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Questions and Answers
What is one of the main functions of the excretory system?
What is one of the main functions of the excretory system?
Which organ is responsible for removing carbon dioxide from the body?
Which organ is responsible for removing carbon dioxide from the body?
What is the primary compound that liver converts ammonia into?
What is the primary compound that liver converts ammonia into?
What is the average amount of fluid processed by the kidneys each day?
What is the average amount of fluid processed by the kidneys each day?
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What happens to the body at a 5% drop in fluid levels?
What happens to the body at a 5% drop in fluid levels?
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What is the primary function of the kidneys in the excretory system?
What is the primary function of the kidneys in the excretory system?
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Which part of the nephron is responsible for filtering blood and capturing substances?
Which part of the nephron is responsible for filtering blood and capturing substances?
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How does the renal artery support the functions of the kidneys?
How does the renal artery support the functions of the kidneys?
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What is the length difference between the male and female urethra?
What is the length difference between the male and female urethra?
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What is the role of the peritubular capillaries in the nephron?
What is the role of the peritubular capillaries in the nephron?
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What happens to the remaining kidney if one kidney is removed?
What happens to the remaining kidney if one kidney is removed?
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Which part of the excretory system directly connects the kidneys to the bladder?
Which part of the excretory system directly connects the kidneys to the bladder?
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How is urine moved from the kidneys to the bladder?
How is urine moved from the kidneys to the bladder?
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What structure forms the funnel-like mouth of the ureter?
What structure forms the funnel-like mouth of the ureter?
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Which sphincter is under voluntary control during urination?
Which sphincter is under voluntary control during urination?
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Flashcards
What is the main function of the human excretory system?
What is the main function of the human excretory system?
The human excretory system's primary role is removing metabolic waste products from the bloodstream and eliminating them from the body, primarily through urine.
How does the respiratory system contribute to waste removal?
How does the respiratory system contribute to waste removal?
The lungs excrete carbon dioxide, which is a byproduct of cellular respiration. This occurs through breathing.
How does the skin function in the excretory system?
How does the skin function in the excretory system?
The skin releases water, salts, and some urea through sweat. This helps cool the body and maintain a balanced internal environment.
What are some waste products that the liver processes?
What are some waste products that the liver processes?
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What primary waste products are removed by the kidneys?
What primary waste products are removed by the kidneys?
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What is the function of the excretory system?
What is the function of the excretory system?
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What are the kidneys?
What are the kidneys?
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What are the renal artery and vein?
What are the renal artery and vein?
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What are the ureters?
What are the ureters?
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What is the bladder?
What is the bladder?
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What is the urethra?
What is the urethra?
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What is a nephron?
What is a nephron?
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What is the glomerulus?
What is the glomerulus?
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What is Bowman's capsule?
What is Bowman's capsule?
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What is the loop of Henle?
What is the loop of Henle?
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Study Notes
Outcome D3
- The excretory system maintains internal equilibrium in humans by exchanging energy and matter with the environment.
Excretory System Structures
- No specific structures are listed.
Functions of the Excretory System
- The main functions are removing metabolic waste from the blood and excreting this waste from the body.
Removal of Waste Products
- Various organs remove waste products.
- Lungs: Remove carbon dioxide from cellular respiration.
- Skin: Releases water, salts, and some urea as perspiration.
- Liver: Removes bile pigment (from hemoglobin breakdown), removes lactic acid (from anaerobic respiration), and eliminates toxins (e.g., alcohol and heavy metals).
- Kidneys: Remove ammonia, urea, and uric acid.
Where these compounds come from
- Ammonia is produced when excess dietary protein undergoes deamination in the liver.
- Urea is the product in the liver when ammonia combines with carbon dioxide (this is a much less toxic form of the nitrogenous waste).
- Uric acid is created after the breakdown of nucleic acids (DNA and RNA).
Water Balance in Blood
- Kidneys maintain water balance in the blood.
- Average adults lose roughly 2 liters of water per day (through sweat, urine, and exhalation).
- To maintain balance, adults need to drink at least 2 liters of water a day to replace these loses.
- A drop in blood fluid levels (as low as 1%) can lead to dangerous symptoms.
- A 1% drop in fluid leads to thirst.
- A 5% drop in fluid leads to extreme pain and collapse.
- A 10% drop in fluid can lead to death.
- The kidneys process around 180 liters of fluid per day. The average adult has around 5 liters of blood in their body.
Parts of the Excretory System
- Kidneys: Humans have two, and can function with one. If one kidney fails, the other increases in size to handle the extra load. They are located on either side of the spine in the lower back, protected by fatty tissue and lower portion of the rib cage; they filter blood to make urine.
- Ureters: These are 28 cm long tubes that connect the kidneys to the bladder and move urine via peristalsis.
- Bladder: A hollow, muscular organ that stores urine. The drainage from the bladder has two sphincters, the internal one being involuntarily controlled by the brain, and the external one being voluntarily controlled and trained during childhood.
- Urethra: A tube connecting the bladder to the external environment. Urethra length varies by sex. Female urethra is about 4 cm; male urethra is about 20 cm and merges with the vas deferens. The different lengths are why females are more likely to experience urinary tract infections.
Kidney Structure
- Renal pelvis: The inner layer of the kidney. The mouth of the ureter opens into a funnel-like structure. Urine from the renal tissue is funneled into the ureter—the cup-like extensions of the renal pelvis collect urine.
- Renal medulla: The middle layer of the kidney, containing most of the nephrons—the functional units of the kidney.
- Renal cortex: The outer layer of the kidney, protecting the inner structures and providing the kidney's general shape. It also has some nephrons.
Kidney Structure - Nephron
- Nephrons are microscopic tubules filtering blood and producing urine.
- Each nephron is closely associated with a network of blood vessels.
- Nephrons are found in the medulla and cortex.
- Each kidney contains approximately one million nephrons.
Parts of the Nephron
- Glomerulus: High-pressure capillary bed of small branches from the renal artery, supplying blood to the nephrons. Fluid flows to and from this high-pressure bed via the afferent (going to) and efferent (going away) arterioles. Located within Bowman's capsule.
- Bowman's Capsule: Cup-like sac surrounding the glomerulus. Collects substances leaving the blood.
- Proximal Tubule: Portion of the duct system, leading from Bowman's capsule to the loop of Henle.
- Loop of Henle: Long, U-shaped portion of the tube.
- Peritubular Capillaries: Surround the nephron, allowing substances to exchange between blood and the nephron solution.
- Distal Tubule: Portion between the loop of Henle and the collecting duct.
- Collecting Duct: Collects urine made by nephrons and moves it towards the renal pelvis and ureters.
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Description
Explore the essential functions of the human excretory system, including the organs involved in waste removal and their roles. This quiz covers the maintenance of internal equilibrium and the various waste products eliminated by different organs in the body.
