Unit 12.3 :The Human excretory system .

Key Words:

Metabolism
Urea
Kidneys

Objectives:

Outline the structure of a kidney and outline the

structure and functioning of a kidney tubule

Renal arteries

Outcomes:

Bladder

D: describe the function of the kidneys

Urthera
Ureter
Renal vein

B-C: explain the structure of a kidney

A: outline and explain the structure and function of
kidneys and kidney tubules

Soluble vitamins

Mineral salts

Nitrogen waste

Excretory
Products

Bile salts and

pigments

Excess water
Carbon dioxide
and water
GRAPHIC ORGANISER

 It is necessary for
the body to rid
itself of waste
products.
It is also important
to regulate the
volume and
composition of
body fluids.
The excretory
systems of the
body do this.

 All vertebrate animals produce nitrogen

waste (urea) in one form or another. Your
kidneys filter out urea to produce urine,
removing nitrogen waste from your body.
Kidneys also regulate water levels by
excreting different amounts of urine.
Your lungs excrete carbon dioxide and
water as you breathe out.
Your skin sheds excess salt through sweat.

Vena
cava

Aorta
Renal
artery

Kidney

Renal vein
Ureter

Bladder

Urethra

You have two kidneys.

Each receives blood from the

renal artery.

Kidneys act like filters,

removing urea.

The urea is diluted with water

and is called urine.

Urine is sent to the bladder for

storage via the ureter.

Once the bladder fills the urine

passes out the urethra.

Any sugar that enters the

kidneys is reabsorbed (saved),
as are some salts.

The amount of water in the

urine is adjusted to suit bodys
needs.

Vein

Artery
Kidney

Ureter

Bladder
Urethra

Filtered blood leaves the

kidney through renal vein

Blood enters the kidney

from renal artery

Urine leaves kidney

through ureter

Nephron the filter

Structure of Kidney

Each kidney has four parts:

Cortex the outer layer jammed pack full of filters called nephrons.
Filters the blood.

Medulla the middle layer which has the tubes carrying filtered
wastes to the centre of the kidney. Contains Loop of Henle

Pelvis area where all collecting ducts come together and connect
with ureter.

Ureter transports urine to the bladder.

Pelvis
Renal
artery

Medulla

Renal
vein
Ureter

Cortex

There are roughly one million

nephrons in each kidney.
Cortex
Nephron

R. vein
Renal artery

The unit of a kidney is the

nephron it carries out
filtering and reabsorption.

Ureter
Medulla

Blood is
filtered in the
renal capsule

Reabsorption
of useful
substances

Water levels of
urine adjusted

To bladder

Renal artery

Glomerulus
Bowmans capsule
Distal
convoluted
tubule

Blood
arrives
from the renal artery.
Capillaries
off renal
artery
Blood
enters a ball of capillaries called Glomerulus.
Theses
capillaries
sit in a filter called the Bowmans
Proximal convoluted
tubule
or renal capsule.
Small molecules leave the capillary and enter the
capsule glucose, amino acids, salts, urea and
Loop of Henle
Urine collecting duct
water.

Renal artery

Glomerulus
Bowmans capsule
Capillaries off renal
artery

Convoluted or
kidney tubule

The filtered blood

moves down the
nephron.
In the convoluted
tubule cells reabsorb
the good stuff
glucose,
amino acids,
Distal
most
salt and water.
convoluted
tubule
The
rest water and
urea moves on
through the nephron.
Urine collecting duct

 As the urine moves

on more water is
saved in the loop of
Henle and collecting
duct
Glomerulus
This adjusts water
Bowmans
loss
to suitcapsule
the level of
water in the body.

Loop of Henle

Convoluted
tubule

Urine collecting duct

Renal artery

Glomerulus
Bowmans capsule
Capillaries off renal
artery

Distal
convoluted
tubule

Proximal convoluted tubule

Loop of Henle

Urine collecting duct

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0uF9atEDV4

A N EXCRETORY SONG FOR REVIEWING THE STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION OIF A NEPH