Topic 11.3: The Kidney and The Osmoregulation

Question 1

Excretion

Answer 1

Excretion is the removal of waste products from the body

• Wastes are produced as a consequence of metabolism

Question 2

Excretory systems perform two functions:

Answer 2

1) Removes nitrogenous wastes (toxic) from the body

2) Removes excess water (maintains osmolarity)

Question 3

Nitrogenous Wastes and Animals

Answer 3

The type of nitrogenous waste produced differs according to an animal’s evolutionary history and predominant habitat

1) Aquatic animals excrete ammonia (toxic but water soluble)
2) Birds and reptiles excrete uric acid (requires minimal water)
3) Mammals excrete urea (can store at high concentrations)

Question 4

Osmotic Conditions and Animals

Answer 4

1) Osmoconformers match their osmolarity to the environment

2) Osmoregulators maintain a constant internal osmolarity

Question 5

Osmoregulation Advantages and Disadvantages

Answer 5

Osmoregulation is a more energy intensive process, but it also provides independence from environmental conditions

Question 6

Structures for Osmoregulation

Answer 6

1) Insects use a Malpighian tubule system for water balance

2) Mammals (e.g. humans) possess kidneys for water balance

Question 7

Human Kidney Components

Answer 7

1) Cortex
2) Medulla
3) Pelvis
4) Renal Vein
5) Renal Artery
6) Ureter

Question 8

Blood Composition in the Renal Artery and the Renal Vein

Answer 8

1) Less urea (large amounts are excreted)
2) Less water (variable amounts are excreted)
3) Similar amounts of nutrients (mostly reabsorbed)
4) The same amount of proteins (not filtered)

Question 9

Urinary Analysis

Answer 9

Kidneys filter waste products from the bloodstream
• Hence, the presence of non-waste substances in the
urine is a potential indicator of a disease condition

Question 10

Urinary analysis can be used to test for:

Answer 10

1) Glucose: Presence in urine may indicate diabetes
2) Protein: Indicate certain diseases / hormonal conditions
3) Blood cells: Suggestive of infectious diseases or cancers
4) Drugs: Indicates illicit use (e.g. performance enhancers)

Question 11

Kidney Disease

Answer 11

Kidney diseases incapacitate the ability of the kidney to filter waste products from the bloodstream (leading to toxic build up)

Question 12

Treatments for Kidney Disease

Answer 12

1) Kidney failure can be treated by hemodialysis (a patient’s blood is pumped through an external machine to remove wastes)
• Hemodialysis treatments typically last several hours (~4 hrs) and must be performed multiple times in a week (~3×)
2) Kidney failure can alternatively be treated via kidney transplant with a compatible donor (donor can survive with one kidney)

Question 13

Nephrons

Answer 13

Nephrons are the functional units of the kidneys

• Are situated in the cortex but descend into the medulla

Question 14

Stages of Excretion

Answer 14

1) Ultrafiltration – filters out all cells and proteins
2) Selective reabsorption – retains nutrients / solutes
3) Osmoregulation – controls water retention

Question 15

Nephron Structure

Answer 15

1) Glomerulus
2) Bowman’s Capsule
3) Proximal Convoluted Tubules
4) Loop of Henle
5) Vasa Recta
6) Distal Convoluted Tubule
7) Collecting Duct

Question 16

Ultrafiltration

Answer 16

Ultrafiltration occurs at the Bowman’s capsule / glomerulus

• Separates cells and proteins from blood to form filtrate

Question 17

Structure of the Bowman’s Capsule

Answer 17

1) Glomerular capillaries are fenestrated (have pores), which allows blood to freely exit the glomerulus
2) The capsule is lined with podocytes that have extensions (called pedicels) that the blood can freely pass between
3) The only filtration barrier is the basement membrane
that lies between the glomerulus and the capsule

Question 18

Hydrostatic Pressure (ULTRAfiltration)

Answer 18

1) Blood is forced into a Bowman’s capsule at high pressure
2) Wide afferent arterioles (entry) lead into narrow efferent
arterioles (exit), increasing the pressure in the capsule
3) The extensive narrow branching of the arterioles increases the glomerular surface area available for filtration

Question 19

Selective Reabsorption

Answer 19

Selective reabsorption occurs in the convoluted tubules

• Involves the reuptake of usable substances from filtrate

Question 20

Transportation of Materials in the Selective Reabsorption

Answer 20

1) Materials are actively transported across the tubule’s apical membrane before diffusing across the basolateral membrane
2) Tubules are lined with microvilli to increase surface area

Question 21

Materials of the Selective Reabsorption

Answer 21

1) Glucose and amino acids (via symport with sodium ions)
2) Mineral ions and vitamins (via protein pumps)
3) Water (follows ions and solutes via osmosis)

Question 22

Osmoregulation

Answer 22

Osmoregulation is the control of water balance in the body

• Involves the loop of Henle and collecting ducts

Question 23

Establishing a Salt Gradient in Osmoregulation

Answer 23

1) The loop of Henle creates a salt gradient in the medulla
2) The descending limb is permeable to water but not salt
3) The ascending limb is permeable to salts but not water
4) This means that as the loop descends into the medulla, the interstitial fluid becomes increasingly hypertonic

Question 24

Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH)

Answer 24

1) As the collecting duct passes through the medulla, the
salt gradient draws water out of the duct (into blood)
2) The amount of water drawn from the ducts is controlled by ADH (released from the posterior pituitary gland)
3) ADH produces water channels (aquaporins) to faciliate water reabsorption by the collecting duct
4) Levels are high when dehydrated and low when hydrated

Question 25

Water Conservation

Answer 25

Maintaining water balance is critical to survival (homeostasis)
• Dehydration causes blood pressure to drop (⇧ heart rate)
• Overhydration causes cells to swell (leads to organ damage)

Question 26

Water Conservation and Loops of Henle

Answer 26

Desert animals will have longer loops of Henle to maximise water conservation (⇧ salt gradient = ⇧ water reabsorption)