from the filtrate are reabsorbed back into the body by the renal vein
Loop of henle
U shaped portion of tubule that conducts urine. Osmotic pressure is increased here. Ascending Actively pumps out salts. Desending only permiable to water so a lot of water leaves and is absorbed back into the system
Distal convoluted tubule
Lies between loop of henle and the nonsecretory part of the nephron. Site for selective secretion of toxins. Maintains ph in blood
Collecting duct
Waste from nephron is collected here. Only removes excess water out of the body through osmosis. Empties urine out of the kidney
How does blood enter the kidney
Renal artery
Ureter
Tube that releases urine from the kidney
