BIOLOGY

You know that

the carbohydrate and
lipids of the food we take
in are converted to Std. X
carbondioxide and water at Biology
Sir, then what
the end of metabolism happens to the
liberating energy, and it is proteins in our
this energy that is utilized food?
for life activities and
growth....

Didn't you notice Ammu's doubt? Didn't Analyse the given description, form
you also have this doubt? inferences about this and record it in the
What may happen to the proteins in our Science diary.
food?

Synthesis of Urea
Aminoacids are formed due to the breakdown of proteins. These aminoacids are utilized
for the synthesis of new proteins necessary for body building, enzymes and many other
substances. During these reactions, many byproducts are formed. Many of these are
waste materials which are harmful to the body. Ammonia is a major waste product formed
in this way. It is very much harmful to the body. The ammonia formed in the cells diffuses

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into the blood and the blood carries it to the liver. In the liver, with the help of enzymes,
it combines with CO2 and water, and is converted to a substance called urea.
NH3+ CO2+H2O Urea

The formation of urea, known as Urea cycle, takes place in a cyclic manner in several
steps. Urea is a relatively less toxic substance which is highly soluble in water. Urea
formed in the liver is transferred to blood from where it is eliminated through urine.

Like urea, other byproducts of Planning

metabolism such as carbondioxide, water,
Aim
etc., also, in excess in the body adversely
affect homeostasis. These are to be ..................................................................
removed from the body to avoid such a Materials required
situation. How are carbondioxide and
..................................................................
water removed from the body? List the
organs which facilitate this. Procedure

Skin .....................................................................
................................................................... Observation
..................................................................
Urine, the main excretory material in the Inference
body, contains mainly water, urea and
..................................................................
salts.
Let us plan an experiment to test the ..................................................................
presence of urea in urine. Indication
Using the given description conduct an Phenolphthalein + Urea milk colour
experiment with your friends, and record
Urea + Urease Red colour
the findings in the Science diary.
How is urine formed from blood?
Experiment
Which is the organ that helps this ?
Add 2 or 3 drops of phenolphthalein to 5
ml of urine. Observe the colour change.
Add the enzyme urease into this. Observe
the colour change again.

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Analysing the given description and Figure 4.1, prepare notes on the structure, position,
size, etc., of this organ.
.....................................................................................................................

Kidneys
Kidneys are the organs which purify blood by eliminating impurities in the form of urine.
There is a pair of kidneys in human beings. They are seen against the posterior muscles
of the abdominal cavity in the lumbar region, on either side of the vertebral column.
They are bean-shaped and are about 11cm long, 5cm broad and 3 cm thick. Each
kidney is dark red in colour and weighs about 150g and is covered by a rigid but soft
membrane. Blood reaches the kidneys from the heart at high pressure, through the
renal artery and returns through the renal vein. About 1100mL. of blood passes through
the kidneys per minute.
Urea, salts, excess amount of medicines taken into the body, vitamins and other harmful
substances that reach the body are filtered and removed from the blood by the kidneys.

thoracic cavity

adrenal gland

kidney
vertebral column
abdominal cavity
ureter

urinary bladder
urethra

Fig - 4.1. Kidneys and associated parts

In order to know how kidneys filter and remove impurities from blood, their internal
structure is to be understood. Analyse Fig. 4.2, complete the given illustration and
present it in the class room.

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Cortex Renal artery

The outer part where lakhs of The vessel which carries
micro filters are seen blood to the kidney
Renal vein
Medulla The vessel which carries blood
The inner part where long from the kidney
tubes of the filters are seen
Pelvis
The part to which urine flows
Pyramid
from the filters
The part to which the collecting
Ureter
ducts of micro filters open
Fig - 4.2. Longitudinal section of kidney The vessel which carries urine
from the kidney to the urinary
bladder

Functions Position, size, shape

$ $

Kidneys

Internal structure, Major blood vessels and their

main parts functions
$ $

Each kidney has about twelve lakhs of micro filters inside. These are the nephrons.
Nephrons are the basic functional units of kidney. Analysing Figure 4.3, draw inferences
about how nephrons are arranged inside the kidney.

Fig - 4.3. The arrangement of nephrons in the kidney nephron

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Ultrafiltration
How might kidneys be filtering out the excretory wastes in the blood? What might be
the adaptations facilitating this ? Using the indicators, analyse Figures 4.4 and 4.5.

Glomerulus Bowman's capsule

Inside the kidney the renal Bowmans capsule is a
artery breaks up into minute double-walled cuplike
capillary networks which look covering surrounding
like a bundle of threads. Each the glomerulus. Helps
bundle is called glomerulus. to collect glomerular
Minute pores are present on filtrate formed as a
its walls which effect ultra result of ultra filtration.
filtration.
Renal tubule
The vessel connecting the Collecting duct
Bowmans capsule and the
Urine is collected from
collecting duct. The reabsorption
Urine the nephron. It opens
of essential substances and
out into the pelvis.
elimination of certain waste
Fig - 4.4. Structure of a nephron
materials take place.

afferent vessel
efferent vessel

Glomerular filtrate
Contains water, glucose, amino acids, ions of
Sodium, Potassium and Calcium, vitamins,
urea, uric acid, creatinine, etc.

Fig - 4.5. Ultrafiltration

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Indicators filterate including water and glucose are

Is there any difference in size between
afferent and efferent vessels? How
does this difference affect the flow of
blood?
What is the advantage of the breaking
up of the afferent vessel into very
minute capillaries inside the Bowmans
capsule?
Will there be any difference in the
pressure of blood in the glomerulus in
relation to the afferent and efferent
vessels? If yes, what is the reason?
What is the necessity of micropores on
the capillary wall?
You have observed the picture of ultra
filtration and the components of the
glomerular filtrate.
What are the components of the
glomerular filtrate?
What may be the reason for the absence
of RBC and protein in the glomerular
filtrate?
Now you have learnt the composition of
the glomerular filtrate. About 127 mL of
essential for the body. While glomerular
filtrate flows through the renal tubule,
these components are reabsorbed at
different parts of the tubule. Along with
this, certain substances which are not
useful to the body are discharged into the
glomerular filtrate. Around 126 mL of
glomerular filtrate is reabsorbed and the
remaining portion becomes urine. This
reaches the ureter through the collecting
duct. Subsequently, it is stored
temporarily in the urinary bladder
situated at the lower part of the abdominal
cavity. As and when the bladder fills, the
urge to urinate occurs and urine is
expelled through the urethra.
Components of Urine
You know that urine contains water, urea
etc.
What are the other components of urine?
Water 96%
Urea 2%
Salts and other substances

}
glomerular filtrate is formed per minute. NaCl, KCl, Creatinine,
If the whole of the glomerular filtrate is Uric acid, 2%
transformed into urine, a person would Salts of Phosphorus,
have to expel about 180 litres of urine per Calcium, etc.
day. Does this happen? How much urine
does an individual expel in a day, on an The pale yellow colour of urine is due to the
average? pigment called urochrome formed as a result
of the break down of haemoglobin.
Record your guess.
..................................................................... You have learnt that human beings excrete
Is it now clear that all of the glomerular on an average 1.5 litres of urine per day.
filtrate is not converted to urine? What Is there any difference in this quantity due
happens to the remaining glomerular to the changes in climate? If so, what may
filterate? be the reason?
Many components of the glomerular .....................................................................

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Observe Illustration 4.1., analyse the conditions causing changes in the quantity of
urine, and the mechanisms which make this possible and form inferences.
.....................................................................................................................

Rainy Secretion of Quantity of

season/ ADH decreases urine
winter increases

Quantity of
Summer Secretion of
urine
ADH increases decreases

Illustration - 4.1.

When kidneys fail

Unhealthy habits and life style influence the health of kidneys to a great extent. Kidneys
may fail due to several reasons and life itself may be in danger.
Read the details given in Table 4.1., gather more information and prepare a pamphlet
on diseases of the kidneys, their symptoms, reasons, etc.

Disease Major Symptoms Reasons

Nephritis Dark coloured and turbid urine, Streptococcus infection, infection of
backpain and fever, swelling of the urinary bladder, Autoimmune
face, ankles and feet. deficiency syndrome, etc.

Anaemia, weight loss, giddiness, Various types of renal diseases,

Chronic renal failure
vomiting, etc. diabetes, hypertension, etc.
Urea and other excretory wastes are
not filtered out, but retained in the
blood itself.

Pain in the lower abdomen, urinary Calcium oxalate, calcium

Kidney stone block, backpain, giddiness and phosphate etc., get sedimented in
vomiting. the kidney and ureter as grains.

Table - 4.1

Is there any means to sustain life of an
individual whose kidneys fail to function?
Have you heard of dialysis?
What is dialysis?
It is the process of purification of the blood
by filtering out impurities from it using
complex machinery. Dialysis is conducted
when both the kidneys fail. Observe
Illustration 4.2 and identify the stages of
dialysis and record it in the Science diary.

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3. Artificial kidney (filters the blood

2. The chemical substance called and separates excretory wastes )
heparin is mixed with blood to prevent
coagulation
1. The blood containing high amount
of excretory wastes is collected from
the artery

Dialysing
fluid

4. Purified blood is passed

back to vein

Illustration - 4.2. Dialysis

Kidney Transplantation
Given below are the contents of a poster pasted on the wall of a Primary Health Centre.
Using this, discuss the significance and limitations of kidney donation and record the
details in the Science diary. Collect more information and pictures of kidney donation
and display them on the bulletin board.

Donate kidneys...... Share life......

Kidney transplantation becomes necessary in a condition in which both
the kidneys completely fail beyond treatment.
The kidney of a healthy individual who dies in an accident (deceased
donor) or that of a healthy person (living donor) can be donated.
Whatever be the category of donor, the blood groups of the donor and
the recipient must be compatible.
It is a functional kidney that is transplanted from the donor to the
recipient. Kidney transplantation is successful only when the recipients
body completely accepts the kidney.

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Other Excretory Organs in the Body

You have learnt that the lungs, liver and skin are the other organs which eliminate
excretory materials formed in the body. What are the wastes that they expel? How do
they function? Analyse the figures and notes given below ( 4.6 to 4.8) and complete
Table 4.2.

The waste management

The carbon dioxide formed
as a result of metabolic
activities is collected and
expelled from the body
along with water vapour.
Fig - 4.6
Lungs
plant that maintains
homeostasis by detoxifying
most of the toxins that
reach the blood. Liver does
not directly eliminate
Fig - 4.7
excretory materials.
Liver

Excretory Organs

The sweat glands in the skin expel

water and wastes like urea and uric
acid through sweat. Sweat contains
99% water and 1% salts and other
Fig - 4.8 substances.
Skin

Organ Excretory Materials Method of Elimination

Table - 4.2.
Like human beings, other animals also have systems to remove wastes formed as
metabolic byproducts. But depending on the peculiarities of the circumstances in which
they live, they are diverse in structure. Analyse the given description and compare the
excretory organs, excretory materials, mechanisms of excretion, etc., of other organisms.
Find out the similarities and differences, and the main reasons thereof and record them
in the Science diary.

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Excretion in Other Organisms

contractile vacuole Amoeba
There are no excretory organs in amoeba which is a unicellular
organism. But this function is performed with the help of contractile
vacuoles. Excess water that reaches the body is also expelled
Fig - 4.9. through the contractile vacuole.

Earthworm Nephridia
Nephridia are the excretory organs in earthworm.
They separate water, nitrogenous wastes, etc.,
Fig - 4.10. from the body cavity and expel them through the
pores on the body surface.

Insects
The excretory organs of insects are known as
Malpighian tubules. They are minute tubes
spread out in the body fluid that fills the body
cavity and open out into the alimentary canal.
Malpighian tubules separate impurities from the
body fluid and carry them to the alimentary canal,
Fig - 4.11.
from where they are expelled. Malpighian tubule

Fish
The major excretory material in fish is ammonia, which is
excreted directly into water through the kidneys. Fig - 4.12.

Frog
Kidneys are the organs of excretion in frogs too. In tadpoles which
are fully aquatic, ammonia is the excretory material. But when tadpole
Nn{Xw 4.13
Fig - 4.13. metamorphose into frog, instead of ammonia, urea is eliminated as
the excretory material.

Reptiles and Birds

Uric acid is the excretory material in birds
and reptiles. It is solid or semisolid in form
and insoluble in water. This minimises the
loss of water through excretion. Kidneys Fig - 4.15.
Fig - 4.14.
are the excretory organs in them too.

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Do Plants Excrete ?
Did you notice the question? Read the description given below, observe the plants
around you carefully, discuss the findings with friends, and present them in the class.

Excretion in Plants
In plants too there are mechanisms to eliminate excretory materials formed as a result of
metabolic reactions. In plants there is no specific excretory system as in animals. The
quantity of wastes formed in plants is also very low compared to that in animals. The
main reason for this is said to be the lesser rate of activity in plants when compared to
animals. The excess oxygen produced as a byproduct of photosynthesis is eliminated
through stomata. Carbon dioxide formed as a result of cell respiration is also expelled
through the stomata.
From the soil plants absorb more water than required. This excess water is expelled
through stomata and hydathodes. Hydathodes are minute pores at the tip of the leaves
of plants of the grass species to eliminate water. Water is expelled as vapour through the
stomata, and as droplets through the hydathode.
Certain excretory products reach the older xylem vessels in the stem and accumulate
there. This activity has a significant role in the gradual formation of heart wood.
Shedding of leaves is another mechanism for the elimination of excretory products in
plants. Plants reabsorb the essential components from leaves as they ripen and fall.
Therefore in the falling leaves, excretory materials will be the major content.

You have learnt that in order to maintain homeostasis, organisms keep the internal
environment free of wastes. If so, shouldnt we conserve our external environment for
the wellbeing of nature and its countless species of living beings? Observe Figure 4.16.

Fig - 4.16.

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Have you come across such heaps of The leftover of lunch, packing leaves
waste? etc.
What impacts do this bring about?

Enlist them.

Shouldnt we put an end to such

pollution? How?

Does your school premises get dirty like
this?
If so, by what all means does it get dirty?
Enlist them.
By group activity, form an action plan to
eliminate such heaps of waste . After
presenting it in the class room, implement
it collectively for the welfare of the public.
Be a model to society.

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Follow up Activities
1. Observe the figure.

A B

a. Label the parts termed A and B.

b. What difference has occurred in the structure of A and B?
c. How will this affect the function of the kidneys?
2. Given below is the last part of the pamphlet about kidney diseases, prepared by
Sajin.
Our health habits and life style, to a great extent, influence the health of the
kidneys. And due to many reasons, the kidneys are damaged, sometimes even
endangering life itself. By taking necessary precautions, the kidneys can be
retained healthy to a certain extent.

Suggest any four precautions and complete the pamphlet

3. Prepare 2 slogans for the awareness rally organized by the Environment Club of
your school as part of the waste disposal scheme.

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