The Excretory

System
Excretion
- process by which metabolic
waste products and toxic
materials are removed from
the body of an organism
Excretory Organs
Excretory product Excretory Excreted as
Organ
Carbon dioxide Lungs Gas in expired air
Excess mineral salts Kidneys Part of urine
Nitrogenous wastes Skin Part of sweat
Excess water Kidneys Main part of urine
Skin Main part of sweat
Lungs Water vapor in
expired air
Bile pigments Liver Part of feces
The Urinary
System
Kidneys
- major organs of excretion
- regulate the salt and water
balance in the body
- help control the amount of
minerals and vitamins in the
blood
Kidneys

- regulate the acid balance of the

blood by removing acids
produced during metabolic
activities
Kidneys
Kidney renal
pyramids
Anatomy

renal renal
pelvis cortex
renal
capsule
ureter
renal
medulla
Kidneys
Parts:
1. Cortex: dark red outer portion
protected by a fibrous renal
capsule on the outside
Kidneys
Parts:
2. Medulla: the inner portion
 Pyramids: cone-shaped structure
 Radial stripes  kidney tubules or nephrons
 Renal pelvis: funnel-like space where the
renal pyramids project; enlarged portion of
the ureter inside the kidney
Structure of a Nephron
A nephron is composed of…
 Glomerulus: cluster of capillaries where
filtration starts
 Bowman’s capsule: cup-shaped structure
that encloses the glomerulus
 Proximal convoluted tubule (PCT)
 Distal convoluted tubule (DCT)
 Loop of Henlé
 Collecting tubule
Ureters

- narrow tubes that emerge from

the hilus
- where urine from each kidney
passes going to the urinary
bladder
Urinary Bladder

- elastic muscular bag-like organ

that stores urine before it is
excreted
- can hold up to 500mL of liquid
Urethra

- duct through which urine passes from

the bladder to the outside of the body
 Urinary meatus: opening of the urethra
to the exterior
 Micturition: the voiding out of urine
Micturition

When bladder fills with 200 mL of

urine, stretch receptors transmit
impulses to the CNS and produce a
reflex contraction of the bladder.

What is incontinence?
Incontinence
- loss of bladder control resulting in
involuntary passage of urine
- Can be caused by:
- bladder infection, certain drugs, brain
and spinal cord disorders, diseases
that affect the nerves leading to and
from the bladder
 Urine
Formation
 General blood
Functioning
of the filtration
Kidney
tubular
reabsorption
and secretion

urine “refreshed”
blood
Three main processes:
1. Ultrafiltration of very small
molecules from the blood
2. Selective reabsorption of
useful materials
3. Secretion of substances
filtered off from the blood
Ultrafiltration
Blood passes from branches of renal
artery into the glomeruli.

Mechanical filtration occurs in each

glomerulus.

Most of the blood plasma is forced out

of glomerular capillaries into Bowman’s
capsule.
 Ultrafiltration
2 requirements for ultrafiltration:
1. High blood pressure or hydrostatic blood
pressure in the glomerulus
afferent arteriole
diameter > efferent arteriole
diameter
2. Partially permeable membrane
 efferent
arteriole afferent
arteriole

Glomerular
Filtration

Bowman’s
capsule glomerulus

Filters blood; large molecules can’t pass through

 Selective Reabsorption
At the PCT, water and solutes (mineral salts,
1 glucose, amino acids) are reabsorbed into
surrounding capillaries.

Some water from loop of Henle and DCT is

2
reabsorbed into surrounding capillaries.

3 Some salts (Na+) are reabsorbed from DCT.

 Selective Reabsorption
Some water is reabsorbed from the collecting
4
duct

Excess water, salts, and metabolic waste

products (urea, uric acid, and creatinine) pass
5 out the collecting duct into the renal pelvis as
URINE.
 Secretion
- occurs in both the proximal and
distal ends of the renal pelvis
- secreted substances include
wastes, such as urea that may have
been reabsorbed, toxins, some
vitamins, and some medications
- the pH of the blood is maintained by
secretion
Normal constituents of urine

Water Mineral salts Urea Other Total

(mainly NaCl) nitrogenous
substances

96.0g 1.8g 2.0g 0.2g 100.0g

How does our diet affect
the constituents of our
urine?
Water potential of blood must
be kept constant

What will happen if blood

plasma becomes too dilute?

What will happen if blood

plasma becomes too
concentrated?
 How do kidneys help control
blood pressure?
- Kidneys control water and solute levels in the
blood
- Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH) controls the
amount of water in the blood

↑ blood volume = ↑ blood pressure

- Diuretics reduce the production of ADH to

reduce blood volume
Disorders
 Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)
- urine is normally sterile
- bacteria may enter urinary tract via
the opening of the urethra or the
bloodstream (possibly from intestine)
- symptoms:
 painful urination, frequent urge to
urinate, cloudy urine
Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)
Who is at risk?
Person with…
- Kidney stones
- Diabetes
- Catheter
 Kidney Stones
 stones form in the
urinary tract
 calcium, uric acid
 sharp, cramping pain in
the back and side of
the kidney or in the
lower abdomen
 Bleeding, obstruction of
urine flow,UTI
 Kidney Stones
 Ultrasound

 Water

 Medication

 Lifestyle changes
 Surgery
Kidney Failure

- inability of kidneys to adequately

and effectively filter metabolic
waste products from the blood
Why will the What will be
kidney fail? the effects?
Dialysis
Transplant