Excretion: the removal of organic waste from the body fluids.

Elimination: the discharge of these products into the environment. Homeostatic regulation: Maintaining volume and solute concentration of blood plasma.

Regulates blood volume by adjusting content of urine. Regulates blood pressure by controlling red blood cell

production. Regulates plasma concentrations of electrolytes: sodium, potassium, and chloride. Regulates and stabilizes blood pH.

Adrenal Gland

Posterior Vena Cava

Kidney

Abdominal Aorta

Rectum Ureter Bladder Urethra

Placed against the dorsal body wall, in front of the last false rib. The right kidney is slightly lower than the left to accommodate the liver.

Renal Medulla Calyx Renal Vein Renal Artery Renal Pyramid Renal Pelvis Renal Capsule Ureter Renal Cortex

Located on the top of the kidney.

Responsible for

releasing adrenaline into the blood stream Causes fight or flight response

Blood to be filtered enters through the renal artery and exits through the renal vein. The functional unit of the kidney is the nephron.

Each kidney has over

1.25 million with a total length of about 85 miles of tubing.

As blood enters the nephron, water and any dissolved substances smaller than proteins enter the glomerulus, a network of capillaries.
Large proteins and red blood cells

exit through the afferent arteriole.

This filtration is passive. Substances needed by the body are reabsorbed in the renal tubule.

Water Glucose Amino acids Electrolytes

Other waste products are not reabsorbed and will be eliminated.

Urea Waste product of protein digestion. Uric acid Waste product of nucleic acid digestion Creatine Waste product of creatine phosphate

digestion in muscles.

Any remaining fluid will collect in the renal pelvis and exit the kidneys through the ureter.

The kidneys have 64 sq. ft. of filtration surface, producing about 48 gallons of filtrate per day. 99% is reabsorbed back into the body.

About 1-2 liters of urine are produced every day. Urine is

Sterile, or free from microorganisms Slightly acidic (pH = 6) Contains unneeded electrolytes, waste products,

and ammonia. Yellow due to a pigment produced when old red blood cells are broken down.

The presence of other substances in urine could indicate a disease or disorder.

Glucose Excess intake of sugary foods; Diabetes Proteins Intense physical exertion, pregnancy. Pus Urinary tract infection. Erythrocytes Damage to the urinary tract. Bile Liver disease.

Ureter
Drains urine into the urinary bladder

Urinary Bladder
Stores urine.

Urethra
Tube that exits the body from bladder.

Urinary Reflex
The process of urination is a the result

of two actions occurring simultaneously:

The muscles surrounding the urinary bladder contract, squeezing its contents out. The external urinary sphincter relaxes, allowing urine to leave the body.

Kidney stones are crystalized minerals in the urine. Dietary factors that increase the risk of stone formation:
Low fluid intake High intake of animal

protein, sodium, sugars.

Males have a much longer and narrower urethra.

Higher risk of kidney stones, lower risk of

urinary tract infection.

Females have a shorter and wider urethra.

Higher risk of urinary tract infection, lower risk

of kidney stones.