The Excretory System
Function of the Excretory System To eliminate wastes products from the body To eliminate wastes products from the body
Kidneys They remove waste products from the blood; They remove waste products from the blood; Maintain blood pH; Maintain blood pH; Regulate the water content of the blood Regulate the water content of the blood
The ureter carries urine from the kidneys to the urinary bladder The ureter carries urine from the kidneys to the urinary bladder The urinary bladder is a saclike organ where urine is stored The urinary bladder is a saclike organ where urine is stored The functional parts of the kidney are called nephrons, they filter out impurities from the blood The functional parts of the kidney are called nephrons, they filter out impurities from the blood
Filtration Filtration is the process of passing a liquid or a gas through a filter Filtration is the process of passing a liquid or a gas through a filter Filtration mainly takes place in the glomerulus, which is a network of capillaries encased in a hollow cup called Bowman’s capsule Filtration mainly takes place in the glomerulus, which is a network of capillaries encased in a hollow cup called Bowman’s capsule
Reabsorption Reabsorption is when liquid is taken back into a vessel Reabsorption is when liquid is taken back into a vessel Amino acids, fats, glucose and water all get reabsorbed by the Bowman’s capsule into the blood Amino acids, fats, glucose and water all get reabsorbed by the Bowman’s capsule into the blood
Urine Formation Urine contains mainly urea, excess salts and water Urine contains mainly urea, excess salts and water The loop of Henle is a section of the nephron tubule in which water is conserved and the volume of urine is minimized The loop of Henle is a section of the nephron tubule in which water is conserved and the volume of urine is minimized
Control of Kidney Function The activity of the kidneys is controlled mainly by the actual composition of the blood The activity of the kidneys is controlled mainly by the actual composition of the blood Regulatory hormones are released to in response to the composition of blood Regulatory hormones are released to in response to the composition of blood
Homeostasis by Machine For people who have damaged kidneys, dialysis machines can perform many of the functions of the kidneys. For people who have damaged kidneys, dialysis machines can perform many of the functions of the kidneys.