Excretory System

ANIMAL AND HUMAN EXCRETORY SYSTEM

Excretory System
The excretory system is a passive
biological system that removes excess,
unnecessary materials from the body fluids of an
organism, so as to help maintain internal
chemical homeostasis and prevent damage to
the body.

Note:This is not egestion which is the removal of

undigested food or feces
How does the excretory system work with
other systems in the human body?

The excretory system is a close partner with both

the circulatory and endocrine system. The
circulatory system connection is obvious. Blood
that circulates through the body passes through
one of the two kidneys. Urea, uric acid, and
water are removed from the blood and most of
the water is put back into the system.
What is the main purpose of the
excretory system?

The Excretory system is responsible for the

elimination of wastes produced by homeostasis.
Urine is the result of the excretory system
balancing the amount of water and salts in your
body. The regulation process of body fluids and
salt levels is also called osmoregulation.
What are the excretory organs of the
body?
Organs of excretion make up the excretory system. They
include the kidneys, large intestine, liver, skin, and lungs.
The kidneys filter blood and form urine. They are part of
the urinary system, which also includes the ureters,
bladder, and urethra
Major Metabolic Wastes

Carbon Dioxide
produced from cellular respiration

Nitrogen Compounds
produced by the breakdown of amino acids
Ammonia, urea, uric acid

Mineral Salts

Water
Organs of Excretion

Kidney
Liver
Lungs
Skin

Theseorgans work with the circulatory, nervous and

endocrine systems to help keep the bodys internal
environment constant and maintain homeostasis
 The Kidneys and the Urinary
System

Composed of:
Kidneys

Ureters

Bladder

Urethra

Male Female
 Summary:
Kidneys produce urine
which passes to a tube
called a ureter
Urine flows to the urinary
bladder where it is stored.
During urination the
stored urine travels from
the bladder to the
outside of the body
through the urethra
Helps to maintain a
proper fluid balance in
the body
Structure of the Kidney

Cortex:outer part
where blood is filtered

Medulla: middle part

made up of tubes
called collecting
ducts that carry filtrate
to pelvis

Pelvis:
inner region
connected to ureter
Kidney Function

Filters the blood

Primary organ of
Osmoregulation
(regulating water
balance)
 How is Urine Formed?

Process
of filtration
and reabsorption
Filtration
of
materials from
blood
Reabsorption of
certain useful
substances
 Filtration:
Blood enters kidney under
pressure forcing filtrate
through thin walls of
glomerulus into Bowmans
Capsule

Filtrate:
Composed of water,
urea, glucose, amino
acids, various salts

Note :
We need a lot of this fluid back! Hydration. Otherwise we lose too much water,
glucose and salts
On average about 180 liters of filtrate is formed in 24 hours but only 1 to 1.5 liters of
urine is produced!
 Reabsorption:
takes place in renal
tubule (Loop of Henle)

Returns 99% of filtrate

back to the blood
Most of the water
By passive transport
Glucose, amino acids
and most of the salts
Mostly by active
transport
Filtrate becomes very
concentrated as urine
Urine: made of urea, water and
excess salts
 Regulation of Urine Output
Hypothalamus (small area of
brain)
Secretes hormone called ADH
(antidiuretic hormone)

Fluid intake low = ADH secreted

Stimulates reabsorption of water in
nephron.
Urine output decreases and is more
concentrated

Fluid intake high: ADH not

secreted
Less reabsorption of water in
nephron
Urine output increases and is
relatively dilute
Kidney Disorders
Kidney Stones:
found when substances
crystalize out of urine
may block kidney,
ureters, bladder
 Kidney Dialysis:
when the kidneys fail, excess
fluids and wastes accumulate
in blood.
use artificial kidney to filter
Uremia:
blood urineand other wastes
are not filtered out of
blood, poisoning cells
 Gout:
uric
acid crystals are produced and
accumulate in joints
Similar to arthritis
The Liver
Helpsto filter
the blood and
regulate the
makeup of
body fluids
 Detoxifies Blood
Removes substances such as
drugs, alcohol and certain
toxins from the blood
Changes them to an inactive
form which is excreted from
the body by kidneys
BreaksDown Worn Out Red
Blood Cells
RBCs dont have nuclei and
dont live very long
Part of the hemoglobin
molecule is found in bile.
 Excretes Bile:
theliver synthesizes and excretes bile into gall
bladder to add in fat digestion
 Forms Urea
Excess amino acids from protein
digestion are broken down in the liver
by deamination.

Deamination:
amino group is removed from amino
acid
changed to ammonia NH3
ammonia istoxic to the body and is
changed into urea in the liver
Kidneys filter
out urea in the nephron
and excrete it from the body in urine.
 Diseases of the Liver

Cirrhosis:
disease caused by
overloading liver with
harmful materials such
as alcohol

Liver becomes
enlarged and
overgrown with excess
tissue
 Jaundice:
Bile is not secreted properly
Reabsorbed hemoglobin fragments form bilirubin in the
blood and make the skin look jaundiced or yellow
 Lungs
An excretory
organ

Give off carbon

dioxide, and
excess water
both metabolic
wastes.
Skin
Skin is the largest organ of
the human body.

It protects the inner

organs and tissues of the
body, and has sensory
cells to help us detect
changes in our
environment.

It also has sebaceous

glands that produce oil
that help protect skin and
keep it soft and pliable.
Skin
Gives off sweat or
perspiration to help
regulate body temperature.

Sweat is composed of 99%

water, salts and some urea.

Also capillaries close to skin

surface help to eliminate or
conserve heat.
Comparative Excretory Systems
in Animals
Some animals have the same organs as humans
like dogs and horses and some others have a very
different and unique excretory system
Excretion in Protists and Hydra
Direct contact with cell membrane and
environment.

Wastes diffuse out of cell membranes or

are excreted through active transport

Metabolic wastes include: carbon

dioxide, ammonia and mineral salts

Ammonia is the chief nitrogenous

wastes of protists
Excretion in Earthworms
Pairs of nephridia found in almost every segment
Surrounded by capillaries and filter wastes from blood
Wastes form a dilute urine which passes through a bladder
and out through the nephridiopore.
Urine is water, mineral salts, ammonia and urea.
 Dont Forget!
Thin outer skin is the respiratory surface
Below skin are capillaries carrying blood with hemoglobin
Live in moist soil and constantly secretes mucus to keep skin moist
If exposed to air and dries out it will suffocate
Excretion in Grasshoppers
Malpighian tubules are bathed by blood from open
circulatory system
Wastes enter tubules and pass into intestine
Water and other useful substances are reabsorbed and
returned to body fluid
Dry nitrogenous waste product: uric acid
Helps conserve water
Dont Forget!
System of tracheal tubes for gas
exchange
Branching air tubes carry air directly
to cells
Muscle contractions pump air in
and out of tubes
Spiracles: outside openings that
lead to tracheal tubes