excretory system Flashcards
how the system maintains homeostasis
remove metabollic wastes (water, salt, nitrogenous wastes)
skin and associated glands (O.E.)
removes heat and salts
lungs (O.E.)
remove carbon dioxide
kidneys (O.E.)
excrete metabolic waste, regulate water/salt concentration and acid/base concentration
liver (O.E.)
detoxifies drugs or alcohol
converts ammonia into urea
breaks down red blood cells
kidneys
filter blood to produce urine
ureters
carry urine from kidneys to urinary bladder
urinary bladder
stores urine until excretion
urethra
carries urine from bladder to outside
renal artery
carries contaminated blood to kidneys
renal vein
carries purified blood from kidneys to inferior vena cava for circulation
renal cortex
outer part of the kidney, where blood is filtered
medulla
middle part of the kidney, contains collecting ducts
pelvis
inner cavity of kidney, where urine collects
urea
formed in the kidney from breakdown of ammonia
uric acid
formed from breakdown of nucleic acids (DNA/RNA)
creatinine
formed in the muscles
nephron
tiny filtering unit in the cortex/medulla of kidney
glomerulus
tight ball of capillaries that filter
Bowman’s capsule
double walled structure that surrounds the glomerulus
proximal tubule
where filtrate exits the Bowman’s capsule
loop of Henle
u-shaped loop where water can be secreted
