EXCRETORY SYSTEM

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Functions of the Excretory System

Regulates the compositions of the body fluids by removing metabolic wastes and
retaining the proper amounts of water, salts and nutrients.
Regulation of the water and proper pH content of the blood.
Retention of important nutrients such as glucose and amino acids in the blood.
Secretion/Production of hormones, such as
Renin is responsible for keeping blood pressure in check.
Erythropoietin controls a bodys volume of blood. When the level drops below
what is considered acceptable, this hormone springs into action and sends a
message to your bone marrow to make more red blood cells.
Calcitriol helps maintain the necessary amount of calcium by helping to absorb
this element from food and fluid intake. This hormones primary purpose is to
create a normal chemical balance as well as to keep bones strong.
Elimination of cellular waste products such as urea, uric acid, creatinine, phosphate etc.

ORGANS OF EXCRETION
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Lungs (carbon dioxide and water)

Skin (some salts and organic substances)
Large Intestines (water, salts, microorganisms and undigested food)
Liver (bile salts, bilirubin pigments)
Kidney (main organ for excretion of urine)

Parts of the Excretory (Urinary) System

The urinary system is composed of the following parts:

1. two kidneys
2. two tubes called ureters
3. one urinary bladder
4. another tube called the urethra.
Kidneys are shaped like small beans, which are no bigger than your fist. - a pair of reddishbrown, bean-shaped organ located on each side of the vertebral column, just behind the
peritoneum (retroperitoneal condition) of the abdominal wall.
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They are located on either side of our backbone under the ribcage. In humansthe
kidneys are located in the posterior part of the abdomen.
There is one on each side of the spine; the right kidney sits just below the liver, the
left below the diaphragm and adjacent to the spleen.
In a normal human adult, each kidney is about 11 cm long and about 5 cm thick,
weighing 150 grams.
Above each kidney is an adrenal gland (also called the suprarenal gland). The asymmetry within
the abdominal cavity caused by the liver results in the right kidney to be slightly lower than the
left one.
Parts of the Kidney

1. Nephrons The nephron is the basic unit of renal structure and function:
Filtering the blood is the responsibility of about one million nephrons located in each
kidney. These serve as the primary tool behind your kidney function.
Nephrons use a glomerulus and a tubule to conduct the filtering process.
It has Bowman's capsule with series of tubules starting with the proximal tubule and
followed by the loop of Henle, the distal tubule, and ending in the collecting ducts.
There are approximately 1 million nephrons per kidney

First, the blood comes into the kidney through the renal artery and leaves in the renal vein,
traveling on the same flow as blood that goes in and out of the heart.
MAJOR PROCESSES

Filtration the process where the materials of the blood are forced out of the
glomerulus and into the Bowmans capsule.

Reabsorption process of absorbing again, as the selective absorption by the kidneys

of substances already secreted into the renal tubules and their return to the circulating
blood.

Secretion the process of segregating, elaborating, and releasing chemicals from a

cell, or a secreted chemical substance or amount of substance.

The urine travels through tubes called ureters into the bladder. It is here in the bladder
where urine is stored until it is excreted out when you go to the bathroom. Normal kidney
function produces one liter of urine from approximately 1,000 liters of blood that is
processed by these two tiny organs.
Smooth muscular tissue in the walls of the ureters peristaltically force the urine
downward.
Small amounts of urine are emptied into the bladder from the ureters about every 10 to 15
seconds.
2. Urinary Bladder - Hollow muscular organ that temporarily stores the urine until it is
excreted through the urethra. It can hold up to 16 fluid ounces (500ml.) of urine comfortably for
2 to 5 hrs. It has Sphincters (circular muscles) regulate the flow of urine from the bladder.
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Urethra - This is a hin walled tube of smooth muscle that transport urine outside the body
during micturition.
a. Female Urethra shorter and straight and exclusively belong to Urinary system.
b. Male Urethra longer and S-shaped and belonging to both excretory and reproductive
system.
- common pathway of urine and sperm.