Excretion & Homeostasis

Excretory and homeostatic systems are essential body systems. Excretion is the removal of waste products
of body metabolism which are toxic if accumulated. Organs that do this are the lungs, removing carbon
dioxide a waste product of respiration and the kidneys, removing urea a nitrogenous waste product of
protein metabolism from the blood. Homeostasis the the maintainance of an internal environment within
narrow limits and includes blood glucose concentration (BGC), body temperature and body fluid
concentration (osmoregulation). This is brought about by systems that constantly monitor these levels and
bring about a corrective response if moving outside a narrow limit, a mechanism called negative feedback.

Control of BGC is carried out by hormones of the endocrine system, secreted by the pancreas. If blood
glucose rises (after a carbohydrate rich meal), the pancreas responds by releasing the hormone insulin.
Insulin causes cells to absorb glucose from the blood and the liver to store glucose as glycogen, lowering
the BGC to its correct level. This is detected by the pancreas which responds by no longer secreting insulin.
Type I & II diabetes is caused by the system failing for different reasons, resulting in hyperglycaemia.

Control of body temperature is carried out by the nervous system, monitored by the hypothalamus in the
brain. If body temperature rises, the hypothalamus responds by sending impulses to the skin to cause
sweating and vasodilation, lowering body temperature to its correct level. A lowering of body temperature
is likewise detected by the hypothalamus which prevents release of sweat and causes vasodilation in the
skin. Other mechanisms such as shivering, raising/lowering of body hair and changes in metabolic rate also
maintain body temperature.

Osmoregulation is carried out by the hormone anti-diuretic hormone (ADH), released by the pituitary gland
in the brain. If the blood becomes too dilute (after drinking), the hormone is not secreted causing the
kidneys to remove excess water by producing more urine. If the blood becomes too concentrated (after
sweating) ADH is secreted, causing the kidneys to move water into the blood instead of the urine.
Excessive alcohol intake suppresses this mechanism, resulting in dehydration. Renal failure of both kidneys
can be fatal, requiring dialysis to keep the patient alive. A dialysis machine acts as an artificial kidney,
carrying out both excretion and osmo-regulation. A lengthy process, needing to be applied regularly, a
kidney transplant is a better long-term treatment than dialysis.