Osmoregulation and Excretion Chapter 44
Osmoregulation Osmoregulation: management of the body’s water content and solute composition Excretion: removal of nitrogenous wastes from the body Nitrogenous wastes: produced by the breakdown of proteins and nucleic acids; very toxic Ammonia: most aquatic animals, many fish Urea: mammals, most amphibians, sharks, bony fish (in liver; combo of NH3 and CO2) Uric acid: birds, insects, many reptiles, land snails
Evolution of Excretory Systems Protonephridia/ Flame-bulb system: Platyhelminthes (planaria) Metanephridia: Annelida (earthworm) Malpighian Tubules: Insects and terrestrial arthropods Kidneys: Vertebrates
Vertebrate Excretory Systems Mammalian excretory system involves Urinary bladder: urine storage Urethra: urine elimination tube 2 kidneys and each has: Renal artery/vein: kidney blood flow Ureter: urine excretory duct Renal cortex (outer region) Renal medulla (inner region) Nephrons: functional unit of kidney Cortical nephrons (cortex; 80%) Juxtamedullary nephrons (medulla; 20%)
Nephron Structure Glomerulus: ball of capillaries Bowman’s capsule: surrounds glomerulus Proximal tubule: secretion & reabsorption Loop of Henle: water & salt balance Distal tubule: secretion & reabsorption Collecting duct: carries filtrate to renal pelvis
Nephron Function Proximal tubule: secretion and reabsorption change the volume and concentration of the filtrate bicarbonate, NaCl, H2O, glucose, & amino acids reabsorbed out; H+ and toxins secreted in; ammonia passively diffuses into filtrate Descending loop of Henle: reabsorption of water only Ascending loop of Henle: filtrate loses salt without giving up water and becomes more dilute Distal tubule: potassium and salt levels are regulated as well as pH Collecting ducts: carries the filtrate through the medulla to the renal pelvis, and the filtrate becomes more concentrated by the movement of water out
Hormone Involved in Water Regulation Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH): produced in the brain (hypothalamus) and stored and released from the pituitary gland in the brain; makes the collecting ducts more permeable to water so more water is reabsorbed producing concentrated urine