16

EXCRETORY SYSTEM
CHAPTER REVIEW
The lungs excrete carbon dioxide and the liver excretes bile pigments. The skin secretes perspiration, which contains urea, and the kidneys excrete ammonia, urea, uric acid, and creatinine, all nitrogenous wastes. The path of urine is through the kidneys, ureters, urinary bladder, and finally, the urethra. Macroscopically, the kidneys are divided into the cortex, medulla, and pelvis. Microscopically, they contain the nephrons. Each nephron has its own blood supply; the afferent arteriole approaches the glomerular capsule and divides to become the glomerulus. The spaces between the podocytes of the glomerular capsule allow small molecules to enter the capsule from the glomerulus, a capillary tuft. The efferent arteriole leaves the capsule and immediately branches into the peritubular capillaries. Each region of the nephron is anatomically suited to its task in urine formation. The spaces between the podocytes of the glomerular capsule allow small molecules to enter the capsule from the glomerulus, a capillary knot. The cuboidal epithelial cells of the proximal convoluted tubule have many mitochondria and microvilli to carry out active transport (following passive transport) from the tubule to blood. In contrast, the cuboidal epithelial cells of the distal convoluted tubule have numerous mitochondria but lack microvilli. They carry out active transport from the blood to the tubule. Urine is composed primarily of nitrogenous waste products and salts in water. The steps in urine formation are glomerular filtration, tubular reabsorption, and tubular secretion, as explained in Figure 16.6. Water is reabsorbed from all parts of the tubule, and the loop of the nephron establishes an osmotic gradient that draws water from the descending loop of the nephron and also the collecting duct. The kidneys contribute to homeostasis not only by ridding the body of nitrogenous wastes but also by helping control the pH and saltwater balance of the blood. The latter also determines blood volume, which is controlled by several hormones, including ADH, aldosterone, and ANH. Various types of problems, including repeated urinary infections, can lead to kidney failure, which necessitates receiving a kidney from a donor or undergoing dialysis by utilizing a kidney machine or CAPD.

S T U DY E X E R C I S E S
Study the text section by section as you answer the questions that follow.

16.1 URINARY SYSTEM (P . 304)

The urinary system consists of organs that produce, store, and rid the body of urine. The kidneys excrete nitrogenous wastes and maintain the water-salt and the acid-base balance of the blood within normal limits. 1. Match the urinary organs listed in the key to functions ad. Key kidney ureters urinary bladder urethra ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ a. b. c. d. muscular tube leading from kidneys to urinary bladder tube leading from bladder to the outside hollow, muscular organ that stores urine bean-shaped organ that filters blood

2. What triggers urination?

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3. List five functions of the kidneys.

a. b. c. d. e.

16.2 THE KIDNEYS (P . 307)

Kidneys have a macroscopic (gross) anatomy and a microscopic anatomy. Urine is produced by many microscopic tubules called nephrons.

4. Macroscopically, the kidney is composed of these three parts.

a. b. c.

5. Label the parts of the nephron on the following diagram, using the alphabetized list of terms. afferent arteriole collecting duct a. distal convoluted tubule i. b. efferent arteriole glomerular capsule c. glomerulus d. loop of the nephron peritubular capillaries proximal convoluted e. tubule

h.

f.

g.

6. Trace the path of filtrate from the glomerular capsule to the collecting duct. glomerular capsule
a. b. c.

collecting duct

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16.3 URINE FORMATION (P . 311)

Like many physiological processes, urine formation is a multistep process. 7. In this diagram, add the three steps in urine formation.
b. c.

vein a.

artery

glomerular capsule

H2O

H2O

loop of the nephron

collecting duct

Where does the first step take place?

d. e.

Where does the second step take place?

Where does the third step take place? f. 8. Blood in the glomerulus is composed of these two portions: Small Molecules Large Molecules, etc. Nutrients (glucose, amino acids) Proteins Wastes (urea, uric acid) Formed elements Salts Water Which portion will undergo glomerular filtration?
a.

Which of the small molecules will maximally undergo tubular reabsorption?

b.

Which of the small molecules will minimally undergo tubular reabsorption?

c.

9. Give an example of a molecule that undergoes tubular secretion.

16.4 MAINTAINING WATER-SALT BALANCE (P . 312)

The kidneys are under hormonal control as they regulate the watersalt balance of blood. 10. Water reabsorption. The presence of which parts of the nephron account for maximal reabsorption of water in humans?
a.

__________________________________________________ What causes water to leave these parts of the nephron?

b.

Because water is maximally reabsorbed, humans excrete a c.__________________________________________ urine.

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11. Complete this table.

ADH Increased amount Reduced amount a. b. Urine Quantity

12. Match the items in the key to the following letters. Key blood pressure rises adrenal cortex converting enzyme hormone
a.

renin

aldosterone

atrial

natriuretic

_________________________________ changes angiotensinogen to angiotensin I _________________________________ changes angiotensin I to angiotensin II

b.

Angiotensin II acts on c._________________________________ to secrete d._________________________________ Kidneys absorb Na+ and e._________________________________ When blood pressure rises, the heart secretes f. _________________________, which causes the kidneys to excrete Na+.

16.5 MAINTAINING ACID-BASE BALANCE(P . 315)

The kidneys excrete hydrogen ions and reabsorb bicarbonate ions to regulate the pH of blood. 13. If the blood is acidic, fewer
a. ______________________ions

are excreted in combination with are reabsorbed. If the blood is basic,

e. ______________________

b. ______________________,

while

c. ______________________

d. ______________________

ions are excreted, and fewer

are reabsorbed.

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Excretion Elimination

In the table, place an X beside the component of blood if the following descriptions pertain to it: a. in the afferent arteriole b. in the filtrate c. in the efferent arteriole d. reabsorbed into the peritubular capillary e. secreted from the peritubular capillary f. present in urine g. absent from urine h. in venous blood
a 1. Plasma Proteins 2. Red Blood Cells 3. White Blood Cells 4. Glucose 5. Amino Acids 6. Sodium Chloride 7. Water 8. Urea 9. Uric Acid 10. Penicillin b c d e f g h

There are 45 correct answers. There are 80 possible errors of omission or commission. Any 10 errors and youre ELIMINATED!

CHAPTER TEST
OBJECTIVE QUESTIONS
Do not refer to the text when taking this test. ____ 1. Kidneys are organs of homeostasis because they a. regulate the blood volume. b. regulate the pH of the blood. c. help maintain the correct concentration of ions in the blood. d. excrete nitrogenous wastes. e. All of these are correct. ____ 2. Which of these contains urine? a. urethra b. uterus c. intestine d. gallbladder e. All of these are correct. ____ 3. Which portion of the urinary tract varies significantly in length or size between males and females? a. kidneys b. ureters c. urinary bladder d. urethra ____ 4. Urination is triggered by a. contraction of the bladder and relaxation of sphincter muscles. b. relaxation of the bladder and contraction of sphincter muscles. c. contraction of kidney and ureter muscles. d. contraction of kidneys and relaxation of the urinary bladder.

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____ 5. Which portion is not part of the kidney? a. renal cortex b. renal urethra c. renal medulla d. renal pelvis ____ 6. The collecting ducts are primarily in the a. renal cortex. b. renal medulla. c. renal pelvis. d. afferent arteriole. Match the function in 711 with the structure in the key. ____ 7. extends into the medulla ____ 8. a knot of capillaries ____ 9. variably permeable to water ____10. site of afferent/efferent arterioles ____11. blind end of the proximal convoluted tubule Key a. glomerulus b. glomerular capsule c. renal cortex d. loop of the nephron e. collecting duct ____12. Urine collects in the ________________________ before entering the ureter. a. renal medulla b. renal cortex c. renal pelvis d. capsule ____13. Glomerular filtration should be associated with a. the glomerular capsule. b. the distal convoluted tubule. c. the collecting duct. d. All of these are correct. ____14. Sodium is removed from the kidney tubule by a. passive reabsorption. b. active reabsorption. c. an attraction to Cl . d. secretion. ____15. Tubular secretion occurs at a. the glomerular capsule. b. the proximal convoluted tubule. c. the loop of the nephron. d. the distal convoluted tubule. ____16. In humans, water is a. found in the glomerular filtrate. b. reabsorbed from the nephron. c. in the urine. d. All of these are correct.

____17. Glucose a. is in the filtrate and urine. b. is in the filtrate and not in urine. c. undergoes tubular secretion and is in urine. d. undergoes tubular secretion and is not in urine. ____18. The loop of the nephron is characteristic of animals that excrete a. a diluted urine. b. a concentrated urine. c. no urine. d. too much urine. ____19. Aldosterone a. is secreted by the adrenal cortex. b. causes the blood volume to lower. c. is the same as renin. d. causes the kidneys to excrete sodium. ____20. Which organ excretes bile pigments? a. kidney b. large intestine c. liver d. All of these are correct. ____21. ADH is necessary for a. water reabsorption. b. glucose reabsorption. c. protein reabsorption. d. All of these are correct. ____22. If the nephrons do not function, a. urea accumulates in the blood. b. edema occurs. c. water and salt retention occur. d. All of these are correct. ____23. Renin is an enzyme that converts a. angiotensinogen to angiotensin I. b. angiotensin I to angiotensin II. c. angiotensin II to converting enzyme. d. All of these are correct. ____24. Nitrogenous wastes are a. metabolic wastes. b. toxic. c. formed from the breakdown of amino acids. d. All of these are correct. ____25. The region between the base of the loop of the nephron and the collecting duct has a(n) a. very low solute concentration. b. intermediate solute concentration. c. very high solute concentration. d. very high water concentration.

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THOUGHT QUESTIONS
Answer in complete sentences. 26. Explain the difference between defecation and excretion.

27. What role is played by the high concentration of salt and urea in the renal medulla?

Test Results: _______ number correct 27 = _________ 100 = _______%

ANSWER KEY
STUDY EXERCISES
1. a. ureter b. urethra c. urinary bladder d. kidney 2. Stretch receptors send impulses to the spinal cord, which sends nerve impulses back to muscles controlling the urinary bladder. Contraction of the bladder and relaxation of sphincter muscles occur, expelling urine to the outside. 3. a. regulation of salt and water balance b. regulation of blood volume and blood pressure c. stimulation of red blood cell production d. regulation of the pH of the blood e. removal of metabolic wastes, including nitrogenous wastes 4. a. renal cortex b. renal medulla c. renal pelvis 5. a. glomerulus b. glomerular capsule c. efferent arteriole d. afferent arteriole e. proximal convoluted tubule f. loop of the nephron g. collecting duct h. peritubular capillaries i. distal convoluted tubule 6. a. proximal convoluted tubule b. loop of the nephron c. distal convoluted tubule 7. a. glomerular filtration b. tubular reabsorption c. tubular secretion d. between the glomerulus and the glomerular capsule e. between the proximal convoluted tubule and blood f. between blood and the distal convoluted tubule 8. a. small molecules b. nutrients, salts, water c. wastes 9. uric acid, hydrogen ions, ammonia, penicillin, creatinine 10. a. loop of the nephron and the collecting duct b. hypertonic medulla due to presence of salt (from ascending limb of loop of the nephron) and urea (from collecting duct) c. hypertonic 11. a. little urine b. much urine 12. a. renin b. converting enzyme c. adrenal cortex d. aldosterone e. blood pressure rises f. atrial natriuretic hormone 13. a. hydrogen b. ammonia c. sodium d. hydrogen e. bicarbonate ions

EXCRETION ELIMINATION
plasma proteins red blood cells white blood cells glucose amino acids sodium chloride water urea uric acid penicillin a. X X X X X X X X X X b. c. X X X d. e. f. g. X X X X X h. X X X X X X X X

X X X X X X

X X X X X X

X X X X X

CHAPTER TEST
1. e 2. a 3. d 4. a 5. b 6. b 7. d 8. a 9. e 10. c 11. b 12. c 13. a 14. b 15. d 16. d 17. b 18. b 19. a 20. c 21. a 22. d 23. a 24. d 25. c 26. Defecation is the elimination of nondigested material from the gut, and excretion is the elimination of end products of metabolism by the kidneys. 27. The high concentration of salt and urea in the renal medulla draws water out of the loop of the nephron and the collecting duct.

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