EXCRETION

D. Flanigan
 Excretion
Theremoval of metabolic
wastes from the body.

NB.
This is not excretion!
 EGESTION
The elimination of undigested food
material (faeces).

 Do not confused excretion

with egestion!
 EXCRETORY PRODUCTS

In Plants In animals
 Carbon dioxide  Carbon dioxide
 Oxygen  Water
 Calcium oxalate  Excess salts
 Others, e.g. tannin  urea
 Carbon dioxide Oxygen
 A by-product of  In plants it is a by-product
respiration. of photosynthesis. Some is
(plants and animals) used for respiration but
the excess is removed
 Its accumulation lowers through the leaves by
the pH in cells forming diffusion.
carbonic acid.
 Plants use it in the day for
photosynthesis but any
excess is removed by
diffusion.
Water
 A by-product of respiration.
 Even though it is useful,
concentration in cells must be
kept in narrow limits.
 In animals, excess is lost
through respiratory surfaces.
Some is lost through the skin
as sweat. Most is lost through
the kidney.
Urea
 This is produced from the
break-down of amino acids
which cannot be stored
because it is toxic. This
process is called deamination
and takes place in the liver.
 Other nitrogenous
compounds such as uric acid,
are removed by the kidneys.
Calcium oxalate
 One of the waste materials produced by plants.
 It is stored as insoluble crystals in leaves, stems, roots,
flowers, fruits, seeds or the bark of older plants. The
wastes are lost when the structures are shed.

Others.
Some waste products have useful functions
• Protection from animals: Oleander stores a white milky
substance that is poisonous.
• Oils in citrus may attract animals which aid in dispersal.
 THE KIDNEY
STRUCTURE
 There are two kidneys located towards the back of the
lower abdominal cavity. They are dark red, kidney bean-
shaped organs. The right kidney is slightly lower than the
left because of the large are occupied by the liver.
 Oxygenated blood is supplied to the kidney be the renal
artery.
 Deoxygenated blood leaves the kidneys through the renal
vein.
 The blood vessels along with a third vessel, called the
ureter, leaves the kidney at the point called the hilum.
 Function of the kidney
There are two basic functions:

 Removal of metabolic waste

 Osmoregulation

 Both tasks assist in maintaining a constant internal

environment within the body.
Internal Structure of the kidney
There are several layers;
1. A thin outer fibrous layer which
is protective.
2. Cortex. It has a smooth texture.
3. Medulla. Consists of triangular
structures called pyramids which
are striated in appearance. The
striation is a result from the
presence of straight tubules and
blood vessels.
4. Renal Pelvis. The tubules drain
into the renal pelvis.
The Nephron
 The nephron is the functional unit of
the kidney.
 It is a long tube which runs from the
cortex into the medulla and back
again.
The parts of the nephron are:-
 Bowman’s capsule
 First convoluted tubule/ First
convolution
 Loop of Henle
 Second convoluted tubule/ second
convolution
 * Collecting duct
 URINE PRODUCTION
 Theafferent arteriole receives
blood from the renal artery. The
blood is rich in food substances
(such as glucose, fatty acids,
vitamins and amino-acids),
serum proteins (such as albumen
and globulin), metabolism
wastes and other substances
(such as excess salts)
 OSMOREGULATION
 This is the regulation of the concentration of blood plasma and body fluids.
 This important because too much fluid will cause the cells burst and too little will cause dehydration
and shrinkage.

Organisms gain water through:

 Osmosis ( plant roots and fresh water animals)
 In food and drink (animals)
 By-product of respiration

Organisms lose water through:

 Urination
 Evaporation (sweat and transpiration)
 Osmosis (marine organisms)
 Breathing
 Speaking
 Tears
 OSMOREGULATION
 In mammals, the kidney regulates the amount of water
and salts in the blood. This is controlled by the hormone
ADH (antidiuretic hormone)

 Homeostasis is the term used to for the ability to maintain

a constant internal environment.
 Why is this important?
 Enzymes are sensitive to changes in their environment and require
a constant state to work efficiently. Elimination of wastes such as
urea is also important for maintaining ideal conditions for enzyme
action.
 Kidney Failure and Dialysis
 Kidneys fail because of damage or
infection.
 The nephrons stop functioning properly
resulting in blood volume and composition
not being regulated, and wastes build up in
the blood.
 High concentration of wastes, especially
urea, is toxic and leads to death.

 Treatment
 Kidney transplant
 dialysis
 SYMPTOMS
If kidneys begin to fail If kidneys top working suddenly.
 Itching  Abdominal (belly) pain
 Muscle cramps  Back pain
 Nausea and vomiting  Diarrhea
 Not feeling hungry
 Fever
 Swelling in your feet and
ankles  Nosebleeds
 Too much urine (pee) or not  Rash
enough urine  Vomiting
 Trouble catching your breath
 Trouble sleeping
 Dialysis
 Dialysisis a method used to separate the
wastes from the blood with the use of a
machine. The machine is called a dialysis
machine.
 Using treatment, blood flows through a
tube made of selectively permeable
membrane. The tube is surrounded by
dialysis fluid that has the same
concentration as blood. Excess wastes in
the blood diffuses into the fluid.
 Treatment must be done very few days (3
times a week) and lasts 4 – 10 hours each.
 Adaptation of plants to control water.
(Home work)

 Next week: transport in plants