Water Balance and Osmoregulation

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to water balance, osmoregulation, and excretory systems.

Osmoregulation

The process by which organisms regulate the water and solute concentrations in their bodies.

Hemolymph

The fluid equivalent to blood in invertebrates, such as arthropods.

Ammonia (NH4+)

A highly soluble and toxic nitrogenous waste product that requires a lot of water for excretion.

Urea

A less toxic nitrogenous waste produced by mammals, adult amphibians, and marine fishes, which requires less water than ammonia for excretion.

Uric Acid

A relatively non-toxic nitrogenous waste produced by land snails, insects, birds, and many reptiles; insoluble in water and conserves water.

Homeostasis

The maintenance of stable internal conditions in an organism, despite external changes.

Hypertonic solution

A solution with a higher osmolarity compared to another solution, leading to water movement out of cells.

Hypotonic solution

A solution with a lower osmolarity compared to another solution, leading to water movement into cells.

Metanephridia

Excretory structures in some invertebrates that filter coelomic fluid and are involved in osmoregulation.

Protonephridia

A network of tubules in certain invertebrates that functions in excretion and osmoregulation.

Kidneys

The organs in vertebrates responsible for filtering blood, excreting waste, and regulating water balance.

Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH)

A hormone that helps the kidneys manage the amount of water in the body by increasing water reabsorption.

Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS)

A hormone system that regulates blood pressure and fluid balance.

Nephron

The functional unit of the kidney, responsible for filtering blood and forming urine.

Euryhaline

Organisms that can tolerate a wide range of salinities.

Stenohaline

Organisms that can tolerate only a narrow range of salinities.

Anadromy

A life cycle pattern of fish where they migrate from saltwater to freshwater to spawn.

Catadromy

A life cycle pattern of fish where they migrate from freshwater to saltwater to spawn.