Unit 8 - Excretory System Flashcards
Define excretion
The removal of metabolic wastes, usually nitrogenous, from the body
Define defecation
The process which rids the body of indigestes, un absorbed food remains, plus bacteria
What is excretion of waste products important for?
Maintaining homeostasis in the body
List the 4 main nitrogenous wastes
Ammonia
Urea
Uric acid
Creatine
Where is ammonia formed?
In liver cells by deamination
What are some qualities of ammonia?
Ammonia is highly toxic and soluble in water
Some ammonia is also secreted as an ammonium ion (NH4+)
What’s the formula for ammonia?
NH3
Where is urea formed?
In the liver by combination of CO2 and 2 ammonia molecules
What are some qualities of urea?
It’s less toxic
And less soluble in water
What are some qualities of urea?
It’s less toxic
And less soluble in water
How is uric acid formed?
When nucleotides are broken down
What can uric acid do?
Sometimes it can crystallize in joints, causing painful swelling called gout
How does creatine form?
Forms from break down of creatine phosphate, a high energy phosphate reserve molecule in muscles
What does creatine help with?
Helps recycling of ADP back to ATP by giving it a phosphate
What does creatine help with?
Helps recycling of ADP back to ATP by giving it a phosphate
How do fish excrete nitrogenous wastes?
Fish secrete ammonia directly into the water through their gills
How do birds and reptiles excrete nitrogenous wastes?
They secrete uric acid when they poop
How do humans excrete nitrogenous wastes?
Humans and all other mammals produce urea and excrete the waste product through urination
What are some other waste products?
Water
Salt
CO2
Bile pigments
Describe the waste product water
End product of metabolism (cellular respiration in the mitochondria)
Plays a major role in blood pressure
Describe the waste product salts
Excreted maintaining proper concentration in blood ph, osmotic pressure and electrolyte balance
Describe the waste product salts
Excreted maintaining proper concentration in blood ph, osmotic pressure and electrolyte balance
Describe the waste product CO2
End product of metabolism (cellular respiration in the mitochondria)
Excreted primarily from lungs
Solvable in blood, combines with H2O to make H2CO3/HCO3-
Describe the waste product bile pigments
From heme portion of Hb (blood)
Mixed into bile by liver and stored in gall bladder
Describe the waste product bile pigments
From heme portion of Hb (blood)
Mixed into bile by liver and stored in gall bladder
What organs are s’associât es with the excretion of waste products?
Lungs
Kidneys
Skin
Liver
What is urine composed of?
95% water
2% urea
1.63% salt ions
0.1% creatine
0.05% ammonia
0.03% uric acid
What are the 4 functions of the urinary system?
Filter blood and remove wastes
Osmoregulation
Maintain blood ph at 7.4
Secretes an enzyme and hormone that regulate water retention
Explain osmoregulation
Maintaining blood volume and pressure
The kidney can increase or decrease salt retention in the blood
Kidneys also help maintain blood levels of other ions such as potassium, bicarbonate and calcium in the blood
What does it mean if there is more salt in the blood?
There is a greater blood volume and pressure because salt draws water into the blood via osmosis
What does it mean if there is less salt in the blood?
Less blood volume and pressure because less salt draws less water into the blood via osmosis
What does it mean if there is less salt in the blood?
Less blood volume and pressure because less salt draws less water into the blood via osmosis
How is blood ph maintained?
By excreting hydrogen ions and reabsorbing the bicarbonate ions as needed
What is the ph of human urine?
6 or lower because food is often acidic
What is step one to secretion?
The kidneys release renin, an enzyme that leads to the secretion of the hormone aldosterone from the adrenal cortex, which leads to reabsorption of sodium ions and more water into the blood
What is step two to secretion?
The kidneys also release ADH, which causes the kidneys to reabsorb more water into the blood
Describe the kidneys
Paired, bean shaped reddish brown organs.
About the size of a fist
Covered by a tough fibrous connective tissue called a renal capsule
Where are the kidneys located?
Near the small of the lower back, some protection from rib cage
Where are the kidneys located?
Near the small of the lower back, some protection from rib cage
Where are the kidneys located?
Near the small of the lower back, some protection from rib cage
What does the adrenal gland do?
It sits on top of each kidney and produces hormones
What does the renal artery do?
Brings unfiltered blood into the kidney
What does the renal vein do?
Takes filtered blood away from the kidney
What are ureters?
Muscular tubes about 25 cm long and 5 mm in diameter
What do ureters do?
Move urine from kidneys to bladder via peristalsis, about 1-2 squirts per minute
How much urine does a human produce per day?
1-2 litres
What does the urinary bladder do?
Stores urine until it is expelled from the body