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Biology Stage 1 > The Excretory system > Flashcards

The Excretory system Flashcards

Information included in this deck: - 3.6 The Excretory System (textbook) - 3.6 The excretory system (slides, extra resource) -

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1
Q

All the biochemical reactions carried out by a living thing are called _____

A

Metabolism

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2
Q

How quickly metabolism occurs is called _____

A

Metabolic rate

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3
Q

Each biochemical reaction that is part of a cell’s metabolism is called ____

A

A metabolic reaction

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4
Q

The vital process of life made possible by metabolic reactions are called _____ ____.

e.g. aerobic ____ and _____

A

Metabolic processes

aerobic respiration and photosynthesis

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5
Q

What are the harmful substances produced by metabolic reactions in cells that need to be removed?

A

Metabolic wastes.

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6
Q

What is the removal of the wastes of metabolism called?

A

Excretion.

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7
Q

Name some of the wastes that are excreted.

A

Carbon dioxide and nitrogen containing waste; for example urea.

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8
Q

Is faeces a metabolic waste? If so or if not, why?

A

Faeces is not a metabolic waste because it is not produced by metabolic reactions - it is mostly indigestible food material

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9
Q

The term excretion also refers to the removal of excess what?

A

Water and salts absorbed from the alimentary canal into the bloodstream, as well as removal of the breakdown products of hormones and drugs

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10
Q

The excretory system is responsible for the removal of most ______ like ____

A

Nitrogen-containing waste lie urea

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11
Q

The excretory system is located in the region of the body below the ____ called the ____

A

diaphragm called the abdominal cavity

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12
Q

Through which artery does the blood flow into the kidney?

A

The renal artery

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13
Q

Which vein does the blood that has passed through the kidney flow out of?

A

The renal vein

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14
Q

Name the major organs of the urinary system

A

Kidney
Ureter
Bladder
Urethra

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15
Q

Kidney

A

Produces urine to remove nitrogen-containing waste - maintains the balance of water and salts in the blood

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16
Q

Ureter

A

Transports urine from the kidney to the bladder

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17
Q

Bladder

A

Stores urine

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18
Q

Urethra

A

Transports urine out of the bladder during urination

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19
Q

Kidney tissue is packed with tiny ___ tubules that are a type of tube-like ___ tissue.

A

Renal tubules, epithelial

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20
Q

Renal tubules have ___ associated with them and are held in place by _____

A

Blood vessels, connective tissue

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21
Q

There are two distinct regions of the kidney tissue.
The outer region is called the ____.
The inner region is called the ____.

A

Cortex

Medulla

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22
Q

What the is the structure called between the medulla and the top of the ureter?

A

The pelvis

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23
Q

What is the structure that permits nitrogen-containing waste to be removed by the kidneys

A

A nephron

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24
Q

Each nephron consists of a ____ tubule and a cluster of _____ located in the cortex called _____.

A

Renal tubule, capillaries, glomerulus

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25
Q

Where is the glomerulus loacted?

A

In the cup-like structure of the nephron called Bowman’s capsule

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26
Q

Blood is transported into a kidney passes from a branch of the _____ under ____ pressure to the ___ where it undergoes a process called _____

A

Renal artery, glomerulus, filtration

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27
Q

Filtration causes __ and other small materials too __ the blood and enter the ____

Provide examples

A

Water, leave, Bowman’s capsule.

e.g. glucose, amino acids, salts and nitrogen-containing waste urea.

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28
Q

The larger components ___ and ___ are not filtered and remain in the blood.

A

Blood cells and plasma proteins

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29
Q

What is the fluid that passes into the bowman’s capsule?

A

Glomerular filtrate

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30
Q

The filtered blood moves through ___ that surround the ____, ____ and ____

A

Capillaries, proximal tubule, the loop of henle and the distal tubule

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31
Q

What is the process of some filtered materials being returned to the bloodstream called?

Provide examples?

A

Reabsorption

e.g. reabsorption of water, glucose and amino acids at the proximal tubule

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32
Q

Nitrogen-containing waste is or isn’t reabsorbed?

A

It is not reabsorbed.

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33
Q

Blood then passes where for transport out of the kidney?

A

To a branch of the renal vein.

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34
Q

Define the structure and function of the Glomerulus

A

Structure: A cluster of semi-permeable capillaries

Function: Blood pressure high enough for filtration. Blood cells and large blood proteins are not filtered.

35
Q

Define the structure and function of the Bowman’s capsule

A

Structure: Cup-shaped and hollow

Function: Surrounds the glomerulus to collect water and other substances that leave the blood by filtration

36
Q

Define the structure and function of the proximal tubule

A

Structure: Tube-like, walls lined with micro-villi, walls very thin and moist, Surrounds capillaries

Function: Allows glomerular filtrate to flow within it, Large surface area for reabsorption, Distance for reabsorption of water by osmosis and other substances by active transport is reduced, Transport reabsorbed substances from the proximal tubule to a branch of the renal vein

37
Q

What is the importance of filtration

A

Filtration provides a way to remove nitrogen-containing waste and other small substances from the blood stream e.g. the breakdown of the products of hormones and drugs

38
Q

What is the importance of reabsorption

A

it is selective, so specific substances in the glomerular filtrate can be returned to the blood stream but not others e.g. substances the body needs like water and glucose

39
Q

Together filtration and selective reabsorption do what?

A

allow unwanted substances to leave the body in urine

40
Q

In order for the body to function normally what has to be kept relatively constant?

A

the temperature and content of its ‘body fluids’ - that is the tissue fluid in which the cells in the tissue sit and the blood

41
Q

What is maintaining a stable internal environment called?

A

homeostasis

42
Q

What is an example of homeostasis and what does it involve?

A

osmoregulation - it involves maintaining the correct balance of water and salts in the blood

43
Q

What is the main site of osmoregulation?

A

the collecting duct of the nephron

44
Q

What is the osmoregulation at the colleting duct controlled by?

A

large chemical messenger proteins transported by blood called hormones

45
Q

Name a hormone that plays an important role in osmoregulation

A

antidiuretic hormone (ADH)

46
Q

Where is antidiuretic hormone (ADH) released from?

A

an organ of the endocrine system called the pituitary gland

47
Q

More antidiuretic hormone (ADH) makes the collecting duct what?

A

more permeable to water - meaning it allows water in the glomerular filtrate to move through the collecting duct wall into the medulla by osmosis

48
Q

What does it mean when less ADH is released?

A

the collecting duct walls become less preamble to water

49
Q

What happens when the water content of the blood starts to become low or it contains to much salt

A

more antidiuretic hormone (ADH) is released from the pituitary gland - which permits more water to leave the collecting ducts and enter the medulla from where it moves into the bloodstream

50
Q

what is the result of more ADH getting released?

A

the water and salts content of the blood is returned to the correct balance and a small volume of quite concentrated urine is produced

51
Q

what happens when the water content of the blood starts to become to high or it contains to little salts

A

less ADH is released which causes less water to leave the collecting ducts and move into the medulla

52
Q

what is the result of less ADH getting released?

A

a large volume of dilute urine is produced and the water and salt contents of the blood is returned to the correct balance

53
Q

What are the substances that promote urine called?

A

Diuretics

54
Q

What are two common examples of diuretics

A

caffeine (coffee, tea, some soft drinks) and alcohol (beer, wine and spirits)

55
Q

Consumption of caffeine or alcohol will lead to what?

A

the production of a large volume of dilute urine

56
Q

Why does drinking alcohol increase urine production?

A

because its presences in the blood stream causes the pituitary gland to stop releasing ADH which results in less water leaving the collecting duct by osmosis.

57
Q

What does less water leaving the collecting duct mean?

A

More water drains into the pelvis and down the ureters to the bladder promoting release of a large volume of urine

58
Q

What does continued consumption of alcohol lead to?

A

More trips to the toile to urinate and dehydration which could may cause symptoms of a hangover

59
Q

Caffeine is though to what?

A

block the action of angiotensin which is a hormone in the blood that constricts structures that stem from branch arteries called arterioles

60
Q

what is the result of caffeine blocking angiotensin?

A

slightly wider arterioles, greater blood flow into the glomerulus and a higher rate of filtration and therefore a higher volume of glomerular filtrate. this may lead to more water passing down the collecting ducts and therefore more urine

61
Q

Are most people able to survive with only one of their kidneys functioning?

A

Yes.

62
Q

Near or complete breakdown of function of both kidneys results in what?

A

sever kidney disease and death if not treated

63
Q

What is the way to treat kidney disease?

A

by some form of kidney replacement therapy

64
Q

What is one kidney replacement therapy?

A

dialysis

65
Q

What is dialysis do? and how is it performed etc.

A

in dialysis, the function of the kidney is performed artificially by a kidney dialysis machine. Blood from a vein in the arm is pumped through tubing in the dialysis machine that sits in a fluid. The walls of the tubing have lots of tiny pores in them which mimics filtration - water and small substances including nitrogen-containing wastes are filtered out of the blood into the dialysis fluid, but blood cells or large blood proteins remain in the blood. the concentration of glucose and salts the body needs in dialysis fluid monitored to ensure it stays higher than in the blood - thus loss of these substances from the blood by diffusion is prevented.

66
Q

What is an alternative to dialysis?

A

a complex surgical replacement procedure called a kidney transplant. this involves removing a diseased kidney from the patient and transferring to them a healthy and functional kidney. the patient is the recipient and the person providing the kidney is the donor.

67
Q

a live donor is what?

A

a relative that donates one of their kidneys

68
Q

a diseased donor is what?

A

a healthy person who has died (via car accident etc.)

69
Q

Describe metabolic processes and waste

A
  • processes in the body produce waste products
  • excretion removes theses wastes e.g. carbon dioxide and urea
  • excretion also includes excess materials e.g. water and salts
70
Q 
Name the organs of excretion
1.
2.
3.
4.
A
  1. skin - excretion of excess water, salts and small amounts of urea as sweat
  2. kidney - filtration of the blood to remove urea. Excess water and salts
  3. Lungs - excretion of carbon dioxide (CO2), with some loss of water
  4. Bladder - storage of urine before it is expelled to the outside
71
Q

The urinary system consists of the kidneys and bladder and their associated blood vessels and ducts.

Describe the vena cava;

A

the vena cava returns blood to the heart

72
Q

The urinary system consists of the kidneys and bladder and their associated blood vessels and ducts.

describe the kidney;

A

the kidney produces urine (Blood filtration, the removal of waste products, and the regulation of blood volume)

73
Q

The urinary system consists of the kidneys and bladder and their associated blood vessels and ducts.

describe the renal vein;

A

returns the blood from the kidney to the venous circulation

74
Q

The urinary system consists of the kidneys and bladder and their associated blood vessels and ducts.

describe the bladder;

A

stores the urine before it passes out of the body. it can expand to hold about 80% of the daily urine output

75
Q

The urinary system consists of the kidneys and bladder and their associated blood vessels and ducts.

describe the dorsal aorta;

A

supplies oxygenated blood to the body’s tissues and organs

76
Q

The urinary system consists of the kidneys and bladder and their associated blood vessels and ducts.

describe the renal artery;

A

carries blood from the aorta to the kidney

77
Q

The urinary system consists of the kidneys and bladder and their associated blood vessels and ducts.

describe the ureter;

A

carries urine to the bladder

78
Q

The urinary system consists of the kidneys and bladder and their associated blood vessels and ducts.

describe the urethra;

A

conducts urine from the bladder to the outside. the urethra is regulated by a voluntary sphincter muscle

79
Q

Describe the internal kidney structure

A

The functional unit of the kidney is the nephron
Each kidney contains more than 1 million nephrons
They are selective filter elements

80
Q

Describe the bowman’s capsule

A

Bowman’s capsule located in the cortex of the kidney
It encloses a capillary network called the glomerulus
This is where filtration occurs

81
Q

name the elements of the nephron structure

A
  • proximal convoluted tubule
  • distal convoluted tubule
  • descending limb of the loop of henle
  • the collecting duct
  • the loop of henle
  • blood vessels (the vasa recta)
  • ascending limb of the loop of henle
  • Venule
  • Bownman’s capsule
  • glomerulus
  • efferent arteriole (leaves glomerulus)
  • Afferent arteriole (enters glomerulus)
82
Q

Describe the flow of ion and minerals

A

substances introduced into the nephron will either be reabsorbed or filtered into the collecting duct
the process may be either via passive or active transport

83
Q

Describe the control of urine output

A
  • the primary role of the kidney is to regulate blood volume and composition (including the removal of nitrogenous waste)
  • this is achieved through varying the volume and composition of the urine. The hormone antidiuretic hormone (ADH) is involved in that process.

Biology Stage 1 (8 decks)

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