What is excretion?
The removal of metabolic waste products (e.g urea & carbon dioxide) from the body. These materials are toxic if left to accumulate in the body.
What is a nephron? How many does each kidney have?
They are tiny tubules in a kidney, in which urine is produced. The kidney contains thousands of these
Name the two hormones and their function that are secreted by the pancreas.
Insulin - stimulates the liver to store excess glucose as glycogen Glucagon - stimulates the liver to break down stored glycogen and release glucose.
Name one metabolic waste product that must be removed from the body and where it is removed from
Carbon Dioxide - lungs
Urea - kidneys (urine)
How does vasoconstriction conserve heat?
Vasoconstriction of arterioles under the skin. Shunt vessel dilate. Less blood flows to the capillaries on the surface of the skin. Less heat loss via conduction, convection and radiation
Describe what happens to your blood glucose concentration, pancreas and liver after eating a meal which provides a lot of glucose.
Your blood glucose concentration will rise, which causes the Islets of Langerhans in the pancreas to release insulin which stimulates the liver to store excess glucose as glycogen. The blood glucose concentration will then go back down to normal.
What happens to the nitrogenous waste that is produced in our body
It is sent to the liver to be deaminated into urea
Other than vasoconstriction, how does the human body generate or save heat?
Muscles work: muscles in some parts of the body contract and relax very quickly to generate heat. Metabolism may increase: the speed of chemical reactions such as respiration may increase. this also releases more heat
What is deamination?
The breakdown of excess amino acids to form urea and a carbohydrate. The amino group (-NH2) group forms urea,) while the (-CHO) group forms the carbohydrate.
What is the function of the adipose tissue?
This is made up of cells which contain large drops of oil. This layer helps to insulate your body and also acts as an energy reserve.
Name three functions of the liver
1. converts excess amino acids into urea and carbohydrates 2. controls the amount of glucose in the blood 3. stores carbohydrates as glycogen 4. makes bile 5. breaks down old red blood cells breaks down harmful substances such as alcohol 6. stores vitamins A, B, D, E and K 7. stores potassium
Name the 6 different parts of a nephron
Glomerulus, Bowman's capsule, proximal convoluted tubule, distal convoluted tubule, loop of Henle, collecting duct