Excretion in living organisms

The importance of excretion:

All biological processes that occur in the bodies of all living organisms are carried out through chemical reactions that leave some waste products. The living organism must get rid of these waste products as soon as they are formed, otherwise it will cause many problems and infections. The process by which the living organisms get rid of these waste products is called excretion.

Some substances excreted by animals and plants and how they are removed:

Plants Excess carbon dioxide Excess oxygen Calcium oxalate

Process by which produced Respiration in cells Photosynthesis in green cells Metabolism in cells

Process by which removed Diffusion via stomata Diffusion via stomata Stored in cells

Others, e.g. tannins, etc. Animals Carbon Dioxide Water Excess salt Urea

Metabolism in cells

Stored & lost in old tissues

Respiration in cells Respiration and external intake Intake and metabolism

Lung expiration Kidney (lungs and skin) Kidney (skin)

Deamination of amino Kidney acids

The kidney: excretion and osmoregulation

1. Na+ and Cl- ions are actively pumped out of the ascending limb. The ions accumulate in the interstitial fluid. This lowers the water potential of the interstitial fluid. The tendency is for water to osmotically follow the Na+ and Cl- ions but it cannot since most of the ascending limb is impermeable to water. 2. Water is drawn out of the descending limb and into the interstitial fluids by osmosis. This makes the fluid in the descending limb more and more concentrated. 3. By the time the fluid in the descending limb has reached the bottom of the limb, it has lost a lot of water and is very concentrated. The fluid surrounding the bottom of the loop - in the medulla of the kidney - is also very concentrated because of the accumulation of Na+ and Cl- ions. The direction of the concentration gradient is shown by the arrow. 4. The fluid then enters the ascending limb. As it moves up the ascending

limb, sodium ions are actively pumped out of it. 5. This makes the fluid at the top of the ascending limb very dilute again. 6. The fluid then empties into collecting ducts which pass through the very concentrated medullary region. 7. Under the influence of the hormone ADH, the wall of the collecting duct becomes permeable to water which is therefore osmotically drawn out of the collecting duct and into the blood capillaries in the region. 8. By drawing water out of the fluid in the collecting duct, a very concentrated urine can be produced. By regulating the permeability of the collecting duct (via ADH), the amount of water in the blood and the concentration of the urine can be controlled.

The role of ADH in osmoregulation:

When there is a low amount of water in the body, ADH (antidiuretic hormone) is secreted so that the kidneys reabsorb more water which increases the amount of water to the body's optimal level. However, if the secretion of ADH was affected in any way, then the reabsorption of water by the kidneys would also be affected. Because no ADH is being secreted, the kidneys wouldn't be able to maintain osmoregulation and would therefore keep excreting water out of the body.

Why plants may need to conserve water:

Plants may need to conserve or store water for a variety of reasons. They may reside in arid climates, where water is scarce and must be stored between rainfalls. They may have broad, exposed leaves and surfaces that lose water to evaporation.
Adaptations that enable plants to reduce water loss from their leaves

* Fewer stomata, the pores in the epidermis or skin of the leaf on the leaf can reduce water loss * In hot dry climates many plants open their stomata only in the cool of the evening.

* Small leaves (totora, lavender) have a reduced surface area to enable plants to conserve water, as do feathery, filigree leaves (romneya, eschscholzia or Californian poppy). * Needle-like foliage (grasses, pine trees) has a very small surface area that loses very little water. Some of these plants can roll their leaves inwards, further reducing surface areas and water loss. * Leafless plants, such as brooms, have lost their leaves altogether with stems undertaking essential photosynthesis and food production. * Grey or light coloured foliage reflects light, reducing heat and thus water loss from transpiration

* Thicker cuticles, the outer waxy coating on leaves, slow transpiration; many coastal plants have a thick glossy coating on the leaves, reducing water loss and also protecting from saltburn. * Silver hairs coating leaves reflect light and help to lower temperatures inside the leaf, as well as reducing the effect of drying winds. * Thick fleshy leaves can store water; many succulents have thick leaves that, when bruised or broken, contain a great deal of moisture.