Welcome to your

final year on the

IGCSE Biology
course!
Week 1 IGCSE Biology Learn Lesson
Title - Excretion
Textbook pages – 104-111
 LEARNING OBJECTIVES

• 2.70 understand the origin of carbon dioxide and oxygen as waste products of
metabolism and their loss from the stomata of a leaf

• 2.71 know the excretory products of the lungs, kidneys and skin (organs of
excretion)

• 2.72B understand how the kidney carries out its roles of

excretion and osmoregulation

• 2.73B describe the structure of the urinary system, including

the kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra
Very useful link you should save to your
bookmarks

Link includes:
- IGCSE Specification
- Biology core practical guide
- Practical Terminology
- Exam command word meanings
- Maths skills needed for the exam
- Maths for Scientists guide
- Revision books
- Where you can find past papers
 Biology qualification content summary
Yellow – Year 10
5 topic areas in the specification: Pink – Year 11

Nature and variety Structures and Reproduction and Ecology and the Use of
of living functions in living inheritance: environment: biological
organisms: organisms:  Reproduction  Organisms in resources:
 Characteristics  Organisation  Inheritance environment  Food
of living  Cell structure  Feeding productio
organisms relationships n
 Bio molecules
 Variety of living  Cycles within  Selective
 Movement in
organisms ecosystems breeding
and out of cells
 Human  Genetic
 Nutrition
influences on modification
 Respiration
environment  Cloning
 Gas exchange
 Transport
 Excretion
 Coordination
and response
 Assessment Objectives

AO1 AO2 AO3

Knowledge and Application of Experimental skills,
understanding of knowledge and analysis and
biology understanding, evaluation of data
analysis and and methods in
evaluation of biolog y biology

40% 40% 20%

of total marks of total marks of total marks
 Exam Summary

Two hours; 110 marks

Paper will not include the specification statements
printed in bold.
1

One hour and 15 minutes; 70 marks

Paper includes all the specification statements,
2 including those printed in bold.

Click to download the specification Both papers will The AO3 questions
contain are likely to be in a
a mixture of AO1, practical context
AO2 and AO3
 What is
excretion?

Post your answers in the poll

xcretion

Excretion is the removal of metabolic waste.

○ Waste is the by-product of chemical reactions.
○ Waste products must be removed from the body as they are
toxic.
○ Plants and animals both excrete waste products.
The main products that must be excreted in a plant is carbon dioxide
and oxygen.
○ CO 2 is a by-product of aerobic respiration.
○ O 2 is a by-product of photosynthesis.
These gases are excreted through the stomata on the underside of the
leaf.
The lungs remove CO2 from the body.
Humans have a number of specialised organs for
excretion…

The lungs remove CO 2 from the body.

○ During ventilation, O 2 is drawn into the lungs and CO 2 is forced
out.
○ CO 2 is a metabolic waste product of aerobic respiration.
The kidneys remove water, salts and urea from the body.
○ When combined this is referred to as urine.
○ Urea is a waste product of protein breakdown.
The skin removes water and salts from the body.
○ These are excreted through sweat glands.
Summary
Exam tip!

Excretion and egestion are two

terms that often get confused:
• Excretion is the removal
from the body of waste
products of metabolic
reactions, toxic substances
and substances in excess of
requirements
• Egestion is the expulsion of
undigested food waste from
the anus
The Kidneys

The kidneys are an excretory organ.

• They filter the blood and remove toxic compounds like
urea.
The kidneys are also a homeostatic organ.
• The kidneys regulate the amount of water in the blood,
the lymph and the cytoplasm of cells.
• This is referred to as osmoregulation.
• The water content of the body is controlled by a hormone
called antidiuretic hormone (ADH).
he Urinary System

Note the difference between the two ureters and the single urethra .
Fun Facts!

1. The bladder is as big as your brain

2. The kidneys are half the size of your bladder
3. The ureter is the size of a piece of spaghetti
The Kidneys

• The kidneys are bean shaped organs that remove

several substances from the body:
• Urea.
• Excess salts.
• Excess water.
• When combined, these substances are collectively
referred to as urine.
• Urine passes out of the kidney, through the two
ureters to the bladder.
• Urine is stored in the bladder.
• Urine is then passed out of the body through the
urethra in urination.
 Think about…

3 things you have learnt today

2 keywords you can remember

1 question you still have

 LESSON COMPLETE!
SEE YOU NEXT LESSON