The Excretory
System
Why do we need it?
During life functions such as cellular respiration, cells produce waste materials such as water, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, sulfur, and phosphorus. As these materials build up inside the cell, a concentration gradient is established and the waste materials leave the cell. In a single-celled organism, these materials are now outside the organism and no problem to the individual at all. However , in multicellular organisms, waste material that leaves individual cell still needs another way to leave the whole organism. The removal of these cellular wastes is excretion, which is different from egestion, when feces are removed from the body. The excretory system eliminates these potential toxins from the organism before they can become harmful; thus maintaining the proper chemical balance required for life: homeostasis.
Which of the 7 Life Functions does it carry out?
Well, excretion, duh. The elimination of cellular wastes from the body. This helps to maintain homeostasis by removing toxins from the organism. If these toxins were not kept in check, we would die.
How does the excretory system interact with other body systems?
The excretory system and the digestive system are closely related. The digestive system digests the food we eat and takes out the nutrients. The excretory system then takes potential toxins out of the blood, such as excess salt. Without the excretory system, the digestive system's job wouldn't be complete. The food's nutrients would be absorbed by the body, but the cellular wastes absorbed into the bloodstream would remain inside and build up until they reached dangerous levels.
The excretory system also interacts with the circulatory system. In the kidneys, cellular wastes, such as excessive calcium and sodium, are filtered out of the blood and excreted from the body. In the lungs, carbon dioxide from the blood diffuses out of the bloodstream and into the lungs, where it is released from the body when you exhale.
The major organs of the Excretory System are:
Kidneys
Lungs
Liver
Skin
All four of these organs are included in the diagram at left.
Why do we need it?
During life functions such as cellular respiration, cells produce waste materials such as water, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, sulfur, and phosphorus. As these materials build up inside the cell, a concentration gradient is established and the waste materials leave the cell. In a single-celled organism, these materials are now outside the organism and no problem to the individual at all. However , in multicellular organisms, waste material that leaves individual cell still needs another way to leave the whole organism. The removal of these cellular wastes is excretion, which is different from egestion, when feces are removed from the body. The excretory system eliminates these potential toxins from the organism before they can become harmful; thus maintaining the proper chemical balance required for life: homeostasis.
Which of the 7 Life Functions does it carry out?
Well, excretion, duh. The elimination of cellular wastes from the body. This helps to maintain homeostasis by removing toxins from the organism. If these toxins were not kept in check, we would die.
How does the excretory system interact with other body systems?
The excretory system and the digestive system are closely related. The digestive system digests the food we eat and takes out the nutrients. The excretory system then takes potential toxins out of the blood, such as excess salt. Without the excretory system, the digestive system's job wouldn't be complete. The food's nutrients would be absorbed by the body, but the cellular wastes absorbed into the bloodstream would remain inside and build up until they reached dangerous levels.
The excretory system also interacts with the circulatory system. In the kidneys, cellular wastes, such as excessive calcium and sodium, are filtered out of the blood and excreted from the body. In the lungs, carbon dioxide from the blood diffuses out of the bloodstream and into the lungs, where it is released from the body when you exhale.
The major organs of the Excretory System are:
Kidneys
Lungs
Liver
Skin
All four of these organs are included in the diagram at left.
The
Excretory
System
Click Here to play a review
game about all parts of
the excretory system.
game about all parts of
the excretory system.
(The large intestine IS NOT a part of the excretory system, it is part of the DIGESTIVE system.)
Click here to view Works Cited