Waste Flashcards
How is nitrogenous waste generated?
Breakdown of proteins and nucleic acids. Amino group (NH2) is removed. Occurs in:
the digestive system
For energy or conversion to fats/carbohydrates –
Why does nitrogenous waste need o be removed from the body?
Because it forms a toxic ammonia, which raises the pH of body fluids and inhibits key enzymes
In what form is the nitrogenous waste excreted by most aquatic animals?
As ammonia
In what form is the nitrogenous waste excreted by mammals, amphibians and sharks?
As urea
In what form is the nitrogenous waste excreted by reptiles and birds?
As uric acid
What are the benefits of excreting ammonia?
Doesn’t require energy, is a small molecule, so very rapid diffusion.
What is necessary for excteritian via ammonia?
Lots of water, as is very toxic and can only be tolerated at very low concentration
Where is urea produced?
In the liver, from ammonia and carbon dioxide
Why can’t terrestrial animals excrete ammonia?
Because has to be stored in the body at low concentrations in large volumes of water, which most terrestrial animals don’t have access to
What are the benefits of urea?
1000x less toxic than ammonia, can be transported in the circulatory system and stored safely at high concentration, Much less water is lost.
What are the costs of extortion by urea?
Requires energy
What is the benefits of exerting uric acid?
Relatively non toxic and insoluble in water, therefore can be excreted as a semisolid, paste with little water loss. Useful if developement takes place inside an egg
What are the costs of uric acid?
Even more energetically expensive than urea
How does habitat influence ammonia excretion in frogs?
Tadpoles excrete ammonia, but adults excrete urea
How do protozoa excrete waste?
Via a contractile vesicle
How so annelids, molluscs and Platyhelminthes etc excrete waste?
Via nephridia, a tubule open to the exterior, collecting tubules throughout the body lead to this
How do Insects excrete waste?
Malpighian tubules, spread throughout the body in the haemolymph and open into the insects hindgut for excretion
How do vertebrates excrete waste?
Via the kidneys. Consists of highly organised tubules that are closely associated with a network of capillaries
Why do insects excrete uric acid?
Have relatively high SA:V ratio, which means high rate of water loss, so uric acid excretion conserves water
What are the mechanisms of excretion in the Malpighian tubules?
Salts and nitrogenous waste actively transported into gut lumen, water follows by osmosis. Reabsorption occurs the rectum, H20, ions and valuable organic molecules pumped back into heamolymph. Water follows by osmosis
Uric acid is excreted as nearly dry matter in faeces
What happens during filtration in the kidneys?
Fluids in the blood are collected
What happens during reabsorption?
Selective transport of needed substances back to
tissue fluid/blood
What happens in the renal cortex?
Ultrafiltartion
What role of the renal medulla?
Regulate salt and water concentration in the blood