THE EXCRETORY

SYSTEM

Urinary System
Adrenal glands
(endocrine system)

Right kidney

Aorta
Left renal artery
Left renal vein
Vena cava
Left ureter
Urinary bladder

Urethra

Structure of the kidney

( to show the position of a nephron)

Nephron

Process of urine formation.

Excretion

Is the process of removing metabolic waste of

products and toxic materials from the body
Main organ kidney and skin
Excretion and defecation is 2 different process

Excretion
Differences

remove metabolic
waste
Waste and toxic
materials are products
of metabolism

Similarities

Defecation
Remove undigested
food fro the digestive
system
Faeces is not a
product of metabolism
Involve large
intestine, rectum and
anus

Remove waste from the body

Prevent accumulation of toxic waste in the
body

Urine formation

Functional unit is the nephron

Involve 3 processes:
Ultrafiltration
selective reabsorption
secretion

Ultrafiltration

Blood flows in the blood capillaries of the

glomerulus to the efferent arteriole
Blood cells & blood protien are not filtered
and remain in the glomerular capillaries
Afferent arteriole is wider than efferent
arteriole, so the hydrostatic pressure is high.
This pressure cause ultrafiltration

Ultrafiltration

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Component are filtrate in to Bowmans

capsule are:
blood plasma
Urea
Amino acids
Sugars
Salts
water

Selective reabsorption

Takes place as the filtrate passes along the nephron

At proximal convulated tubule
65% of water, sugars and amino acids are
reabsorb to the capillaries
At Henle Loop
20% of water and salt is reabsorb
At distal convulated tubule and collecting duct
water and salt is reabsorb according to the body
need

Secretion

Occurs when substances not required by the

body are secreted into the filtrate by the cells
of the tubule wall.

Process of sweating

Main organ skin

Other function done by skin:
Sweat is a mixture of water, salts and urea.

Process of sweating

When body temperature is rises,

- the receptors in skin send nerve impulse to
the brain
- blood vessel respond to the brain signal
and dilate
- this allow more blood flow to the skin
- blood flow carries waste which diffuse into
the sweat gland

Diseases related to the excretory

system

Kidney failure
- could result from various
factor such as bacterial
infection, injury due to
accident, diabetes or high
blood pressure.
- Cases major kidney failure
can be managed by
haemodialysis. In such cases,
haemodialysis machine that
is used acts as an artificial
kidney.
- Another option is kidney
transplant.
Formation of gall stones
Dialysis

Preventing of kidney related diseases

Reducing salts and sugar

Drinking plenty of water
Avoiding medications without proper
prescription
Stay away from drugs and acohol