Excretory
Functions:
The function of the excretory system is to get rid of waste that the
cells in our body produces. This waste is carried through the blood stream
to the kidneys, where it is filtered. In the kidneys, this waste is made into
urine, and carried down the ureters to the bladder, where it is stored. When
there is enough urine in the bladder, it passes through the urethra, where it
leaves the body. Another waste is feces, which is the solid waste of the
body. Another function of the excretory system is to pour out waste through
our skin. This is done through the sweat glands.
Major parts and organs:
Some of the major parts and organs of the Excretory system are the
kidneys, the ureter, the bladder, the urethra. The kidneys have two
functions. To remove waste products from the blood, and to remove excess
water and salts from the blood. From the kidneys, the waste travels down
the ureters. You have two ureters that flow from each kidney to the bladder.
The ureters have strong, muscular walls that squeeze the urine into the
bladder. When your bladder is full, the ureters close so the urine doesn�t
flow back into the kidneys. Your bladder is mainly a storage tank. Empty,
your bladder is about fist-sized. When it�s full it can stretch to hold one pint
of urine. From the bladder, the urine travels out the urethra, where it exits
the body. The urethra is a thin muscular tube that carries urine from the
bladder, outside of the body.
Interactions with other systems:
The Excretory system interacts with the Circulatory, Respiratory,
Integumentary, and Endocrine systems. The kidneys remove waste
substances from the bloodstream. The balance of water and salts in the
Circulatory system is maintained by the Excretory system. The waste carbon dioxide is removed by the lungs from the Respiratory system.
Sweat is removed through the Integumentary system. The pituitary gland
of the Endocrine system controls how much urine is secreted by the
kidneys.
Diseases:
Some of the diseases of the Excretory system are urethritis, renal
failure, and urinary incontinence. Urethritis is the inflammation of the
urethra which is commonly associated with a bacterial infection. Treatment of
the infection is with antibiotics. Renal failure is the inability of the kidney to
excrete metabolites at normal plasma levels. In the acute form the signs are
uremia, hyperkalemia and pulmonary edema. This condition may be treated
with hemodialysis. Urinary incontinence is the failure of voluntary control
of the vesical and urethral sphincters, with constant or frequent involuntary
passage of urine. Treatment may be as simple as bladder retraining regimens.