Erediano, Jorge Q.

Topic: Excretory System and Osmoregulation

1. Identify and describe the types of kidney and give example for each type of kidney (15
points)

Kidneys have three (3) types namely pronephros, mesonephros and metanephros. These
types are more or less similar to each other thus, vary depending on blood system, in degree of
complexity, and in efficiency.

a. Pronephros is technically the most primitive of all. It is usually present in the

embryonic development while not functional in adult form. It is developed in the
anterior-most part of the nephrotome whereby there are only 3-15 uriniferous
tubules in each, one pair to each segment. On each tubule is a tuft called glomerulus
projecting in the coelom. The uriniferous tubules of each pronephros open into a
common pronephric duct which grows back to enter the embryonic cloaca.
 Glomus is formed when all glomeruli project into the pronephric chamber where
they will unite. The pronephric chamber is derived from pericardial or
pleuroperitoneal cavity thus, all the tubules of a pronephros open into a main
pronephric duct that is opening posteriorly into the embryonic cloaca. A pair of
pronephroi appear in all vertebrate embryos but they become functional kidneys
only in some cyclostomes and embryos of all anamniotes. For some, they
degenerate during development but the pronephric ducts persist.

b. Mesonephros

Mesonephros develops from the middle part of the nephrotome behind the
pronephros which degenerates. Primarily, it is composed of paired segmental
uriniferous tubules. Each tubule has peritoneal funnel opening into the coelom and
internal glomerulus which is enclosed in a Bowman’s capsule called renal corpuscle.
These uriniferous tubules join the existing pronephric duct on each side, which is
referred as Wolffian duct up the disappearance of pronephros.

Furthermore, the mesonephric tubules undergo budding to form many tubules

thus, their segmental arrangement disappears. The mesonephric tubules are coiled
or convoluted both proximally and distally whereby goes into a common longitudinal
and collecting duct called the Archinephric duct. This usually in turn goes way out of
the cloaca. In sharks, it functions as a gonadial duct and the kidneys have developed
new accessory urinary ducts. The mesonephric tubules have no peritoneal funnels.
Mesonephroi forms the adult functional kidneys in some species such as
 cyclostomes, fishes, amphibians and the embryos of amniotes in which they
degenerate in the adult.

In adult anurans, urodeles, and amniote embryos, the mesonephros is formed only
from the middle part of the nephrotome and it does not extend throughout the
length of the coelom.

c. Metanephros

During embryonic life, both pronephros and mesonephros make their appearance.
However, the metanephros is the most functional type of kidney that develops only
in amniotes. It is formed from the posterior most part of the nephrotome behind the
embryonic mesonephros. The metanephros structurally resembles the mesonephros
but arises more posteriorly in the body. It is also more compact and contains a fewer
number of renal units. In addition to the renal tubules, instead of draining into the
archinephric duct, an opening into larger collecting tubules will lead to a new
excretory duct called the ureter.
 Metanephroi are the functional kidneys of adult amniotes and they have achieved
the separation of the urinary function from the genital function which appears to be
the trend in the evolution of the urinogenital system.

It is, however, absent in reptiles and rudimentary in birds. Kidney is differentiated

into outer cortex having renal corpuscles, and inner medulla possessing collecting
tubules and loops of Henle. For reptiles, the renal portal system starts to lose its
relevance and a few of the blood from the caudal region, instead of filtering slowly
through the capillary network, goes directly through the kidneys. Meanwhile for
avian species, renal portals do not disintegrate into capillaries. Therefore, it is not
comparable to the renal portals of lower vertebrates.

Mammals, on the other hand, also lack renal portal system. In excretion by
vertebrate kidneys, three processes are involved: 1) filtration of blood in the
glomerulus, 2) secretion of certain waste substances by the cells of uriniferous
tubules into the lumen of the tubules, and 3) selective reabsorption by uriniferous
tubules of useful substances from the glomerular filtrate.

For aquatic vertebrates, the kidneys are concerned mainly with eradication of excess
water which is absorbed in the body. This allows osmoregulation to happen on
different habitual fishes. The kidneys excrete ammonia that is well diluted with
water. If ammonia is not diluted well, it will be highly toxic. For terrestrial
vertebrates, one of the main functions of the kidneys is to conserve water for
maintaining the water balance of the body, and instead, they excrete urea. Kidneys
function not on the instruction of the nervous system but rather, it is under the
control of several hormones.

2. Draw the excretory pathway of the following vertebrates. (25 points = 5 points each)

a. Fish
b. Anurans

c. Crocodiles
d. Aves
 e. Mammals

3. Why do birds lack urinary bladder? (5 points)

Avian species do not urinate thus, it does not have any urinary bladder in the exccretory
system. Flight requires a minimal amount of weight such that most of the organs of Aves were
either fused or not present at all. Holding a volume of water in a form of urine gives difficulty
for birds because it adds up to the mass. Hence, the urine is mixed up with the solid waste and
will be excreted from the cloaca as a fecal matter together. This is mainly the reason why feces
of avian species are usually wet and soft.

4. Compare and contrast osmoregulation by freshwater fishes and osmoregulation by

marine fishes? 10 points

One of the physiological functions of the kidneys is osmoregulation. Osmoregulation is

basically the maintenance of both water and salt levels. Freshwater fishes have higher
concentration of salt inside their body than the surrounding body of water. Due to this, the
water goes inside the fish’s body through osmosis and without proper osmoregulation, the fish
could swell given that it is a hypotonic solution. In response, special cells found in the gills called
Chloride cells take up ions in the water, which will be directly transported in the blood, to
control and balance salinity. On the opposing environment, marine fishes have lower salt
concentration in their blood than of the water, whereby constantly loose water and build up
salt. In response, the chloride cells work reversely. Marine fishes uptake more seawater in
order to supply the loss of water inside their body thus, given their small size kidneys, the
excretion of salt takes place in the gills where the chloride cells reside.
 5. How vertebrates achieve osmoregulation? 5 points

In terrestrial vertebrates, the relatively dry surroundings tend to draw water out from the
body, posing a problem of dehydration. To counter this and achieve water balance, terrestrial
vertebrates requires large volume of water uptake to replace water loss. This is made possible
because land vertebrates have larger kidneys to filter and urinary bladders, for some, to store
liquid inside the body. For some vertebrates such as reptiles, they rely on their thick
integuments that functions in the reduction of permeability of skin to water. Aquatic
vertebrates are more diverse. They may gain, lose or be in balance depending on the level of
salinity in the water they’re placed.

6. How the metanephric kidney functions? 10 points

The main function is metanephric kidney or the functional kidney present in some
vertebrates including mammals is the filtration of liquid uptake and turning water into urine.
Blood enters the kidney through arteries and capillaries that branches until it reaches an
internal module called the nephron. These nephrons are millions of quantities inside a kidney
and it contains rays of filter and sensors that carefully sift through the blood. The nephron uses
a sieve-like structure called glomerulus, that allows only certain ingredients such as vitamins
and minerals to pass through the tubule. Then, these vessels identify accurate and appropriate
components the blood must carry. Hence, the blood deposits urea, a leftover from breakdown
of protein, and redirects it in a form of urine. The liquid will be stored in the bladder through
the ureter and will be ready for discharge.

7. Explain the water and ion uptake in an amphibian. 5 points

Amphibians can withstand a dehydrating condition brought by hypersaline environments.

One unique structure of the amphibians is their integument, particularly the epidermis. The
epidermis is the major barrier by which it separates the external surface of animals from their
surroundings. However, this layer of the skin carries out a peculiar function in Amphibians in
the regulation of the water level and osmotic pressure of the body fluids. When a dehydrated
frog is placed back to the water, it will reabsorb water through the skin until the original
water content has been restored. Amphibians have permeable epidermis such that, instead of
drinking water, the liquid passes through their integument. A ccording to Kardong, salt ions tend to
diffuse from amphibians into fresh water. They evolved the ability to take up replacement salts,
especially sodium ions, through the skin by means of active transport. Sodium is taken up
across the stratum granulosum and moved by active transport into the spaces between cells.
Eventually it makes its way into capillaries within the dermis.
References
Aboul Mahasen, L. M. (2016, June 17). juniperpublishers. Retrieved from
https://juniperpublishers.com/apbij/pdf/APBIJ.MS.ID.555554.pdf

Evans, D. H. (2008). Osmotic and Ion Regulation in Amphibians. 79.

Kardong, K. V. (2013). Vertebrates: Comparative Anatomy, Function, Evolution. 2 Penn Plaza, New York:
McGraw-Hill Education.

Kent, G. C. (2008). Comparative Anatomy of the Vertebrates. 2 Penn Plaza, New York: McGraw-Hill
Education.