Chapter # 3                                                                                                                                                             IX 

BIO 

EXCRETION

All organisms carry out hundred of reaction in their bodies. During these reactions some compounds
are synthesized and some compounds break down. The synthesis and breakdown of compounds is
collectively knows as Metabolism.
The Metabolism can be divided into.
a) Catabolism
b) Anabolism

a) Catabolism: It is the braking down of complex organic molecules in order to obtain energy.
b) Anabolism: It is the synthesis of complex compounds from simple ones.

It contains reaction of carbohydrates, proteins and lipids are broken down to generate chemical
energy in the form of ATP molecules.
Carbohydrates + O2 Æ CO2 + H2O + Energy
Proteins + O2 Æ CO2 + H2O + NH3 + Energy
Lipids + O2 Æ CO2 + H2O + Energy.

Carbon dioxide, water and ammonia are formed in these reactions. These are the waste product
and must be removed from the body as soon as possible.
The process of removing waste product is known as excretion.

6 Excretion in Plants:-
In plants the area of carbolic process is slow and waste products are produced in less amount.
These products are not accumulated in plant body, they are used again in their anabolic process.
In plants the nitrogenous waste produce are also used in the chemical process, they are not
removed from the body.
The substances which are produced in excess amount are:
a) Water
b) CO2 & O2
c) Ions

A) Removal of Water:
Extra amount of water is removed from the body of plants by two methods.

i) Transpiration:-
When extra amount of water is removed from the body of plants in the form of vapors is
called transpiration. Mostly transpiration takes place through stomata of leaves.

ii) Guttation:-
When water is removed from plant body in the forms of small drops, the process is called
guttation. Guttation occurs by special openings called hydathodes. These are openings without
guard cells present on the tip or margin of leaves.

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B) Release of Oxygen (O2) and Carbon Dioxide (CO2):

In the process of sunlight the plant use CO2 for photosynthesis and release O2 but in the
absence of light there is no photosynthesis and during respiration the plants use O2 and release CO2.

C) Ions:
In the body of plants the excess amount of ions are combined with organic compounds, such
as deposited in dead cells of the body such as heart wood and bark or some times in other cells of
the body.

Latex, Resins and Gums:

In some plants the products like latex, resins and gums are secreted in special canals or ducts
present in the plant body. Such products are not ordinarily exerted from the plant, but they tickle
out (leak slowly) of the plant when some part of it is damaged.

Example:
Latex: This is the milky juice found in the latex cells and latex vessels. The function of latex is
not clear; perhaps in some way it is associated with nutrition hading a wound and protection
against parasites and animals. Latex is often white and milky as in banyan, peepul, jack, madar,
oleander, Euphorbia sometimes colored. (Yellow, orange or red) as in opium poppy, garden, poppy,
prickly poppy etc.

Resins: These are chemically complex substances mostly found in the stem of the conifers (pine for
example) and occur in abundance in special ducts known as resin – ducts. They are yellowish solids,
insoluble in water but soluble in alcohols, turpentine and methylated spirit. When present in the
wood, resins add to its strength and durability. Resin is the main ingredient of wood varnish.

Example: Acacia Arabica

Gums:
Gums are complex carbohydrates formed in various kinds of plants, being the decomposition
products of cell walls.(cellulose). They are insoluble in alcohol but soluble in water.

EXCRETION IN ANIMALS:
The removal of harmful nitrogenous substances from the body is called excretion. In different
animals various types of nitrogenous compounds are produced, such as ammonia, uric acid, cretin,
trimethyl amine oxide and hypoxanthine. These compounds are produced due to metabolicprocess
in the body. Three compounds ammonia, uric acid and urea are very important.

6 EXCRETION IN AMOEBA:
The excretion take place mostly through general body surface and partly through the
contractile vacuole.
Water is dissolved CO2 and the uric acid is collected from the endoplasm into the contractile vacuole
which gradually increases in size upto a maximum. It slowly moves to the surface and then burst
out. A new vacuole then grows again in the same spot and the process is repeated.

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6 EXCRETION IN PLNARIA:
In Planaria, the excretion of waste nitrogenous products take place by special excretory
organs called flame cells, also called protonephridia
Inside the body, these are two longitudinal excretory trunks, one on either side of the body. They
open to the outside by small pores, known as nephridiopores. Internally these excretory trunks divide
and redivide into a number of small branches, at the end of these branches special cells are present
called flame cells. Flame cells are club, shaped. In their internal cavity many flagella are attached
which perform a movement like flame of candle, soothe cells are called flame cells.
The flame cells absorb all the waste excretory products which are driven to the main branches by
the movement of flame cells. When the excretory products come into the longitudinal excretory
trunks they are removed out of the body through the nephridiopores.

6 EXCRETION IN EARTHWORM:
The excretory system of earthworm consist of small coiled tubes called metanephredia. They
are found in all segment except first and last segment

Structure of Nephridium:
Each nephridium consists of 3 parts:
i- A ciliated funnel or Nephrostome
ii- The main body of nephridium
iii- Nephridiopore.

1) Nephrostome:
A nephrostome is a rounded ciliated funnel which communicates with coelom. It collects
coelomic fluid and transfer it into the main body of the nephridium.

2) Main Body:
It consist of two parts:
a) Coiled tubular part:
The nephrostome opens into this part when fluid moves along the tubule, its cells
reabsorb important substances from it and transfer them into the blood. These
substances are used again by the body. After re-absorption only urine is left.
b) Bladder:
The coiled tubular part opens into a wide part, called bladder. From tubular urine is
transferred into it.

3) Nephridiopore:-
The bladder opens outside by a small pore on the skin. Through this pore urine is excreted
out.

6 EXCRETION IN COCKROACH:
In cockroaches and other insects the harmful nitrogenous products are removed from the
body by a special tube like structures, called malpighian tubules. These tubules are attached to the
anterior part of the ileum which is a part of hind gut. The malpighian tubules are embedded in the
blood (haemolymph). They absorb all nitrogenous substances from the blood and pour them into
ileum. The latter part of tubule reabsorbs important substance, The uric acid when come into
rectum it also reabsorbs water and salts, so uric acid becomes almost dry, then it is excreted out of
the body.

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6 EXCRETION IN VEGETABLES:
Carbon dioxide, mineral salts, urea, cretin, uric acid, bile pigment and excess water or the
waste product in vegetables. The kidney is an organ unique to the vegetables. It is the chief
excretory unit in higher vegetables.

HUMAN URINARY SYSTEM:

The urinary system consists of the following organs.

6 Kidney: Human urinary system consists of a pair of kidneys. Each kidney is bean shaped
reddish brown, attached to the dorsal wall of the abdominal cavity.
The right kidney lie slightly anterior to the left. The depression in the center is called hilus. It provides
a place for the renal artery, renal vein and nerves to enter and leave the kidney. Both
Kidneys are covered by peritoneum.

6 Ureters: From the hilus a white tube arises, known as ureter which passes backward and opens
into urinary bladder.

6 Urinary Bladder: It is thin walled pear shaped wall.

6 Urethra: From urinary bladder a tube like structure is produced called urthra. It takes part in
the excretion of urine.

INTERNAL STRUCTURE OF KIDNEY:

The longitudinal section of kidney consists of 2 regions.

Cortex: Outer dark red regions

Medulla: Inner pale-red regions. Medulla consists of several cone shaped areas called pyramids.
The pyramids into a funnel like space called renal pelius.
Each Kidney is composed of large number of urinary tubules called nephrons.

STRUCTURE OF NEPHRON:
Each nephron consist of 2 parts
1- Glomerules
2- Renal tubule

1- Glomerules: is a cluster of capillaries

2- Renal tubule: The renal tubule is closed at one end, which enlarges called Bowman’s capsule.
The Bowman’s capsule is surrounding the glomerules and both are collectively called renal
corpuscle. The first potion of Bowman’s is twisted upon itself in a very complete way and the
next portion is straight but U – shaped called loope of Henle. The last position of the tubule is
again convoluted and ultimately opens into larger duct.

6 Function of Kidneys:
The main function of the kidney is the urine formation which takes place in three steps.
1) Pressure Filteration:
It takes place in the renal corpuscle. Due to blood pressure, blood is filtered and is called
Bowman’s filterate. It consist of Salt, glucose, urea and uric acid dissolve in water. It trickles
down in the renal tubule.

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2) Selective Reabsorptions:
It takes place by network of capillaries which surrounds the tubule. Firstly, all glucose with
much of water is absorbed and then salts are sent back into the blood.

3) Unnecessary salts together with urea and uric acid will excess water travel down to pelvis
of the kidney; from where it moves to the bladder.

6 OSMOREGULATORY FUNCTION OF KIDNEY:

When the amount of water and minerals in the body cells is maintained in a balanced form
it is called osmoregulation. If blood contains too much water, a small amount of water is reabsorbed
from the renal tubule and more water is left to enter into the bladder a large volume of diluted
urine is produced.
If blood is much concentrated, more water is absorbed back into the blood and small quantity of
concentrated urine is produced. The message for drinking more water is sent to hypothalamus to
restore the blood consistency to its normal concentration. The above mentioned process is called
osmoregulation.

6 KIDNEY FAILURE:
Some times the working of the kidney is badly damaged due to certain reasons or infection.
They are not able to filter the harmful nitrogenous substances it is called Kidney failure.
KIDNEY MACHINES (DIALYSER).
They are two methods of dialysis. Dialysis means the mechanical removal of nitrogenous waste from
the kidney.

1) Arterial Blood Dialysis (Haemodialysis) :

In this, an artificial Kidney machine is used which is called dialyser. It consist of a tank of
sterile dialysis fluid surrounding a long dialysis tubing.
Arterial blood from the patient is pumped slowly through the dialysis tank. The tank contains a
dialysis membrane b/w the blood and the dialysis fluid. Ura and other wastes diffuse from blood into
the dialysis fluid through dialysis membrane. Blood is sent back to the patient by a shunt installed in
a fore arms vein. This process takes about 4 – 5 hours. This machine is used by patient twice a=or
thrice a weak.

2) Body Cavity (Peritoneal) dialysis:

In this dialysis incision in the abdomen is done. A catheter is introduced through this incision
into the peritoneal cavity of abdomen. A bag is attached to the catheter which contains fluid with
carefully adjusted composition called dialysate. This fluid passes into the cavity. The excretory fluid
from the blood vessels present with peritoneal cavity are passed through the peritoneal membrane
and trabsfered into the dialysate, then it is removed from the body. This process requires about one
hour and it is repeated in the day or next day.

KIDNEY TRANSPLANT:
When there is kidney failure in young person, the kidney may be replaced by a person, it is called
kidney transplant. It is better than dialysis. But is depends upon the acceptance of a new kidney by
the body and blood group matching. This surgical process is successful in 80% people and entirely
depends upon the donation of kidney.

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