AISD - 2009

COMPARATIVE ANATOMY:
ANIMAL BODY SYSTEMS:
EXCRETORY SYSTEM

Excretory System
Function: Eliminates nitrogenous
wastes from the body and maintain
water balance
Invertebrate Organs: excretory pore,
nephridia, and malpighian tubules
Vertebrate Organs: Skin, kidneys,
ureters, urinary bladder, urethra

Animal Excretion

The main waste product created by animals is

ammonia.
Ammonia is a chemical that is toxic to animals and must be
released through the excretory systems.

Most animals have systems that eliminate

ammonia quickly or convert it into a less toxic
substance before it is removed from the body.
Animals excretory systems can be very complex
with the main organ being the kidneys to extremely
simple with cells that simply pump the chemicals
out.

Aquatic Invertebrate excretion

Some aquatic invertebrates simply diffuse

ammonia out of their bodies into the
surrounding water.
Example: sponges, cnidarians, and some round
worms.

Other aquatic invertebrates swell up with

water, dilute the wastes and excrete the
wastes through tiny pores in their skin.

Terrestrial Invertebrate excretion

Many terrestrial invertebrates convert

ammonia into urea.
Urea is a simpler nitrogenous compound
that is much less toxic than ammonia.
This urea is eliminated from the body in
urine
Example: arthropods

Figure 2911
Invertebrate Excretory Systems
Flame
cells

Flatworm

Excretory
tubules
Nephrostome

Excretory pore
Flame cell

Excretory tubule

Nephridia
Digestive tract

Annelid

Arthropod

Malpighian
tubules

Vertebrate Excretion
Aquatic vertebrate kidneys rely on gill
slits to release excretory wastes into
surrounding water for dilution.
Terrestrial vertebrates rely on the
kidneys to filter out the ammonia and
change it into urea, then send it to be
released in urine.

Human Excretion
The kidneys filter all of the blood of the
body about every 45 minutes and also
receive urea from the liver.
All wastes (now called urine) travel
from the kidneys, through the ureter to
the urinary bladder, where it is stored
or released through the urethra.

The Human Urinary System

Section 38-3

Vein
Kidney (Cross Section)
Kidney
Cortex

Medulla

Ureter

Urinary bladder
Urethra

Artery