Chapter 3: Excretion

3.1 Human Excretion

1. Excretion-Process of removing waste products, produced during chemical processes in the cells.
2.
Carbon dioxide Increase the acidity of the blood
Urea Become toxic if left to accumulate in the body
Sweat Skin disease
3. Excretion of excess water and mineral salts by the kidneys helps to maintain the chemical composition,
water and pH balance of the body system.
3.2 The Urinary System in Humans

Kidney Extracts waste products such as excess water,

mineral salts and urea from the blood; forms urine
Ureter Carries urine from the kidney to the urinary bladder
Bladder Stores urine
Utrehtra A short tube which release urine from the bladder

Medulla The inner pale-red layer Capsule A tough membrane

of the kidney which protects the
kidney
Renal vein Carries deoxygenated Cortex The outer dark-red layer
blood away from the of the kidney
kidney
Renal artery A blood vessel which Pelvis A funnel-shaped cavity
brings oxygenated blood which joins the tubules
to the kidney in the pyramids to the
ureter.

Functions of the Kidneys

Filter wastes from the blood

Regulate the water balance in the body
Regulate the chemical balance in the body
a) If the body system has too much water,
reabsorption of water will be less. The
urine produced will be dilute.
b) When our body needs more water, more
water will be reabsorbed into the blood
.The urine produced will be very
concentrated
a) The blood vessel that brings blood
containing waste products to the kidneys is
the renal artery.
 b) The blood vessel that carries ‘clean’ blood
away from the kidneys is the renal vein.
c) Substances that pass from the blood into
the kidneys are urea, glucose, amino, acids,
mineral salts and water.
d) Protein cannot pass from the blood into the
kidneys. The protein molecules are too
large.
e) Substances which are reabsorbed into the
blood from the kidneys are glucose and
amino acids. Both these substances are not
found in the urine. These substances are
required by the body. Glucose is an energy
source and amino acids are needed for
body building.
f) The urine contains mineral salts, water and
urea.
The Importance of Maintaining Healthy Kidneys
1. The kidney is a relatively strong organ. However ,we need to protect our kidneys from damage.
2. (a) Our food may contain toxic substances such as mercury, lead, arsenic and insecticides. These
substances can damage the kidneys.
(b) Food that is too salty and sweet is also bad for the kidneys.
3. To have healthy kidneys, we should drink plenty of water and consume less salt and sugar.
4. Too much sugar in our blood will ultimately cause diabetes.
5. We should drink eight glasses of plain water daily. Regular exercises will help improve the blood
circulation to and from the kidneys.
6. Kidneys may also be damaged by infections. Usually, infections begin in the bladder. However,
infections may spread to the ureter and kidneys.
Dialysis
1. Kidney failure can be treated through dialysis or kidney transplant.
2. Dialysis is a more common treatment for kidney failure and is carried out with the use of a machine.
3. Dialysis is a technique of separating particles of different sizes in a liquid mixture. In dialysis, blood
is filtered through an artificial membrane in the dialysis machine.
3.3 Excretion in Plants
1. The waste products of plants are removed in different ways by different plants.
2. Gaseous waste products such as co2 and o2 are removed through the stomata by diffusion.
3. Complex waste products (e.g. resin) accumulate in the certain parts of the plant (e.g. the bark and
the leaves). When these parts wither and fall off, the waste products are removed from the plants.

Excretion in plants

Process which produce excretory products

Photosynthesis Call respiration Chemical synthesis

Excretory

Oxygen Carbon dioxide Water Complex waste products

Method of excretion
 Diffusion Diffusion Transpiration Shedding of the parts which
Through through the through the have the accumulated waste
The stomata stomata stomata products

Useful complex waste products from plants

Waste products Source Use
Latex Stem of rubber tree fm tyres, mattresses, soles of
shoes and hand gloves
Oil Eucalyptus leaves, rose petals, fm perfume, ointment n medical
orange peels, olive fruit oils
Tannin Bark of mangrove, tea leaves Fm ink n softening leather
Resin Stem of pine tree Fm varnish and gum
Quinine Bark of cinchona tree Fm medicine for treatment of
malaria
opium Fruit of poppy plant For making morphine which
relieves pain

Harmful complex waste products from plants

Nicotine Tobacco leaves Addictive; corrodes the
respiratory passage: can cause
lung cancer
Cocaine Leaves of coca plant Addictive; damages health
Caffeine Coffee beans Addictive; it is a stimulant and
keeps a person awake
Opium(heroin) Poppy fruit Addictive; used for preparing
heroin which slows down a
person’s reaction
ganja Leaves of cannabis plant or` Addictive; calms a person; disturb
Indian hemp’ a person’ s memory and body
coordination