Osmoregulation - SB7

Question 1

What is osmoregulation?

Answer 1

the control of the balance of water and mineral salts in the body

Question 2

What happens if the balance of water and salt minerals is wrong? why?

Answer 2

cells may take in or lose too much water by osmosis. This can damage cells because water in cells allows all the molecules in the cell’s reactions to move around.

Question 3

what does water help maintain?

Answer 3

cell’s shape

Question 4

what is the function of the urinary system?

Answer 4

• remove excess amounts of some substances from the blood (+ water and mineral salts)
• removes waste products such as urea

Question 5

Where is urea produced and what does it do?

Answer 5

liver cells from breakdown of amino acids - urea passes into the blood and is carried into the kidneys

Question 6

what is kidney faliure? why is it dangerous?

Answer 6

when both kidneys stop working properly - waste substances increase in concentration in the blood

Question 7

what is 2 methods are used to treat kidney faliure?

Answer 7

kidney dialysis + organ donation

Question 8

what are the problems with kidney donation?

Answer 8

• kidney cells have antigens which might not recognise foreign antigens and attack which can cause rejection of donated kidney
• Even with donation, long life medication is needed