Excretory Sys..ss2

EXCRETORY SYSTEM
Excretion is the removal of metabolic waste from the body of

organisms.
SOURCES OF METABOLIC WASTES
-Metabolic processes in cells
-Natural breakdown of protoplasm
-Inability of cells/ body to store excess nutrients.
EXCRETORY SYSTEM IN LOWER ORGANISMS
I. Amoeba, Paramecium, Euglena
-Simple diffusion through the cell membrane gets rid of ammonia
and CO2. Contractile vacuoles remove excess metabolic waste not
removed by simple diffusion e.g. excess water. The contractile
vacuole act as osmoregulator.
ii. Flame cells in flatworms e.g. tapeworm)
DIAGRAM
Mechanism of excretion by the flame cell

Waste products such as ammonia, carbondioxide and water enter
the flame cell from the surrounding cells. Flagella help in propelling
the fluid into the tubules from which the fluid passes to the exterior.
Planaria has fewer flame cells when in salty water than in fresh
water.
iii. Nephridium of an earthworm
The nephridium (singular, Nephridia- plural) is surrounded by a
capillary network. Waste products mainly urea are extracted from
the blood in the capillaries surrounding the nephridium. Wastes are
also removed from the fluid in the body cavity and passed into
funnel. Fluid containing the waste move along the tubes of the
nephridium. Useful salts and other substances are reabsorbed
through the wall of the tubes. Unabsorbed substances e.g. urea and
excess water collect in the muscular tube and are released to the
outside through the excretory pore.
Excretion by the moist skin of the earthworm
Carbondioxide diffuses out through the earthworm’s moist skin.
iv. Malpighian tubules in insects
Malpighian tubules are located inbetween the midgut and rectum.
One end of each tubule ends into the gut (digestive tract) while the
other opens into the haemocoel (body cavity). Nitrogenous wastes
and water are released into the haemocoel (body cavity) and
absorbed at the distal end of the tubule. The nitrogenous wastes are
converted to uric acid as they pass along the Malpighian tubule
towards the gut. A lot of water is reabsorbed so that the uric acid is
converted to solid crystal at the proximal end of the Malpighian
tubule. More water is reabsorbed at the hind gut by the rectal gland.
The urea which finally leaves the body is almost a dry solid.
V. EXCRETION IN HUMANS: The kidney and its Nephron.
EXCRETION OF URINE:
The nephron is the unit of excretion. There are three processes
involved in the excretion of urine – (i) ultrafiltration (ii) selective re-
absorption and (iii) tubular secretion
ULTRAFILTRATION: Renal artery carries wastes through blood into
the kidney. As blood circulates through the glomerulus of the
Bowman’s capsule ultrafiltration occurs. Ultrafiltration involves the
passage of small molecules such as water, urea, mineral salts, sugar
(glucose) and plasma solutes through the wall of the Bowman’s
capsule into the capsular space; bigger molecules like plasma
proteins and the blood cells do not pass through the wall of the
Bowman’s capsule. A high pressure in the glomerulus is needed for
ultrafiltration. Glomerulus filtrate moves down the tubule from the
Bowman’s capsule.
SELECTIVE REABSORPTION: At the proximal convoluted tubule and
henle’s loop, water and wasteful products like sugar (glucose), amino
acids and salts are reabsorbed into the surrounding blood capillaries.
TUBULAR SECRETION: At the distal convoluted tubules, large
molecules (e.g. creatinine) and ions (e.g. hydrogen, potassium
hydrogen carbonate) are secreted into the fluidin the tubule. This
fluid is concentrated and it is known as urine. The urine is passed
through the ureter to the bladder from where it is got rid of through
the urethra.
EXCRETION IN PLANTS
Plants being autotrophic and stationary have minimal metabolic
wastes. Therefore they do not possess special excretory system. The
main excretory products are water, carbondioxide and oxygen.
Others are tannins, alkaloids, glucosides, gums etc.
Gases diffuse through intercellular air spaces in the tissues and pass
through the stomata in leaves and lenticels in stems to the exterior.
In roots, gases pass through the general root surface.
Excess water is removed as water vapour through
transpiration. Other waste products and excess
minerals may be converted to harmless insoluble
forms and stored within the plant body.

Excretory Sys..ss2

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Excretory Sys..ss2

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Excretory Sys..ss2

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

EXCRETORY SYSTEM

Excretion is the removal of metabolic waste from the body of

Mechanism of excretion by the flame cell

You might also like