Excretory System Overview Quiz

Substances left over from metabolic processes that are either surplus or toxic to the organism and must be removed.

The process by which organisms remove metabolic wastes and excess substances from their cells.

The largest single internal organ in the body, responsible for detoxification, bile excretion, and urea formation.

The process by which the liver removes harmful substances from the blood.

A condition caused by long-term abuse of poisons like alcohol, where the liver tissues overgrow, restricting blood flow to the organ.

A fluid produced by the liver to neutralize stomach acids and emulsify fats in the small intestine.

The process by which the liver secretes bile into the small intestine.

A nitrogenous waste product formed in the liver from the breakdown of amino acids.

A pair of tubes that transport urine from the kidneys to the urinary bladder.

A muscular sac that collects and stores urine before it's eliminated from the body. It expands as it fills and contracts to release urine.

The tube that carries urine from the urinary bladder to the outside of the body.

The main filtering unit of the kidney, responsible for removing waste products and excess water from the blood.

The outer layer of the kidney containing most of the nephrons, responsible for filtering and reabsorbing substances from the blood.

A network of capillaries within the Bowman's capsule where filtration of blood occurs.

A double-walled cup-shaped structure that surrounds the glomerulus, receiving the filtered fluid.

The first part of the renal tubule, responsible for reabsorption of essential nutrients and water.

A long, hairpin-shaped loop that extends into the medulla, responsible for reabsorption of water and salts.

The part of the renal tubule that connects the loop of Henle to the collecting duct.

A tube that collects urine from the distal tubules and carries it to the renal pelvis.

The process by which substances are removed from the blood and enter the nephron, including water, electrolytes, and urea.

A condition where bacteria from the bowels enters the urethra and infects the urinary tract.

Small crystalline formations that form in the kidneys due to high concentrations of salts and uric acid in the urine.

An infection that reaches the kidneys, often originating from elsewhere in the body.

A condition where the kidneys lose their filtering function, leading to a buildup of waste products in the blood.

A procedure that filters blood by removing it from an artery, purifying it, and returning it to a vein.

The process of transplanting a healthy kidney into a patient with kidney failure.

The ability of a single functioning kidney to increase in size and filter capacity when the other kidney fails or is removed.

The urethra and anal openings in women are closer together, allowing bacteria from the bowels to easily enter the urinary tract.

The primary function of the excretory system is to remove metabolic wastes from the body. It maintains homeostasis by regulating water, salts, acid-base concentrations, and metabolite concentrations.

The kidneys, skin, lungs, and liver are all responsible for excretion.

By filtering blood, reabsorbing water, and removing excess fluid, the excretory system regulates blood volume.

The kidneys filter blood and produce urine.

Nephrons are located in the kidneys, primarily in the cortex, with the collecting ducts extending into the medulla.

Over one million nephrons are present in the human body.

The major parts of the nephron include the glomerulus, proximal tubule, loop of Henle, distal tubule, and collecting duct.

When blood enters the glomerulus for filtration, water, small molecules, and ions filter through the capillary walls and into Bowman's capsule. This creates nephric filtrate.

A bacterial infection of the urinary tract, more common in women due to the proximity of the urethra and anal openings, leading to easier entry for bacteria.

Solid masses formed in the kidneys due to high concentrations of uric acid and salts in urine. Changes like drinking more water, reducing sodium intake, and increasing calcium-rich foods in diet can help.

A serious condition where the kidneys lose their filtering function, leading to a buildup of waste in the blood. Treatment involves hemodialysis, where a machine filters the blood.

The process of filtering the blood using a machine when the kidneys are unable to perform this function.

When a single kidney has to work harder to filter the blood after the removal of the other kidney, drinking more water and reducing sodium can support its function.