Grade: 11

Time: 1:15 – 2:00 p.m. (Thursday)

Week 11: 14th – 18th November, 2022
Date: 17th November, 2022
Excretion
Excretion is defined as the removal of metabolic waste from an organism. Many products of

metabolism can be toxic and can slow down important chemical processes in the cells. The main

organs of the body involved in excretion are:

1. Kidneys

2. Lungs

3. Skin

Organ Excretory products Excretion

Kidney Urea, water. Salts urine

Lungs Carbon dioxide Expired air

Skin Water, salts Sweat

Structure and Function of Kidney

The kidneys filter blood to remove excess water and urea. Filtering takes place in tubules called

nephrons.
Waste products leave the blood via the bowman’s capsules. Small molecules are removed and

this is called ultrafiltration. Useful substances can be reabsorbed as they pass down the tubes of

the nephrons. The rest eventually pass to the bladder as urine. If the kidneys fail, this is called

renal failure. As such, toxins will build up in the blood. To treat renal failure, one must undergo

dialysis which will have blood filtered through the machine.

Structure and Function of the skin

The skin is responsible for:

- Homeostasis

- Excretion

To regulate body temperature, the skin controls how much or how little heat is lost. It is

important to protect the skin from UV rays from the sun. Overexposure to UV rays can cause

wrinkles and increases the risks of skin cancer.

Melanin is a natural chemical that is produced by the skin to help protect against the sun. People

with a lot of melanin have dark skin and are at a low risk of skin cancer.

Homeostasis

This is defined as the process by which the conditions inside the human body are carefully

controlled. Some factors that are regulated are:

- Blood sugar

- Water content

- Body temperature

Any imbalance that is detected, triggers a response.

Feedback Mechanisms

Positive feedback mechanisms magnify the change while negative feedback mechanisms

minimize the change.

Homework

Explain how homeostasis helps to regulate:

- Blood sugar

- Water content

- Body temperature