The Human Excretory System

The function of the

excretory system is to
excrete (get rid of)
wastes that are not
helpful to the body.
 Waste

Wastes that are removed

include carbon dioxide,
water, salt, urea and uric
acid.

All excreted wastes travel

at some time in the blood
 Structures of the Excretory System
1. Skin
2. Lungs
3. Liver
4. Kidney
Think – Pair – Share:
Can you guess how these
structures are a part of the
excretory system?
 Skin
Wastes such as excess
water, salt, urea and uric
acid are removed from the
body in sweat
Skin Structure
 Epidermis (Outer Layer)
 Tightly packed epithelial cells.
 Deepest portion is rapidly
dividing.
 As they push farther and farther
from Dermis, they received less
and less nourishment.
 Before dying, they produce
Keratin: tough water proof
protein
 Wears away, replaced by new
cells.
 Protects Dermis.
 Dermis
 Made of elastic connective tissue
 Binds to the muscle and bone beneath it.
 Contains: blood vessels, lymph vessels, nerves,
sense receptors, sebaceous glands, sweat glands,
hair follicles.

Subcutaneous Layer

 Adipose ( fat-storing) Cells

 Lungs
Excess carbon
dioxide and water
vapor waste is
removed from the
body when we exhale
 Liver
The liver is a part
of what other
system?

The digestive
system
 The liver has many functions, including (but
not limited to):
1. Produce substances that break down fats
2. Produce urea (the main substance of urine)
3. Make certain amino acids (the building blocks of
proteins)
4. Filter harmful substances from the blood (such as
alcohol)
5. The liver is also responsible for producing
cholesterol. It produces about 80% of the
cholesterol in your body.
 Bile is made by the
liver.
– Contains bile salts,
cholesterol, part of
hemoglobin (worn out
RBC)
– Some of these products
are metabolic waste.
 KIDNEY
Functions of the Kidneys
1. Filter blood plasma, separate 2. Regulate blood volume and
wastes, return useful materials osmolarity.
to the blood, and eliminate the
wastes.
3. Produce hormones
 renin
 erythropoietin
 calcitrol
4. Regulate acid-base
balance of the body
fluids.
5. Detoxify
superoxides, free
radicals, and drugs
 The kidney contains 1.2 million nephrons,
The Nephron which are the functional units of the kidney.
A nephron consists of :

 Blood vessels
afferent arteriole
glomerulus
efferent arteriole

 Renal tubules
proximal convoluted tubule
loop of Henle
distal convoluted tubule

Most
components of
the nephron
are within the
cortex
The glomerulus is enclosed in a two-layered
glomerular (Bowman's) capsule.

Proximal
tubule
The kidney produces urine through 4 steps
URINE FORMATION
 Summary of Urine Formation in Kidney
Process name Place Process occurs Product
Filtration Glomerulus Filter blood Primary Urine, contain:
- Water
- Glucose
- Amino acid
- Na+
- Urea
- Uric acid

Reabsorbtion Proximal convoluted Reabsorb or absorb Secondary Urine, contain:

Tubule (PCT) back materials that - Water
still needed by - Urea
body: - Uric acid
 Glucose
 Amino Acid
 Na+

Augmentation/ Distal Convoluted Adding substances The real urine, contain:

secretion Tubule (DCT) that unnecessary - Water
for body: - Urea
 NH3 - Uric acid
 H+ ions - NH3
 K+ - H+ ions
- K+