The Excretory System

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Function of the Excretory System

Filters cellular waste products out of the blood and gets them out of the body (waste = remains of cellular respiration)

The excretory system does this in 3 ways-

1. Filtering urea out of the blood (forming urine)

2. Exhaling carbon dioxide and water

3. Perspiring water, salts, and a small amount of urea

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Visual of the Excretory System

https://www.thinglink.com/scene/382265844975009793

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Structures of the Excretory System

Liver- breaks down cell wastes to form urea

Kidneys- filter urea and water out of blood, forming urine

Nephrons- structures in kidneys that do the filtering The glomerulus of the nephron interacts with capillaries, balancing concentrations of materials and helping to maintain water homeostasis

Ureters- urine from the kidneys trickle down the ureters to the urinary bladder

Urinary Bladder- stores urine until the body decides to release it

Urethra- connects the bladder to the outside world

Lungs- eliminate carbon dioxide and water by exhaling

Skin- eliminates water, salts, ammonia, and urea through sweat (perspiring)