Revision: Excretion

Chapter 7
Learning Objectives
• Define excretion and explain the importance
of removing nitrogenous and other
compounds from the body
• Outline the function of kidney tubules with
reference to ultra-filtration and selective
reabsorption in the production of urine
• Outline the role of anti-diuretic hormone
(ADH) in the regulation of osmotic
concentration
• Outline the mechanism of dialysis in the case
of kidney failure
 What is excretion?
• Excretion - process where metabolic waste
products and toxic materials are removed
from the body of an organism

• Egestion - removal of undigested matter from

the alimentary canal. Never been absorbed
into the cells hence not produced as a result
of metabolic changes
An overview of excretion system
Excretory organs

Kidneys Lungs Skin Liver

Water Water Water Bile pigments
Urea CO2 Urea
Uric acid Uric acid
Creatinine Creatinine
Some salts Some salts
 Functions of kidney
• Main function of
kidneys is to form
urine through
– ultrafiltration
– Selective
reabsorption of
useful materials
 Functions of the kidneys

• Regulates the pH and composition of the

blood plasma.

• Regulates the salt and water balance of

the body fluid.
Ultrafiltration
Blood pressure or hydrostatic
forces out small molecules like
water, salts, glucose and amino
acids and waste materials
include excess mineral salts,
nitrogenous wastes (urea,
creatinine, uric acid). All these
make up the filtrate.

Selective reabsorption
Most water reabsorbed by
osmosis. Some mineral salts,
all glucose and all amino acids
are actively reabsorbed through
the nephron
The mammalian urinary system
• Structure
– Urinary system
– Longitudinal section of kidney
– Structure of nephron
• Function
– Formation of urine (ultrafiltration and selective
reabsorption
– Kidneys as osmoregulators
Urinary system
 The urinary system
• The urinary system comprises of:

- 2 kidneys

- 2 ureters

- 1 urinary bladder

- 1 urethra
Longitudinal section of kidney
 Structure of a nephron
• Each nephron comprises of:

• Bowman’s capsule and glomerulus

• Proximal and distal convoluted tubules

• Loop of Henlé

• Collecting duct
Structure
of the
nephron
Formation of urine
 Kidneys as osmoregulators
• Water potential of the blood has to be kept
relatively constant.

• Control of water content of the body is

known as osmoregulation.

• The kidney, together with the

hypothalamus and pituitary gland, are
responsible for osmoregulation in humans.
 Kidneys as osmoregulators
• The hypothalamus continuously monitors
the concentration of the blood.

• The pituitary gland secretes the hormone

called vasopressin or anti-diuretic
hormone (ADH).

• Anti-diuretic hormone (ADH) increases

water re-absorption by the kidney tubules.
Kidneys as
osmoregulators
Dialysis
Dialysis
membrane
 Kidney failure
1. In dialysis, blood is drawn from an artery in
the patient’s arm and allowed to flow
through the tubing in a dialysis machine.

2. The dialysis machine contains fluid

consisting of water and other substances
such as salt.
 Kidney failure
3. As the patient’s blood passes through the
dialysis machine, it is separated from the
fluid by a partially permeable membrane.

4. Small molecules such as urea diffused

through the membrane into the fluid.

5. Big molecules, such as proteins and

blood cells, remains in the tubing.
 Kidney failure
• The filtered blood is then returned to a
vein in the patient’s arm.

• Dialysis can be inconvenient and

expensive for the patients.

• A better long-term solution for kidney

failure is a kidney transplant. However,
there are drawbacks as well.
 Conclusions
• Excretion is process where metabolic waste
products and toxic materials are removed from the
body of an organism (different from egestion)

• Kidneys produce urine through

– ultrafiltration and
– selective reabsorption

• Kidneys are involved in osmoregulation,

regulation of pH in blood and regulation of blood
plasma composition.
• Each nephron consists of a renal (Bowman’s)
capsule, the glomerulus, first (proximal)
convoluted tubule, loop of Henlé and second
(distal) convoluted tubule).

• Urine is formed by ultrafiltration and selective

reabsorption.

• The hormone ADH regulates the amount of

water reabsorbed by the kidney tubules.