B-13 Excretion

What do the kidneys remove from the body?

Urea, excess ions and excess water

Which blood vessels supply the kidneys with blood?

The renal arteries and the renal veins

What is the outer part of the kidneys called?

The cortex

What is the inner part of the kidneys called?

The medulla

What is the definition of the process of deamination?

Deamination is the removal of the nitrogen-containing portion of amino acids to produce urea.

How is urea produced?

Urea is the result of excess amino acids in the body being broken down by the liver

How do the kidneys filter our blood?

The kidneys filter our blood by pumping it at a high pressure through the glomerulus

What molecules are passed from the glomerulus to the capsule during filtration?

Water, urea, ions, glucose molecules and amino acids

What molecules aren’t passed from the glomerulus to the capsules and why?

Molecules such as the blood cells and proteins are not passed on as they are to big to enter the capsule

What is the bundle of arteries where blood flows at a high pressure in the kidneys called?

The glomerulus

What is reabsorbed into the bloodstream from the tubules?

Most of the water, some ions, glucose molcules and amino acids

What is urine formed from?

Urine is formed from excess water, excess ions and urea

Through which process are the substances required reabsorbed into the bloodstream from the tubules?

Through active transport that goes against the concentration gradient

What role does the liver play when it comes to proteins?

The liver assimilates amino acids and turns them into useful proteins such as enzymes

What is the importance of the excretion of urea?

Excretion of urea is important as it’s build-up is toxic and can harm body cells

What do the kidneys do in simple terms?

The kindyes remove urea, control ion levels and control water levels

Why is the regulation of our water levels important?

So our cells don’t swell and possibly burst or so they don’t shrink

How is urine transferred from the kidneys to the bladder?

Through the ureters

What is the process where the kidneys only reabsorb certain substances called?

Selective reabsorption