Excretory Unit Lesson 1: Urinary Organs

Question 1

what is elimination

Answer 1

the removal of undigested material

Question 2

what is excretion

Answer 2

the removal of metabolic wastes

Question 3

does the digestive system perform elimination or excretion

Answer 3

it performs elimination

Question 4

does the excretory system perform elimination or excretion

Answer 4

it performs excretion

Question 5

explain the general function of the excretory system(aka the urinary system)

Answer 5

it removes metabolic wastes from the blood while reabsorbing useful molecules

Question 6

what are the 4 specific roles of the excretory system

Answer 6

excretion of metabolic wastes, regulation of water and salt in blood, regulation of acid and base balance, and the secretion of hormones

Question 7

what is osmoregulation

Answer 7

the regulation of water and salt in blood

Question 8

what needs to be removed from the blood and why

Answer 8

the by-products of metabolism need to be removed because they accumulate in the blood

Question 9

what is nitrogenous waste and why is it called that

Answer 9

the by-product molecules are referred to as nitrogenous waste because most of them contain nitrogen

Question 10

what is urea

Answer 10

the by-product of amino acid metabolism

Question 11

when is urea created

Answer 11

when the breakdown of amino acids in the liver create ammonia and it combines with carbon monoxides. then, urea is created

Question 12

what is ammonia

Answer 12

a very toxic substance

Question 13

how is creatine created

Answer 13

it is created with the breakdown of creatine phosphate

Question 14

what is creatine phosphate

Answer 14

a high-energy molecule used in the muscles

Question 15

how is uric acid created and describe its look in blood

Answer 15

it is formed from the breakdown of nucleotides (containing adenine and thymine). it is insoluble in blood and will exist as a precipitate

Question 16

why is osmoregulation needed

Answer 16

the build-up of salts(and ions, etc.) and water can lead to hyper/hypotonicity or hyper/hypotension

Question 17

what is the pH of blood

Answer 17

it has a slightly basic pH of 7.4

Question 18

what does the kidney secrete in response to poor oxygen-carrying capacity and what does it do

Answer 18

erythropoietin(EPO), it causes the body to produce more red blood cells

Question 19

what are the main organs in the excretory system

Answer 19

the kidneys

Question 20

describe the look of kidneys and their location

Answer 20

they are paired organs that have a bean-like shape located towards the lower back on each side of the spine

Question 21

what is renal capsule

Answer 21

a connective tissue that covers each kidney

Question 22

what does each kidney have(hint renal ____)

Answer 22

it has a renal artery and a renal vein

Question 23

what are kidneys composed of

Answer 23

smaller specialized structures called nephrons

Question 24

what is the function of nephrons

Answer 24

they perform filtration of the blood and produce urine

Question 25

what are ureters

Answer 25

thin tubular structures that connect the kidneys to the urinary bladder

Question 26

how is urine moved through the ureters

Answer 26

with peristalsis

Question 27

what is the urinary bladder and its function

Answer 27

it is a hollow muscular organ that functions to collect urine. it acts as a storage balloon that connects the two ureters from the kidneys as well as a connection to the urethra where the urine will exit

Question 28

what does the urinary bladder contain to accommodate larger amounts of urine

Answer 28

folding in its walls to expand its size

Question 29

what prevents the backflow of urine to the ureters from the bladder

Answer 29

small folds in its internal lining

Question 30

what prevents the exit of urine

Answer 30

2 sphincters

Question 31

what is the function of the urethra

Answer 31

it acts as the passageway for urine to exit the body

Question 32

explain the process of urination

Answer 32

the bladder fills to a point where the stretch receptors send a signal to the spinal cord. the spinal cord then sends nerve impulses to the urinary bladder which causes the sphincters to relax and open. urine leaves the body.