EXCRETORY

• What is excretion?

  Process of removing metabolic wastes
• What is the purpose of osmoregulation?

  Regulation of water and solute balance
• What is an osmoregulator?

  Organism that actively regulates osmotic balance
• How does an osmoregulator differ from an osmoregulator?

  An osmoregulator actively regulates osmotic balance
• What is anhydrobiosis?

  Dormant state allowing survival during desiccation
• What are the excretory organs across different animals?

  • Protonephridia: Flame-bulb structures in flatworms
  • Metanephridia: Excretory tubules in annelids
  • Malpighian tubules: Excretory organs in insects
  • Kidneys: Excretory organs in vertebrates
• What is the primary function of kidneys in humans?

  Filter blood and remove wastes
• What are ureters?

  Tubes carrying urine from kidneys to bladder
• What is the function of the urinary bladder?

  Stores urine
• What is the urethra's role in the urinary system?

  Carries urine outside the body
• What is the renal cortex?

  Outer region of the kidney
• What does the renal medulla contain?

  Nephron loops
• What is the renal pelvis?

  Funnel-shaped chamber collecting urine
• What is a nephron?

  Functional unit of the kidney
• What is the role of Bowman’s capsule?

  Collects filtrate around glomerulus
• Where does filtration occur in the nephron?

  In the glomerulus
• What is the function of the proximal tubule?

  Reabsorbs nutrients, ions, and water
• What is the role of the Loop of Henle?

  Maintains osmotic gradient in the kidney
• How does the distal tubule function?

  Regulates ion balance, pH, and water
• What is the function of the collecting duct?

  Final urine concentration regulated by ADH
• What is ammonia in terms of nitrogenous waste?

  Toxic waste excreted by aquatic animals
• What is urea?

  Less toxic waste excreted by mammals
• What is uric acid?

  Paste-like waste excreted by birds
• What are the steps in the formation of urine?

  1. Filtration: Blood plasma forced into nephron
  2. Reabsorption: Valuable solutes and water returned to blood
  3. Secretion: Additional wastes transported into tubule
  4. Excretion: Urine expelled from body
• What is the role of ADH in the urinary system?

  Increases water reabsorption in collecting ducts
• What does aldosterone do?

  Increases sodium reabsorption, water follows
• What is the RAAS system?

  Hormonal system raising blood pressure
• What does ANP do?

  Lowers blood pressure by inhibiting renin
• What are kidney stones?

  Crystals blocking urinary tract
• What is a urinary tract infection (UTI)?

  Infection of urinary organs
• What is kidney failure?

  Loss of filtering capacity of kidneys
• What is dialysis?

  Artificial removal of wastes from blood