Maintaining nitrogen balances in the body

• Homeostasis is the regulation of internal conditions inside cells or organisms to create the optimum conditions for biological function
• Maintaining nitrogen balance in the body
• The digestion of proteins from the diet results in excess amino acids that need to be excreted safely
• In the liver, amino acids are deaminated to form ammonia, which is toxic and immediately converted to urea for safe excretion
• Excess ammonia is converted to urea in the liver and released into the bloodstream to be transported to the kidneys for excretion in urine
• The body is unable to store proteins or amino acids
• Proteins are broken down by protease enzymes into amino acids in the stomach and small intestine
• The liver controls the amino acid concentration in the body and ensures excess amino acids are excreted safely
• Urea is a nitrogenous waste product resulting from the breakdown of proteins and is excreted in urine
• Urea and water are released from the liver cells into the bloodstream and transported to the kidneys for excretion
• Ammonia is a gas at room temperature but dissolves in water to form an alkaline solution
• Ammonia is toxic and must be converted to urea for safe excretion