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Homeostasis in Animals Notes

The document discusses homeostasis in animals, focusing on osmoregulation and excretion. It explains how different types of animals (freshwater, marine, and terrestrial) manage water and salt balance, as well as the mechanisms and adaptations they employ. Additionally, it outlines the excretory processes in various animals and the importance of removing nitrogenous waste.

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76 views2 pages

Homeostasis in Animals Notes

The document discusses homeostasis in animals, focusing on osmoregulation and excretion. It explains how different types of animals (freshwater, marine, and terrestrial) manage water and salt balance, as well as the mechanisms and adaptations they employ. Additionally, it outlines the excretory processes in various animals and the importance of removing nitrogenous waste.

Uploaded by

bwrites341
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Homeostasis in Animals - Easy Notes

1. Osmoregulation in Animals
Animals, like plants, must maintain the right balance of water and salts for their cells to work
properly. This is called osmoregulation.

2. Osmoregulation in Aquatic Animals

a. Freshwater Animals
Freshwater has very little salt. Their cells take in too much water and lose salts.

Type Mechanism
Unicellular (e.g., Amoeba, Paramecium) Pump out extra water using contractile vacuoles.
Multicellular (e.g., Fish) Pump out water by producing dilute urine and absorb salts from the surroundings.

b. Marine Animals
Marine water has a lot of salt, so marine animals lose water or gain too much salt. They have
special adaptations.

Type Adaptations
Bony Fish Low salt inside, drink seawater, use salt glands to remove salt, produce concentra
Cartilaginous Fish High salt inside by storing urea; eat nitrogen-rich food like meat.
Osmoconformers Equal salt inside and outside, no active osmoregulation needed.

3. Osmoregulation in Terrestrial Animals


Land animals face dehydration due to dry conditions. They have adaptations to conserve water:

• Dry, waterproof skin or exoskeleton

• Produce concentrated urine

• Reabsorb water in kidneys and rectum

• Some (e.g., camels) produce water from fat breakdown

• Drink water or get it from food

4. Excretion in Animals
Excretion is the removal of nitrogenous waste (like urea, ammonia, uric acid) formed during
metabolism. These wastes are toxic if not removed.

Plants differ because they produce non-toxic wastes (CO■ and H■O) which are reused.

Animal Excretory Organs Excretory Compound Source


Planaria (Flatworm) Flame cells (Protonephridia) Dilute ammonia Tissue fluid
Earthworm (Annelid) Metanephridia Urea Coelomic fluid
Cockroach (Arthropod) Malpighian tubules Uric acid pellets Haemolymph
Vertebrates Kidneys NH■, Urea, Uric acid Blood

Summary Points
• Osmoregulation = Control of water and salts in body

• Excretion = Removal of nitrogenous waste

• Freshwater animals remove excess water

• Marine animals remove salt

• Terrestrial animals conserve water

• Different animals have different excretory organs

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