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Excretory organs in protochordates are very different from the higher vertebrates. Balanoglossus
(Hemichordata) has a glomerulus in the proboscis region to excrete nitrogenous wastes from the
blood. Herdmania (Urochordata) has a neural organ near the solid nerve ganglion located in
between the two siphons. Amphioxus (Cephalochordata) possesses protonephridia that carry
hundreds of flame cell-like solenocytes that excrete wastes in the atrial cavity and to the outside.
A. Archinephros: It is believed that kidneys in all modern vertebrates evolved from a
hypothetical kidney known as Archinephros or Holonephros, which extended from anterior to
E. Mesonephros: The mesonephros is one of three excretory organs that develop in vertebrates.
It serves as the main excretory organ of aquatic vertebrates and as a temporary kidney in reptiles,
birds, and mammals.
A long portion of the intermediate
mesoderm posterior to the pronephric
tissue develops to form the more advanced
mesonephric kidney. The development of
the pronephric duct proceeds in a cranial-
to-caudal direction. As it elongates
posteriorly, the pronephric duct induces
nearby intermediate mesoderm in the
thoraco-lumbar area to become epithelial
tubules called mesonephric tubules. Each
mesonephric tubule receives a blood
supply from a branch of the aorta, ending
in a capillary tuft analogous to the glomerulus of the definitive nephron. The mesonephric tubule
forms a capsule around the capillary tuft, allowing for filtration of blood. This filtrate flows
through the mesonephric tubule and is drained into the continuation of the pronephric duct, now
called the mesonephric duct or Wolffian duct. The nephrotomes of the pronephros degenerate
while the mesonephric duct extends towards the most caudal end of the embryo, ultimately
attaching to the cloaca. The mammalian mesonephros is similar to the kidneys of aquatic
amphibians and fishes. Once the more complex mesonephros forms the pronephros undergoes
apoptosis (degeneration) in amphibians. In fishes the nephron degenerates but the organ remains
and becomes a component of the immune system. Jawed fishes & amphibians - among males,
some anterior tubules of mesonephros conduct sperm from testis to mesonephric duct called as
sexual kidney while the rest is the uriniferous kidney. Amniote embryos mesonephros functions
for a short time after hatching or birth during a new kidney called the metanephros is developing.
The gonads, ovary or testis, also develop in the intermediate mesoderm. They originally form as
swellings that lie just ventral to the anterior mesonephric kidney. A mullarian duct also develops
in the intermediate mesoderm near the mesonephric duct.
pronephros is temporary & functional only until mesonephric glomeruli & tubules further back
become functional. Glomeruli of some pronephros, lack Bowmans capsule and peritoneal funnel and
hence known as external glomeruli. In certain examples the glomeruli unite to form a complex
glomus into the large cavities known as pronephric chambers. The uriniferous tubules open into a
common pronephric duct which runs posterior to join cloaca.
Structure of nephron: In mesonephros: In mesonephric kidney nephrons are formed by
corpuscles & tubules that develop caudal to pronephric region; form connections with existing
pronephric duct (which is now called the mesonephric duct). Paired segmental uriniferous tubules,
each with peritoneal funnel open into coelomic cavity. The glomerulus in mesonephros is enclosed in
bowmans capsules (internal glomerulus). The mesonephric tubules later undergo secondary division
and form numerous tubules and thus the segmental arrangement is lost. The secondary mesonephric
tubules are lack of peritoneal funnel. In some fishes the kidney lacks the malpighian bodies and thus
called as aglomerular kidney. It is the functional adult kidney in fish & amphibians (& sometimes
called the opisthonephros) and embryonic kidney in reptiles, birds, & mammals.
The metanephric tubules become long and much coiled structures. Each kidney tubule of mammals
is composed of the following parts:
Proximal convoluted tubule
Loop of Henle with ascending and
descending portions
Distal convoluted tubule.
These have bowmans capsules enclosing glomeruli.
Metanephric uriniferous tubules are lack of peritoneal
funnels and thus have no connection with coelomic
cavity. The number of corpuscles is large; up to about
4.5 million is some species. It is drained by a duct
called the metanephric duct or ureter. Tubules of
mammalian kidney have U-shaped Loops of Henle
(avian kidney has very short loops & reptilian kidney
has no loops). Metanephros indicates an isolation of
excretory organ from reproductive system and hence
exhibits the advancement in the evolution of amniotes.
Intromittent organs:
Useful when fertilization is internal; introduce sperm into female reproductive tract.
Found in some fish, some birds, reptiles, & mammals.
Cartilaginous fish - appendages of pelvic fins called claspers direct sperm into female
reproductive tract.
Monotremes - tract is reptilian; caudal end secretes a shell before egg passes into the cloaca.
Placental mammals - embryonic ducts give rise to oviducts, uteri, & vaginas. Adult tract is
paired anteriorly & unpaired posteriorly (typically terminating as an unpaired vagina).
Oviducts (fallopian tubes) are relatively short, small in diameter, convoluted, & lined with
cilia; begin at ostium bordered with fimbria or cilia.
Uses of urine:
Reproduction (e.g., providing males with information concerning the reproductive
status of a female)
Behavioral (e.g., marking territories)
Moisten soil (some freshwater turtles use urine to soften the ground and make it easier
to dig holes for egg-laying).
Cloaca: In vertebrates, common chamber and outlet into which the intestinal, urinary, and genital
tracts open. It is present in amphibians, reptiles, birds, some fishes (e.g., sharks), and monotreme
mammals but is absent in placental mammals and most bony fishes. Certain animals (e.g., many
reptiles and some birds, including ducks) have an accessory organ (penis) within the cloaca that is
used to direct the sperm into the female's cloaca. Most birds mate by joining their cloacas in a
cloacal kiss; muscular contractions transfer the sperm from the male to the female.
Cloaca subdivisions:
Coprodaeum : Receives alimentary canal
Urodaeum : Receives urinary and reproductive products
Proctodaeum : Associated with excretory
Prepared by
Mr. S. D. Rathod
Associate Professor
Department of Zoology
B. N. Bandodkar College of Science, Thane