Excretory System Functions
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Questions and Answers

What is the primary function of the kidneys in the human body?

  • To break down excess amino acids into ammonia
  • To excrete urine from the body
  • To convert ammonia to urea
  • To filter blood, reabsorb useful substances, and secrete unwanted ones (correct)

    • What is the main function of the nephron?

  • To secrete ammonia into the filtrate
  • To reabsorb water and ions into the bloodstream
  • To regulate blood pressure
  • To filter blood and remove waste products (correct)

    • What is the role of the glomerulus in the nephron?

  • To secrete ammonia into the filtrate
  • To regulate blood pressure
  • To reabsorb ions and water into the bloodstream
  • To filter blood and form the primary filtrate (correct)

    • What is the primary function of the proximal convoluted tubule?

    <p>To reabsorb ions, amino acids, water, and glucose into the bloodstream</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of the loop of Henle in the nephron?

    <p>To concentrate the filtrate through the reabsorption of water</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary purpose of the excretory system?

    <p>To remove excess and unwanted substances from the body</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are the typical waste materials that accumulate within the body's cells?

    <p>Carbon dioxide, toxins, and nitrogenous waste</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What would happen if a part of the excretory system were to stop working?

    <p>The buildup of toxins and waste materials would poison cells and eventually kill the individual</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the role of the urinary tract in the excretory system?

    <p>To filter waste materials out of the blood and excrete them in urine</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why do mammals require protein in their diet?

    <p>To source amino acids, which cannot be stored</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main function of the distal convoluted tubule?

    <p>To fine-tune the composition of filtrate according to the body's requirements</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the role of the kidneys in regulating water balance?

    <p>To reabsorb more water and ions into the bloodstream</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which organs can be considered excretory organs apart from the kidneys and urinary tract?

    <p>Lungs, skin, liver, and digestive tract</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary function of the excretory system?

    <p>To remove excess and unwanted substances from the body</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the role of the collecting duct in the nephron?

    <p>To further fine-tune the filtrate composition by reabsorbing water and secreting waste</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary reason for the removal of unwanted waste materials from the body?

    <p>To maintain a stable internal environment</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT a function of the excretory system?

    <p>Converting amino acids into energy</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What would happen if the body were unable to remove waste materials?

    <p>The body would become poisoned by the buildup of toxins and waste</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of the urinary tract in the excretory system?

    <p>To filter waste materials out of the blood and excrete them in urine</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why do mammals require protein in their diet?

    <p>To source amino acids</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What happens to the concentration of urea in the urine if an individual loses lots of water or doesn't drink enough?

    <p>It increases</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary function of the liver in the excretory system?

    <p>Breaking down toxins and waste materials</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main function of sweating in the excretory system?

    <p>Regulating body temperature</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What happens to the carbon dioxide produced during cellular respiration in the excretory system?

    <p>It is released from the lungs into the environment</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the role of the digestive tract in the excretory system?

    <p>It removes waste materials from the body through faeces</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary function of the process of deamination in the liver?

    <p>To remove the amine group from amino acids</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary role of the renal arteries in the kidneys?

    <p>To supply blood to the nephrons at a constant rate</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary function of the Bowman's capsule in the nephron?

    <p>To collect the filtrate from the glomerulus</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary role of the ascending limb in the loop of Henle?

    <p>To actively pump ions out of the tubule</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary role of the collecting duct in the nephron?

    <p>To collect and transport urine to the ureters</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary consequence of the excretory system failing to remove waste materials?

    <p>Metabolic reactions are interrupted, leading to cell death</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary role of the excretory system in relation to ion and water concentrations in blood and tissues?

    <p>Regulating ion and water concentrations</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What would occur if the excretory system were unable to remove waste materials from the body?

    <p>The body would accumulate toxins, leading to cell death</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which system is responsible for removing waste substances and regulating water and ion concentrations?

    <p>Excretory system</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary reason mammals require protein in their diet?

    <p>To source amino acids</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary component of the excretory system responsible for filtering waste materials out of the blood?

    <p>Urinary tract</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which part of the nephron is responsible for the reabsorption of glucose and specific ions into the capillaries?

    <p>Proximal convoluted tubule</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary function of the renal arteries in the kidneys?

    <p>To supply blood to the nephrons</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the byproduct of deamination in the liver?

    <p>Ammonia</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What happens to the fluid that crosses the glomerular walls in the Bowman's capsule?

    <p>It becomes part of the primary filtrate</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary function of the efferent capillaries in the nephron?

    <p>To take blood away from the nephrons</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main function of the cortex region in the kidney?

    <p>To filter blood</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What happens to the urea that is incidentally reabsorbed by passive transport?

    <p>It is secreted back into the nephron</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of the osmotic gradient in the loop of Henle?

    <p>To concentrate the filtrate</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary function of the afferent capillaries in the nephron?

    <p>To deliver blood to the nephrons</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of the distal convoluted tubule in the nephron?

    <p>To reabsorb ions and water</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the effect of drinking lots of water on the distal convoluted tubule and collecting duct?

    <p>They do not reabsorb much water.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main function of the kidneys in terms of blood pressure and blood pH?

    <p>Regulating blood pressure and blood pH.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following organs is NOT considered an excretory organ?

    <p>Heart</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary function of the nephrons in the kidneys?

    <p>Filtering the blood and reabsorbing the needed materials.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the effect of losing lots of water or not drinking enough on the concentration of urea in the urine?

    <p>It increases the concentration of urea in the urine.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary role of the urinary tract in the excretory system?

    <p>Storing and excreting waste products from the body.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What happens to the water produced during cellular respiration in the excretory system?

    <p>It is incorporated into body fluids.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary purpose of the excretory system in terms of maintaining the ideal concentration of solutes?

    <p>To remove excess and unwanted substances from the body.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the role of the liver in the excretory system?

    <p>Breaking down toxins and waste materials in the blood.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the effect of the excretory system not functioning properly?

    <p>The body would experience a buildup of waste materials and toxins.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Excretory System

    • The excretory system is responsible for removing excess and unwanted substances from the body and maintaining a stable internal environment.
    • The system comprises a number of organs and tissues, including the lungs, liver, kidneys, skin, and bladder.

    Kidneys and Urinary Tract

    • The kidneys are two bean-shaped organs located in the upper back on either side of the spinal column.
    • The role of the kidneys is to filter blood, reabsorb the useful substances within the filtrate, and secrete the unwanted ones.
    • The kidneys can hold up to 25% of a person's blood volume at one time.
    • The urinary tract consists of: kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra.

    Nephrons

    • A kidney contains millions of nephrons, which are the functional unit of a kidney.
    • Each nephron has the same structure, consisting of:
      • Glomerulus
      • Proximal convoluted tubule
      • Loop of Henle
      • Distal convoluted tubule
      • Collecting duct
    • Multiple nephrons can feed into the same collecting duct.

    Glomerulus and Bowman's Capsule

    • The glomerulus is located inside the Bowman's capsule.
    • The high pressure of blood in the glomerular blood vessels forces fluid through the walls of glomerular capillaries and into the Bowman's capsule.
    • Only small molecules and water can pass through the glomerulus' membranes: blood cells and large proteins remain behind in the glomerular capillaries.

    Proximal Convoluted Tubule

    • Glucose, specific ions, and amino acids are reabsorbed into capillaries by active transport.
    • About 65% of water is reabsorbed via osmosis.
    • Some urea is incidentally reabsorbed by passive transport.
    • Ammonia and some drugs are secreted into the nephron.

    Loop of Henle

    • The ascending limb actively pumps ions out of the tubule.
    • Water exits the descending limb via osmosis and ions diffuse into the tubule down their concentration gradient.
    • Water cannot exit the ascending limb as the membrane is impermeable to water.
    • Some urea is secreted into filtrate.

    Distal Convoluted Tubule and Collecting Duct

    • Fine-tunes the composition of filtrate according to the body's requirements.
    • May reabsorb more water and ions.
    • May secrete more ions and toxins into filtrate.
    • Further fine-tunes filtrate composition.
    • May reabsorb more water.
    • Secretes waste like ammonia into the duct.

    Regulation of Water Balance and Blood Pressure

    • The kidneys play an important role in the regulation of water balance and blood pressure.
    • If you drink lots of water, the distal convoluted tubule and collecting duct do not reabsorb much water.
    • Conversely, if you lose lots of water or don't drink enough, the distal convoluted tubule and collecting duct reabsorb lots of water into capillaries.
    • This increases the concentration of urea in the urine.

    Other Excretory Organs

    • The lungs are responsible for removing carbon dioxide and water via exhalation.
    • The skin is responsible for removing small amounts of nitrogenous waste and ions via sweating.
    • The liver breaks down toxins and other waste materials in the blood that are then carried through to the urinary tract and excreted.
    • The digestive tract can play a role in excretion, as waste material is released into the digestive tract and comes out in faeces.### Excretory System
    • The excretory system is responsible for removing excess and unwanted substances from the body and maintaining the ideal concentration of water and solutes.
    • The major component of the system is the kidneys and the urinary tract.

    Kidneys

    • The kidneys are two bean-shaped organs located in the upper back on either side of the spinal column.
    • The kidneys filter blood, reabsorb useful substances, and secrete unwanted ones.
    • Blood is delivered to the kidneys by a pair of blood vessels called the renal arteries.
    • The kidneys can hold up to 25% of a person's blood volume at one time.

    Nephrons

    • Each kidney contains millions of nephrons, which are the functional units of a kidney.
    • A nephron has a glomerulus, Bowman's capsule, proximal convoluted tubule, loop of Henle, distal convoluted tubule, and collecting duct.
    • Multiple nephrons can feed into the same collecting duct.

    Glomerulus and Bowman's Capsule

    • The glomerulus is a bunch of capillaries inside the Bowman's capsule.
    • The high pressure of blood in the glomerular blood vessels forces fluid through the walls of glomerular capillaries and into the Bowman's capsule.
    • The fluid that crosses the glomerular walls is called the primary filtrate.

    Proximal Convoluted Tubule

    • Reabsorption: ions, amino acids, water, glucose
    • Secretion: ammonia, toxins
    • Glucose, specific ions, and amino acids are reabsorbed into capillaries by active transport.
    • About 65% of water is reabsorbed via osmosis.

    Loop of Henle

    • Reabsorption: water
    • Secretion: urea
    • The ascending limb actively pumps ions out of the tubule.
    • Water exits the descending limb via osmosis.

    Distal Convoluted Tubule

    • Optional reabsorption: ions, water
    • Secretion: ions, toxins
    • Fine-tunes the composition of filtrate according to the body's requirements.

    Collecting Duct

    • Optional reabsorption: water
    • Secretion: urea, ions, ammonia, toxins
    • Further fine-tunes filtrate composition.

    Urinary Tract

    • The urinary tract consists of the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra.
    • Urine is produced in the kidneys, travels through the ureters to the bladder, and is excreted out of the body via the urethra.

    Excretion

    • The excretory system is not limited to the urinary tract, but also includes other organs such as the lungs, skin, liver, and digestive tract.
    • The lungs excrete carbon dioxide, and the skin excretes some nitrogenous waste via sweating.
    • The liver breaks down toxins and other waste materials in the blood that are then carried through to the urinary tract and excreted.
    • The digestive tract can also play a role in excretion by releasing waste material into faeces.

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    Description

    Learn about the importance of the excretory system in removing waste and maintaining a stable internal environment. Discover how the body accumulates waste materials during cellular processes and how it removes them without disrupting ion and water concentrations.

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