EXCRETORY SYSTEM

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 EXCRETORY SYSTEM ANATOMY
 It consists of a pair of kidneys, a pair of ureters, a
urinary bladder and urethra.
 Kidneys are reddish-brown bean shaped structures
at the back below abdominal cavity.
 Towards the centre of the curved part of kidney is a
notch called hilum.
 The ureter, blood vessels, nerves enter through hilum.
 The funnel shaped region is called renal pelvis.
 It has projections called calyces.

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 EXCRETORY SYSTEM ANATOMY
 Outer layer of kidney is covered by tough capsule.
 Inside kidney, there are 2 regions: outer cortex and
inner medulla.
 Medulla is divided into medullary pyramids.
 In between the medullary pyramids, the space is
called coloumns of Bertini.

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 EXCRETORY SYSTEM ANATOMY
 Each kidney has a million structures (cells) called
nephrons.
 Each nephron has 2 parts: Glomerulus and renal
tubule.
 Glomerulus has many capillaries.
 Renal tubule starts with a double-walled cup-like
structure called Bowman’s Capsule.
 The tubule continues to form a highly coiled
Proximal Convoluted Tubule. (PCT)

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 EXCRETORY SYSTEM ANATOMY
 After the PCT is the U-shaped Henle’s loop which
has an ascending and descending limb.
 Ascending limb of Henle’s loop has Distal
Convoluted Tubule (DCT).
 DCTs of many nephrons open into collecting duct.
 In some nephrons, the loop of Henle goes down into
the medulla. These are called Juxta Medullary
nephrons.
 Around the renal tubule is a network of capillaries
and parallel to this is the vasa recta.

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 URINE FORMATION
1. Glomerular filtration:
 1200 ml of blood is filtered by kidneys.
 Glomerular blood pressure makes filtration of blood in three
layers: 1. Endothelium of glomerular blood vessels
2. Basement membrane
3. Epithelium of Bowman’s capsule.
 Epithelial cells of Bowman’s capsule is called podocytes which
are interlocked so that only little space is left in between.
 This is called ultra-filtration

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 URINE FORMATION
 Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR): Amount of filtrate
formed by kidneys per minute. (125ml)
 Juxta Glomerular Apparatus (JGA): If there is less
GFR, it makes the JG cells to release renin which
converts
Angiotensin  Angiotensin 1  Angiotensin 2
 Angiotensin 2 does 2 things:
 It constricts the glomerular blood pressure.
 It makes the adrenal cortex secrete Aldosterone.
Aldosterone reabsorbes Na+ and water from DCT.
 This is called RAAS (Renin Angiotensin Aldosterone System)

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 URINE FORMATION
2. Tubular Reabsorption:
 99% of filtrate is reabsorbed by renal tubule.
 Glucose, amino acids, Sodium ions are reabsorbed
actively.
 Nitrogenous wastes and water are reabsorbed
passively.

3. Tubular Secretion:
 Tubular cells secrete H+ and K+ ions and ammonia
(NH3) into filtrate.
 This helps to maintain ionic and acid-base balance of
body fluids.
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 FUNCTIONS OF TUBULES
 Proximal Convoluted Tubule (PCT):
 70-80% of electrolytes and water are reabsorbed
 It secretes H+ , K+ ions and NH3

 It reabsorbs HCO3- ions

 Henle’s Loop:
 Maintains high osmolarity in the fluid of medulla.
 Descending part permeable to water but impermeable to
electrolytes.
 Ascending part is impermeable to water but permeable to
electrolytes.
 Filtrate become more concentrated going up.

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 FUNCTIONS OF TUBULES
 Distal Convoluted Tubule (DCT):
 Reabsorption of Na+ and water and HCO3-
 It secretes H+ , K+ ions and NH3

 Collecting Duct:
 Lots of water is reabsorbed
 Small amount of urea is passed through collecting duct
into medulla fluid.
 Maintains pH and ionic balance
 Secretes H+ and K+ ions.

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 HOW IS URINE CONCENTRATED?
 In the 2 limbs of Henle’s loop, the filtrate flows in
opposite directions.
 In the 2 limbs of Vasa rectae, the blood flows in
opposite directions.
 Since these 2 are close to each other, there is increasing
osmotic pressure in the fluid of medulla. (from 300 L –
1200 L).
 NaCl is transported by ascending part of Henle’s loop
exchanges it with descending part of vasa recta. NaCl
will enter the ascending part of vasa recta and reach
medulla.

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 HOW IS URINE CONCENTRATED?
 Urea enters ascending part of Henle’s loop and
transported to the collecting tubule.
 The special arrangement is the vasa rectae and
Henle’s loop is called counter current mechanism.
 Because of this, there is a concentration gradient.

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 DISORDERS
 Uremia: Too much urea in the blood. It leads to
kidney failure. Urea can be removed by
Hemodialysis.
 Renal Calculi: Kidney Stones formed in kidney.
 Glomerulonephritis: Inflammation of glomerulus of
kidney.

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