3.6- shortened edition

• Excretory System

  Responsible for removing waste products from the body and maintaining a stable internal environment
• Waste Removal

  Eliminating waste products produced by the body's metabolic processes
• Maintaining Fluid Balance

  Regulating the balance of water and electrolytes in the body
• Acid-Base Balance

  Maintaining the pH balance of the body fluids
• Removal of Nitrogenous Waste

  Eliminating nitrogenous waste, such as urea, from the body
• Regulation of Blood Pressure

  Helping regulate blood pressure by controlling the volume of blood and the concentration of electrolytes
• Kidney Function

  The vital functions performed by the kidneys
• Filtration

  The process of filtering waste products, excess salts, and toxins from the blood
• Reabsorption

  The process of selectively reabsorbing essential substances back into the bloodstream
• Secretion

  The process of actively transporting certain substances into the renal tubules for elimination
• Regulation of Water and Electrolyte Balance

  The process of regulating the concentration of water and electrolytes in the body
• Nephron Function

  The crucial functions performed by the nephron
• Glomerular Filtration

  The process of filtering water, electrolytes, and waste products out of the glomerulus into the renal tubules
• Tubular Reabsorption

  The process of selectively reabsorbing essential substances back into the bloodstream from the renal tubules
• Tubular Secretion

  The process of actively transporting substances from the blood into the renal tubules for elimination
• Concentration and Dilution

  The process of concentrating or diluting urine to regulate the body's fluid balance
• Countercurrent Flow in the Nephron

  The flow of fluid in opposite directions in adjacent segments of the nephron
• Loop of Henle

  The part of the nephron responsible for countercurrent multiplication and urine concentration
• Vasa Recta

  Blood vessels that run parallel to the loop of Henle and help maintain the concentration gradient
• Additional Excretory Organs in the Body

  Other organs involved in the excretory process
• Lungs

  Eliminating carbon dioxide through exhalation
• Skin

  Eliminating waste products through sweat
• Liver

  Breaking down toxic substances and converting them into water-soluble compounds for excretion
• Intestines

  Eliminating undigested and unabsorbed waste materials in the form of feces
• Organs Seen in the Kidney and Nephron

  The specific organs present in the kidney and nephron
• Cortex

  The outer region of the kidney responsible for filtering the blood
• Medulla

  The inner region of the kidney involved in maintaining the concentration gradient
• Renal Pelvis

  The structure that collects urine from the nephrons and transports it to the ureter
• Renal Artery and Vein

  Blood vessels responsible for supplying and carrying blood to and from the kidney
• Ureter

  The tube that carries urine from the kidney to the urinary bladder
• Glomerulus

  A network of tiny blood vessels responsible for filtering blood in the renal cortex
• Bowman's Capsule

  The cup-like structure surrounding the glomerulus that collects the filtrate
• Proximal Convoluted Tubule (PCT)

  The first segment of the renal tubule responsible for reabsorption
• Loop of Henle

  A U-shaped structure that concentrates urine and maintains the concentration gradient
• Distal Convoluted Tubule (DCT)

  The second segment of the renal tubule responsible for further reabsorption and acid-base balance
• Collecting Duct

  The structure that receives filtrate from multiple nephrons and carries it to the renal pelvis