PT3 Science Chapter 20: Excretion

3.1 Human Excretion

1. What is Excretion ?
It is the removal of metabolic waste products from the
body.
2. Metabolism means all chemical reactions that take place
in the body.
3. The removal of waste products from the body is carried out by
excretory organs , which are the skin, the
lungs and the kidneys.
a. The skin
i. Excrete water, mineral salts and some urea
when a person sweats.
ii. Sweat is salty.
iii. Sweat gland, sweat duct, sweat pore

iv. The body sweats more on a hot day.

v. The evaporation of sweat cools the skin
and the body.
b. The lungs
i. During respiration, waste products such as carbon
dioxide and water are produced.
ii. These waste products are removed from lungs during
gaseous exchange.
c. The kidneys
i. Main excretory organ to remove urea.
ii. Urea is a waste product formed in the liver from excess
amino acids in the body.
iii. Urea is removed in urine.
iv. Urine contains urea, water and mineral salts.
4. The importance of excretion
a. Metabolic wastes will become toxic if accumulated in human
body.
b. Waste products will damage some organs in human body.
c. If an illness persists, death can take place.
d. Waste products must be eliminated through excretion in order to
maintain a healthy body.
5. Excess carbon dioxide will increase the breathing rate.
Excess urea is toxic is toxic to human body.
By removing excess water and mineral salts, the kidneys help
maintain the chemical composition, water and pH balance of the
body.
3.2 The Urinary System in Man
1. The kidneys are located in the back of abdominal cavity.
2. The liver removes excess amino acids from the blood by converting
them into urea which is excreted by the kidneys.

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3. The flow of urea into urinary system starts from the kidneys through
the Ureters to the Bladder, and lastly to the
Urethra. From urethra, it is removed as urine through the
penis or opening.
4. Function of each part in urinary system.
Structure
Aorta
Renal vein

Renal artery

Kidney
Ureter
Bladder

Function
The main blood vessel that brings blood from the heart
to the kidney.
The blood vessel that carries blood without waste
products from kidney.
The blood vessel that brings waste products to the
kidney.
An excretory organ that removes wastes like urea,
water and mineral salts from blood.
The tube that carries urine from the kidney to the
bladder.
Temporary store for the urine before it is removed.

The tube that brings urine from the bladder to the penis
or opening for removal.
5. Structure of kidney
a. It is bean-shaped. Each kidney is approximately the
Urethra

size of fist.
b. There is a thick layer of fat cover and protect each kidney.
c. The outer, transparent coat of the kidney is called the
capsule. It is a tough membrane.
d. When kidney is cut longitudinally, it can be seen two
parts:
i. Darker outer part Cortex
1. One third of the kidney
ii. Lighter inner part Medulla
1. Medulla forms several pyramids which open into
a sac-like cavity called the Pelvis.
2. From the pelvis, a long, narrow tube, the ureter,
leads to the bladder.

6. Functions of the kidney

a. The kidneys filter waste from the blood.
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PT3 Science Chapter 20: Excretion

b. The kidneys also regulate the water (reabsorption of
water) and chemical balance in the body.
7. Two stages or filtration system
a. First filtration water, mineral salts, sugar and waste
products are filtered as blood passes through the kidneys.
b. Second filtration performed in blood capillaries. Most of
the mineral salts and sugar are returned to the
circulatory system.
8. The amount of water that is reabsorbed depends on the amount of
water required by the body.
a. If the body system has too much water reabsorption of
water will be less, the urine will be diluted.
b. If the body system needs more water water will be
reabsorbed into the blood, the urine will be concentrated.
9. The kidneys control the chemical composition of the blood and
play a regulatory role .
a. The blood vessel that brings blood containing waste products
to the kidneys is the Renal Artery.
b. The blood vessel that brings 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. Substances which are reabsorbed into blood from the kidneys
are Glucose and Amino Acids.
i. Glucose energy source
ii. Amino acids body building
e. The urine contains mineral salts, water and urea.
10.The importance of maintaining healthy kidneys
a. Toxic substances such as mercury , lead , arsenic /,
and insecticides can damage the kidneys.
b. Food that is too salty and sweet is also harmful for kidneys.
11.High intake of salt will affect the water balance, causing hypertension
. A high concentration of salt in blood may lead to the formation
of Kidney Stones, which can cause kidney failure .
12.Too much sugar in our blood will ultimately cause Diabetes .
13.Drinking eight glasses of plain water daily and regular exercise
will help improve the blood circulation to and from the kidneys.
14.Kidney failure is treated through dialysis or kidney transplants
.
15.Dialysis is a technique of separating particles of different sizes. A liquid
mixture is passed through a partially permeable membrane
.
a. Dialysis machine works on the principle of diffusion.
Substances move from an area of high concentration to an
area of low concentration across a partially permeable
membrane.
b. A tube is connected to an artery in the arm of a patient, to
allow blood to flow along the tube and enter the dialysis
machine.
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c. Blood from the artery flows through the semi-permeable
membrane of the tube. These tubes are immersed in a
dialysis solution called Dialysate.
d. Waste products such as excess water, urea and salts and
other impurities diffuse out from the blood through the pores
of the semi-permeable membrane into the dialysate.
e. The blood with waste products removed goes back into the
vein of the patient.
f. The patient must be connected to the dialysis machine for
about four hours each time, needed two or three times a
week.
3.3 Excretion of Plants
1. The waste products of plants are water, carbon dioxide, oxygen,
mineral salts and nitrogenous wastes .
a. Water and carbon dioxide produced during respiration are
used in photosynthesis.
b. Only small amount of oxygen produced during photosynthesis
is used for respiration.
c. Oxygen and carbon dioxide diffuses into the air through the
stomata in the leaves.
d. Excess water is removed as water vapour during
transpiration.
2. Mineral salts remain in the plant as crystals.
a. Minerals like silicon salts are deposited in the leaves of
plants of the grass family. Silicon salts strengthen the leaf
blades.
3. Plants have little nitrogenous waste products, which are usually
converted into harmless granules which are retained in the plant cells.
a. Examples of nitrogenous waste are Flower and Leaf
Pigments .
b. Most pigments are alkaloids which are extremely
poisonous.
c. Some alkaloids can be extracted to produce medicines.
d. Drugs like morphine, opium and cocaine are poisonous.

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