Excretory System
Function Removal of waste from blood and lymph to maintain homeostasis –Wastes removed Excess salts Carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) Urea Regulates pH of blood, water content of body, and volume of blood
Organs Involved Kidneys –Most important! Ureters –Connect kidney to bladder Bladder –Stores wastes for urination –Prostate gland (only in males) Urethra –Urine exits the body
Kidneys Located on each side near the lower back Filtration –Urea, water, glucose, salts, vitamins and other wastes are filtered out of the blood by nephrons in the kidney Reabsorption –Purified blood is recycled by the body Wastes become urine and are transported out of the kidney to…
Ureters Transport urine from kidneys to bladder
Bladder and Urethra Stores urine until enough is collected to be released through the urethra out of the body
Kidney Stones Crystallized pieces of calcium, magnesium, or uric acid salts can block the ureter –VERY painful! Must be passed through the urine to exit the body –Can be broken apart by soundwave treatment to make this process less painful One cause = drinking too much soda