ADDITIONAL SCIENCE

FORM 4
CHAPTER 13: EXCRETORY SYSTEM

13.1 FUNCTIONS OF THE KIDNEY AND SKIN IN

EXCRETION

Excretion is the process of removing

metabolic waste products and toxic
materials.
Organ

Metabolic waste products

Skin

Urea, salts and water

Lungs

Carbon dioxide and water

Kidneys

Urea, salts and water

Excretion and defecation are two

different processes.

13.1 FUNCTIONS OF THE KIDNEY AND SKIN IN

EXCRETION
Excretion

Defecation
Differences

Remove metabolic waste products Remove undigested food from the

digestive system
Waste are products of metabolism

Faeces is a not a product of

metabolism

Involves kidneys, skin and lungs

Involves large intestine, rectum

and anus

Similarities
Remove waste products from the body

13.1 FUNCTIONS OF THE KIDNEY AND SKIN IN

EXCRETION

Urine is produced in the kidneys.

The functional unit of the kidney is the
nephron.

Structure of the human kidney

13.1 FUNCTIONS OF THE KIDNEY AND SKIN IN

EXCRETION

Blood is carried into the glomerulus

through the afferent arteriole from the
renal artery. Blood flows out of the
glomerulus through the efferent
arteriole.
The afferent arteriole has bigger
diameter than the efferent arteriole. This
causes the high hydrostatic pressure of
the blood in the glomerulus.

13.1 FUNCTIONS OF THE KIDNEY AND SKIN IN

EXCRETION

Steps in the formation of urine

Step

13.1 FUNCTIONS OF THE KIDNEY AND SKIN IN

EXCRETION

Skin can remove metabolic wastes

from
the body through sweating.
Sweat is a mixture of water, salts and
urea.
When we sweat, our body become
cooler and metabolic waste products
are excreted.

13.1 FUNCTIONS OF THE KIDNEY AND SKIN IN

EXCRETION

Epidermis

Sebaceous
gland

Dermis

Hair follicle
Blood
vessel

Hypodermis

Sensory neurone
Sweat gland
Hair erector muscle

Structure of the human skin

13.1 FUNCTIONS OF THE KIDNEY AND SKIN IN

EXCRETION

How the skin regulate our body temperature

The body temperature rises

13.2 DISEASES RELATED TO THE EXCRETORY

SYSTEM
Disease

Symptoms

Causes

Kidney failure

Blood in the urine

High blood pressure

Diabetes
High blood pressure
Infections
Kidney stones

Kidney stones

Pain in the middle of the

upper abdomen

High concentration of uric

acid and insufficient water
in the kidneys to dissolve
waste products

We can prevent kidney related diseases

by reducing salt and sugar intake in our
diet, drinking plenty of water and avoiding
drugs and alcohol.

13.2 DISEASES RELATED TO THE EXCRETORY

SYSTEM

Uric acid crystals can cause gout

13.3 HEALTHY EXCRETORY SYSTEM