Excretion handout

Human and Social Biology
The Excretory System

Handout
Grade 11
Excretion
Objectives
At the end of the lesson, students will be able to:
1. Define the term excretion from memory with at least 90% accuracy
2. Discuss the importance of excretion in human beings after class discussion with at least 80%
accuracy
3. Explain the roles of the organs involved in excretion, using information from handout and
video presentation with at least 80% accuracy
4. Relate the structures of the kidney to their function using handout and information from class
discussions with at least 90% accuracy
5. Describe the structure and function of the Nephron using information acquired from
excretory system handout
6. Explain the concept of selective reabsorption in the Nephron from memory without error
7. List the components of urine from memory
8. Give examples of metabolic waste from memory
9. Label a diagram of a cross-section through a nephron from memory without error
10. Demonstrate and understanding of the process and importance of renal dialysis after
watching videos and using information accrued through discovery learning
Content
Excretion is the elimination of metabolic waste from the body.
NB: Metabolic waste are waste that are made in the body as a result of chemical reactions
Importance of Excretion in Human Beings

The wastes excreted from the body are toxic (poisonous). If they are not removed from the body,
they will damage body tissues. Therefore, excretion is very important in human beings because it
helps the body two get rid of these toxic wastes, preventing damage to body tissues and enabling
the cells in the body to function efficiently.
Roles of Organs Involved In Excretion
The main organs involved in excretion are:
1
1. The kidney
2. The lungs
3. The skin
The Main Organs Involved In Excretion and Their Products
Organs Excretory Products Metabolic waste

Kidney Urea, water, salt Urine
Lungs Carbon dioxide, water vapour Expired air

Skin Water, salts traces of urea sweat
Structures of the Kidney

The kidney has three main areas. The outer layer is called the cortex. It has a dark colour because
it is full of blood vessels. The inner layer called the medulla is pink because it has fewer blood
vessels and the pelvic which is a white region at the top of the ureter.
Diagram of the internal structure of the kidney
Cortex – The outer darker layer of the kidney. Filters small molecules from the blood
Medulla – Helps to control the water content in the blood
Renal vein – Carries blood back to the inferior vena cava
Renal Artery – carries blood into the kidney from the aorta
Ureter – carries urine from the kidney to the bladder
Pelvis – Collects urine from all the collecting ducts
Pyramid –Part of the medulla in which urine drains into the pelvic
2
Structure and Function of the Nephron
Each kidney contains about one million tiny tubules called Nephrons. It is in these nephrons that
blood is filtered and urine formed.
The nephron is composed of a long tube, with two coiled regions. In between the two coiled
parts is a long loop called the loop of henle. One end of the nephron has a cup-like shape called
the bowman’s capsule, enclosing a nut of blood capillaries called the glomerus. The other end
leads into a larger tube, called the collecting duct which passes down into the pyramid.
Diagram of a single Kidney Tubule (nephron)
Two main processes take place in the nephron:
1. Ultrafiltration of blood plasma from the glomerulus into the bowman’s capsule
2. Selective reabsorption from the nephron into the blood capillaries around them
NB: Filtration is a process which separates particles of different sizes. The term ultrafiltration is
used when small particles are filtered under high pressure.
The process of ultrafiltration
Blood in the glomerulus is under high pressure. This is because the blood vessel entering the
glomerulus (afferent blood vessel) has a larger internal diameter than the vessel leaving the
glomerus (efferent blood vessel), creating a build-up of high pressure in the glomerus capillaries.
Like all capillaries, the walls of those in the glomerulus possess small pores (holes).
The membrane lining the inner surface of the Bowman’s capsule also has small pores. The
pressure inside the glomerular capillaries forces substances that are small enough to get through
these pores from the blood into the Bowman’s capsule. This is called ultrafiltration.
3
The mixture of the small molecules and ion which forms inside the Bowman’s capsule is called
ultrafiltrate. It normally contains mainly water with dissolved amino acids, glucose, mineral
salts and urea. Red blood cells and large molecules such as proteins remain in the bloodstream.
Selective Reabsorption
 Selective reabsorption is reabsorption of wanted substances from the nephron, back into the
blood.
The process of selective reabsorption
As the ultrafiltrate passes through the proximal convoluted tubule (first coiled tubule), the cells
lining this part of the tubule absorbs 70% water, all the glucose, some salts and some amino
acids and pass them back into the bloodstream.
As it passes through the loop of henle, more water is reabsorbed. The ultrafiltrate then passes
through the distal convoluted tubule (second coiled tubule) where mineral salts and water is
reabsorbed into the capillary.
NB: The amount of water reabsorbed by both tubules depends on the amount of water in the
blood. If the blood is very dilute, for example after drinking large amount of fluids, less water is
reabsorbed from the ultrafiltrate resulting in a greater quantity of dilute urine. If the blood is too
concentrated, for example after excessive sweating or eating large amount of salty food, more
water is reabsorbed, resulting in a lesser quantity of more concentrated urine.
Diagram Showing Summary of ultrafiltration and selective reabsorption
Function of the kidneys
The kidneys have four main roles:
1. They are the main excretory organs for waste products such as urea.
2. They play a role in regulating the water content of the body (osmoregulation)
4
3. They forms urine
4. They get rid of excess water
The normal composition of urine
 Water – 95.0% Chloride – 0.60%

 Uric acid – 0.05% Sodium – 0.35%
 Urea- 2.0%
The Process and Importance of Renal Dialysis
Renal dialysis is a medical procedure used to replicate the function of healthy kidneys in people
with kidney failure. It removes waste products, excess water, and toxins from the blood,
balancing essential electrolytes like sodium, potassium, and calcium.
There are two main types of dialysis:
1. Hemodialysis: Blood is filtered outside the body using a dialysis machine. The blood is
passed through a dialyzer, where waste is filtered out, and then the cleaned blood is
returned to the body.
2. Peritoneal dialysis: The lining of the abdomen (the peritoneum) acts as a natural filter. A
cleansing fluid is introduced into the abdominal cavity, where it absorbs waste, and then
is drained out.
Importance:
 Waste Removal: Dialysis helps remove harmful waste and toxins that accumulate when
the kidneys cannot function properly.
 Regulating Fluid and Electrolytes: It maintains a balance of essential chemicals and
removes excess fluid, preventing complications like swelling and high blood pressure.
 Prevents Complications: By doing the job of failing kidneys, dialysis helps prevent life-
threatening conditions like uremia (a buildup of toxins in the blood), and helps maintain
overall body function.

Excretion handout

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Excretion handout

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Excretion handout

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Human and Social Biology

The Excretory System

Excretion is the elimination of metabolic waste from the body.

Importance of Excretion in Human Beings

Roles of Organs Involved In Excretion

The main organs involved in excretion are:

The Main Organs Involved In Excretion and Their Products

Organs Excretory Products Metabolic waste

Lungs Carbon dioxide, water vapour Expired air

Structures of the Kidney

Diagram of the internal structure of the kidney

Medulla – Helps to control the water content in the blood

Renal vein – Carries blood back to the inferior vena cava

Ureter – carries urine from the kidney to the bladder

Pelvis – Collects urine from all the collecting ducts

Diagram of a single Kidney Tubule (nephron)

Two main processes take place in the nephron:

The process of ultrafiltration

The process of selective reabsorption

Diagram Showing Summary of ultrafiltration and selective reabsorption

Function of the kidneys

The kidneys have four main roles:

The normal composition of urine

 Water – 95.0% Chloride – 0.60%

The Process and Importance of Renal Dialysis

balancing essential electrolytes like sodium, potassium, and calcium.

There are two main types of dialysis:

returned to the body.

the kidneys cannot function properly.

 Regulating Fluid and Electrolytes: It maintains a balance of essential chemicals and

overall body function.

You might also like