Excretory System

• maintaining homeostasis is done by removing metabolic waste/toxins from your body and regulating blood volume
• the major organs in the excretory system are: lungs, liver, and the kidneys
• loop of henle reabsorbs water, salt and sugar to keep body fluids isotonic to the cell.
• nephron - a structure in the kidney that is responsible for the filtration of blood
• proximal tubule reabsorbs ions, water and nutrients; it removes toxins and adjusts filtrate pH
• renal artery carries "dirty blood" into the nephron
• renal vein carries "clean blood" out of the nephron
• distal tubule selectively secretes and absorbs different ions to maintain blood pH
• bowman's capsule is used as a covering for the glomerulus that filters our urea, salt, sugar, water and drugs out of the blood in the nephron
• connecting duct reabsorbs solutes and water from the filtrate. it is the ending of removing toxins from the waste so the remaining waste turns into urine which is sent down the ureter.
• ascending loop of henle reabsorbes NA+ and CL- ions from the filtrate into the interstital fluids
• descending loop of henle has aquaporins that allow water to pass from the filtrate into the interstitial fluids
• glomerulus are the tiny blood vessels that filter the blood and remove waste products