MODULE 1.2 EXCRETION Flashcards
Define excretion
the removal of metabolic waste substances from the body
What are the two main substances to be excreted from the body
co2 from respiration and urea from the liver made by deamination of amino acids
Why is excess co2 bad
- hydrogen carbonate ions form hydrogen ions which competes with 02 for haeomglobin = lack of 02 transport
- carbaminohaemoglobin = lower affinity for o2 than normal haem
- respiratory acidosis
what enzyme forms hydrogen ions from hydrogencarbonate ions
under the influence of the enzyme carbonic anhydrase
what is respiratory acidosis
- co2 dissolves in blood plasma
- combines with h2o to produce carbonic acid
- h2co3 dissolves to release h+ and hco3- ions
- h+ ions change ph of blood and proteins in blood act as buffers to stop this
- little h+ ions detected by medulla oblongata and breathing increases to expel it but + h+ ions causes blood ph to drop below 7.35 and breathing slow/diff, headaches and drowsiness
What is the hepatic portal vein
has two capillaries one at either end and takes blood from digestive system to liver
where does the liver get oxygenated blood and what is it used for
from the aorta via the hepatic artery- used for aerobic respiration as the liver carries out many metabolic processes that need energy in the form of ATP
where does the liver get deoxygenated blood
the digestive system via the hepatic portal vein and this blood is rich in digestion products
how does blood leave the liver
hepatic vein where it returns to normal circulation via the vena cava
what does the bile duct do
takes bile from the liver to the gall bladder where it is stored until it is needed in the digestion of fats in the small intestine
describe the arrangement of cells inside the liver
- split into lobes and then further into cylindrical lobules
- hepatic portal vein + artery enter liver and split into smaller vessels and run between lobules= inter lobular vessels
- blood mixes at intervals in a sinusoid which is lined by liver cells so exchange can take place between molecules
- blood empties from sinusoid into a branch of the hepatic vein
how is the bile duct formed
bile released into bile canaliculli which join together to form bile duct
what are kupffer cells
specialised macrophages involved in breakdown and recycling of old red blood cells - produces bilirubin which is removed in bile and faeces
function and shape of liver cells
cuboidal shape with many microvilli
-protein synthesis, synthesis of cholesterol and bile salts, trans and storage of carbs
what are the by products of de amination in the liver
ammonia and keto acid which goes straight into respirationto release its energy
what are the functions of the liver
- make rbc for fetus, bile,
- destroy rbc
- breakdown hormones
- detoxification of alcohol
describe the ornithine cycle
converting ammonia into a less toxic form called urea bu combining the ammonia with co2
water is also produced
how does urea get to the bladder
passed back into the blood from the liver where it passes into the kidneys where urea is filtered out of the blood and concentrated in the urine
urine is stored in the bladder until it is expelled