OSMOREGULATION AND EXCRETION

Key Concepts  Osmoregulation balances the uptake and loss of water and solutes  An animal’s nitrogenous wastes reflect its phylogeny and habitat  Diverse excretory systems are variations on a tubular theme  Nephrons and associated blood vessels are the functional units of the mammalian kidney  The mammalian kidney’s ability to conserve water is a key terrestrial adaptation  Diverse adaptations of the vertebrate kidney have evolved in different environments

Key Words  homeostasis  excretion  uric acid  filtration  renal vein  urethra  nephron  proximal tubule  collecting duct  efferent arteriole  antidiuretic hormone (ADH)  secretion (selective reabsorption)  renal artery  urinary bladder  renal medulla  Bowman's capsule  distal tubule  afferent arteriole  vasa recta  ammonia  filtrate  ureter  renal cortex  glomerulus  loop of Henle  cortical nephrons  peritubular capillaries  aldosterone  osmoregulation  urea

Types of metabolic waste produced by living systems 1. Digestive waste (elimination) 2. Respiratory waste 3. Excess water and salts (osmoregulation) 4. Nitrogenous waste (excretion)

Osmoregulation  Balance of uptake and loss of water and solutes  Controlled movement of solutes between internal fluids and environment  Osmoconformer (marine animals isoosmotic with environment)  Osmoregulator (freshwater, marine, and terrestrial animals that adjust internal osmolarity)

Types of nitrogenous wastes  Deamination – protein and nucleic acid metabolism  Three main types differing in terms of: 1. Toxicity 2. Amount of water needed for excretion 3. Energy needed for synthesis 300 – 500 mL/gN 1 step rxn 50 mL/gN 4 step rxn 10 mL/gN 15 step rxn

Type of Organism Structure Product of excretion Other features Plants Stomata, lenticels for gas exchangeInsoluble crystals Crystals are kept inside plant cells Cnidarians and echinoderms No excretory organ - Osmoconformers, isoosmotic with environment Freshwater protists, sponges Contractile vacuolePorocytes and flagella

Excretory Systems  Dispose of metabolic wastes  Regulate solute concentrations in the body  Transport epithelia arranged in tubes  4 major processes 1. Filtration, pressure-filtering of body fluids producing a filtrate (water, salts, sugars, amino acids, N-wastes) 2. Reabsorption, reclaiming valuable solutes (glucose, salts, amino acids) from the filtrate 3. Secretion, addition of larger molecules like toxins and other excess solutes from the body fluids to the filtrate 4. Excretion, the filtrate leaves the system

Flatworms Flame cells Unsegmented roundworms Protonephridia, closed network of dead-end tubes lacking openings Annelids Metanephridia, open- ended network of tubes with internal openings that collect body fluids Type of Organism StructureProduct of excretion Other features

Molluscs Metanephridia Crustaceans Antennal/green gland Insects Malpighian tubules and digestive tract Uric acid Type of Organism StructureProduct of excretion Other features

Marine fishes Gills for osmoregulation, kidneys Ammonia Elasmobranchs (sharks, skates, rays) KidneysUrea Rectal glands – excrete excess NaCl Freshwater fishes Gills for osmoregulation, kidneys Ammonia or urea Amphibians and mammals KidneysUrea Liver converts ammonia to urea Reptiles and birds KidneysUric acidSalt glands Type of Organism StructureProduct of excretion Other features

From Blood Filtrate to Urine: A Closer Look

 Two solutes: NaCl and urea, contribute to the osmolarity of the interstitial fluid  Cause the reabsorption of water in the kidney and concentrates the urine

Nervous system and hormones regulate kidney functions  Antidiuretic hormone (ADH)  Stimulated by a rise in the blood’s osmolarity (>300 mosm/L)  Enhances fluid retention by making the kidneys reclaim more water  Increases water reabsorption in the distal tubules and collecting ducts of the kidney

 The renin-angiotensin- aldosterone system (RAAS)  Responds to a loss of salt and water in the blood  Stimulated by low blood volume or pressure  Increases water and sodium ion reabsorption in the proximal and distal tubules  Leads to an increase in blood volume and pressure  Opposed by the hormone atrial natriuretic factor (ANF)  Released by atria  Inhibits release of renin

Some medical aspects concerning the excretory system  Urinary tract infection (UTI)  bacterial infection  cystitis/pyelonephritis  treated by antibiotics and prevented through proper hygiene  Kidney stones  solidified crystals in kidneys or ureters Calcium oxalate Uric acid  nephrolithiasis/urolithiasis  prevention: Drinking adequate water Proper diet low in protein, N, and Na Avoid excess Vitamin C intake  Dialysis  Hemodialysis  Peritoneal dialysis