Lec 10

STRUCTURE AND FUNCTIONS OF EXCRETORY SYSTEM
Different types and their functional mechanisms
The removal of waste products of metabolism, especially nitrogenous compounds
from the body of insects is known as excretion. The excretion process helps the insect to
maintain salt water balance and thereby physiological homeostasis. Following are the
excretory organs.
1. Malpighian tubules
Thin, blind-ending tubules, originating near the junction of mid and hindgut,
predominantly involved in regulation of salt, water and nitrogenous waste excretion. This
structure was discovered by Marcello Malpighi.
2. Nephrocytes
Cells that sieve the haemolmph for products that they metabolize (pericardial
cells).
3. Fat bodies
A loose or compact aggregation of cells, mostly trophocytes, suspended in the
haemocoel, responsible for storage and excretion.
4. Oenocytes
The cells of haemocoel, epidermis or fat body with many functions.
5. Integument
The outer covering of the living tissues of an insect.
6.Tracheal system
The insect gas exchange system, comprising tracheae and tracheoles.
7. Rectum
The posterior part of hind gut. Among the above organs, malpighian tubules are
the major organ of excretion.

Excretion and Osmoregulation
Insect faeces, either in liquid form or solid pellets, contains both undigested food
and metabolic excretions. Aquatic insects excrete dilute wastes from their anus directly
into water by flushing with water. But, Terrestrial insects must conserve water. This
requires efficient waste disposal in a concentrated or even dry form, simultaneously
avoiding the toxic effects of nitrogen. Both terrestrial and aquatic insects must conserve
ions, such as sodium (Na+), potassium (K+) and chloride (Cl-), that may be limiting in their
food or lost into the water by diffusion. Therefore the production of insect excreta (urine or
pellets) is a result of two related processes: excretion and osmoregulation (maintenance
of favourable osmotic pressure and ionic concentration of body fluid). The system
responsible for excretion and osmoregulation is referred to as excretory system and
its activities are performed largely by the Malpighian tubules and hindgut. However in fresh
water insects, haemolymph composition is regulated in response to loss of ions to the
surrounding water, with the help of excretory system and special cells. Special cells are
called Chloride cells which are present in the hindgut, capable of absorbing inorganic
ions from the dilute solutions. (e.g. Naids of dragonflies and damselflies).
Malpighian Tubules
The main organ of excretion and osmoregulation in insects are the malpighian
tubules, acting in association with rectum or ileum. Malpighian tubules are outgrowths of
the alimentary canal and consist of long thin tubles formed of a single layer of cells
surrounding a blind-ending lumen, they are absent in spring tail and aphids, 2 numbers in
scale insects, 4 in bugs, 5 in mosquitoes, 6 in moths and butterflies, 60 in cockroach and
more than 200 in locusts. Generally they are free, waving around in the haemolymph
where they filter out solutes. Each tubule is externally covered by peritonial coat and
supplied with muscle fibres (aiding in peristalsis) and tracheloes. Functional differentiation
of the tubules was seen, with the distal secretory region and proximal absorptive
region.
Physiology
The malpighian tubules produce a filtrate (the primary urine) which is isosmotic but
ionically dissimilar to the haemolymph and selectively reabsorbs water and certain solutes,
but eliminates others. The malpighian tubules produces an isosmotic filtrate which is high
in K+ and low in Na+ with Cl- as major anion. The active transport of ions especially K+ into
the tubule lumen generates an osmotic pressure gradiant for the passive flow of water.
Sugars and most amino acids are also passively filtered from the haemolymph via
junctions between the tubule cells, where as amino acids and non-metabolizables and
toxic organic compounds are actively transported into the tubule lumen. Sugars are
reabsorbed from the lumen and returned to the haemolymph. The continuous secretory
activity of each Malpighian tubule leads to a flow of primary urine from its lumen towards
and into the gut. In the rectum, the urine is modified by removal of solutes and water to
maintain fluid and ionic homeostasis of the body

Nitrogen excretion
Terrestrial insects excrete waste products as uric acid or certain of its salts called
urates, which were water insoluble and requires less amount of water for waste product
removal. This type of excretion is known as uricotelism. In aquatic insects ammonia is the
excretory product, which is freely soluble in water and requires more amount of water for
waste product removal. This type of excretion is known as ammonotelism.
Cryptonephry
The distal ends of the Malpighian tubules are held in contact with the rectal wall by
the perinephric membrane, which is concerned either with efficient dehydration of faeces
before their elimination or ionic regulation. (e.g. Adult Coleptera, larval Lepidoptera and
larval symphyta)
Functions of malphighian tubule
Excretory in function, mainly concerned with removal of nitrogenous wastes. The other
accessory functions are as follows:
1. Spittle secretion in spittle bug
2. Light production in Bolitophila
3. Silk production in larval neuroptera
Storage Excretion
The excretory waste materials are retained within the body in different sites.
Uric acid is stored as urates in the cells of fat body e.g., American cockroach.
Uric acid is stored in the body wall, giving white colour, e.g., Red cotton bug.
Uric acid is stored in the male accessory glands to produce the outer coat of
spermatophore, which is excreted during copulation.
Uric acid is stored in the wing scales giving white colour. e.g., Pierid butterflies.
Waste products of pupal metabolism (meconium) is stored and released during adult
emergence.

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STRUCTURE AND FUNCTIONS OF EXCRETORY SYSTEM

Different types and their functional mechanisms

The removal of waste products of metabolism, especially nitrogenous compounds

structure was discovered by Marcello Malpighi.

A loose or compact aggregation of cells, mostly trophocytes, suspended in the

haemocoel, responsible for storage and excretion.

The cells of haemocoel, epidermis or fat body with many functions.

The outer covering of the living tissues of an insect.

The insect gas exchange system, comprising tracheae and tracheoles.

the major organ of excretion.

requires efficient waste disposal in a concentrated or even dry form, simultaneously

pellets) is a result of two related processes: excretion and osmoregulation (maintenance

responsible for excretion and osmoregulation is referred to as excretory system and

water insects, haemolymph composition is regulated in response to loss of ions to the

scale insects, 4 in bugs, 5 in mosquitoes, 6 in moths and butterflies, 60 in cockroach and

maintain fluid and ionic homeostasis of the body

waste product removal. This type of excretion is known as ammonotelism.

accessory functions are as follows:

1. Spittle secretion in spittle bug

2. Light production in Bolitophila

3. Silk production in larval neuroptera

spermatophore, which is excreted during copulation.

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