4.7.1
Kidneys & Control of Water Balance
Water Balance
Water Balance
Water levels in the body must be kept relatively constant to control the amount of water and ions diffusing in and out of cells. Many factors can disrupt this balance.


Exhalation
Exhalation
- Water in the lungs leaves the body in the person’s breath.


Sweating
Sweating
- Water, ions and urea are all lost in sweat.


Eating too much salt
Eating too much salt
- This can make the blood ion concentration too high.


Illness
Illness
- Illnesses that cause fever, vomiting or diarrhoea can result in dehydration (the blood's water concentration is too low).
Kidneys
Kidneys
The kidneys are important for homeostasis. They control the water and ion levels in the blood.


Ion levels
Ion levels
- The body's ion levels must be kept relatively constant to control osmosis and diffusion between cells in the body.


Excess water
Excess water
- The volume of water in the blood is monitored by the hypothalamus in the brain.
Urea
Urea
Urea needs to be removed from the body because it is toxic. When there is too much urea in the bloodstream, it can harm cells and tissues.


Amino acids
Amino acids
- Urea is formed when the digestion of protein results in an excess of (too many) amino acids, which can't be stored in the body.


Deamination
Deamination
- In the liver, these amino acids undergo a process known as deamination, and the waste product is ammonia.


Ammonia
Ammonia
- The ammonia is then converted into urea and must be excreted from the body as urine.
1Principles of Science I
1.1Structure & Bonding
1.1.1Atomic Model
1.1.2Electron Shells, Sub-Shells & Orbitals
1.1.3Ionic Bonding
1.1.4Representing Ionic Bonds
1.1.5Covalent Bonding
1.1.6Representing Covalent Bonds
1.1.7Metallic Bonding
1.1.8Intermolecular Forces
1.1.9Intermolecular Forces 2
1.1.10End of Topic Test - Bonding
1.1.11Relative Masses
1.1.12The Mole
1.1.13Molar Calculations
1.1.14Molar Calculations 2
1.1.15Empirical & Molecular Formulae
1.1.16Balanced Equations
1.1.17Percentage Yield
1.1.18End of Topic Test - Amount of Substance
1.2Properties of Substances
1.2.1The Periodic Table
1.2.2Ionisation Energy
1.2.3Factors Affecting Ionisation Energies
1.2.4Trends of Ionisation
1.2.5Trends in the Periodic Table
1.2.6Polarity
1.2.7Metals & Non-Metals
1.2.8Alkali Metals
1.2.9Alkaline Earth Metals
1.2.10Reactivity of Alkaline Earth Metals
1.2.11Redox
1.2.12Transition Metals
1.2.13Redox Reactions of Transition Metals
1.3Cell Structure & Function
1.4Cell Specialisation
1.5Tissue Structure & Function
1.5.1Human Gas Exchange
1.5.2Blood Vessels
1.5.3Atherosclerosis
1.5.4Skeletal Muscle
1.5.5Slow & Fast Twitch Fibres
1.5.6Neurones
1.5.7Speed of Transmission
1.5.8Action Potentials
1.5.9End of Topic Test - Neurones & Action Potentials
1.5.10Synapses
1.5.11Types of Synapse
1.5.12Medical Application
1.5.13End of Topic Test - Synapses
1.5.14Chemical Brain Imbalances
1.5.15Effect of Drugs on the Brain
1.6Working with Waves
1.7Waves in Communication
2Practical Scientific Procedures and Techniques
3Science Investigation Skills
3.1Scientific Processes
3.2Data Handling & Analysis
3.3Enzymes in Action
3.4Diffusion
3.5Plants & Their Environment
3.6Energy Content in Fuels
4Principles of Science II
4.1Extracting Elements
4.2Relating Properties to use of Substances
4.3Organic Chemistry
4.4Energy Changes in Industry
4.5The Circulatory System
4.5.1The Circulatory System
4.5.2Blood Vessels
4.5.3Blood Transfusion & the ABO Rhesus System
4.5.4The Heart
4.5.5The Cardiac Cycle
4.5.6Cardiac Output
4.5.7Coordination of Heart Action
4.5.8Heart Dissection
4.5.9Controlling Heart Rate
4.5.10Electrocardiograms
4.5.11Cardiovascular Disease
4.5.12Investigating Heart Rates
4.6Ventilation & Gas Exchange
4.7Urinary System
4.9Thermal Physics
4.9.1Power & Efficiency
4.9.2Work & Energy
4.9.3Conservation of Energy
4.9.4Pressure
4.9.5First Law of Thermodynamics
4.9.6Second Law of Thermodynamics
4.9.7Heat Engines, Heat Pumps & Refrigerators
4.9.8Non-Flow Processes
4.9.9p-V Diagrams
4.9.10Ideal Gases
4.9.11Ideal Gases 2
4.9.12Thermal Energy Transfer
4.9.13Thermal Energy Transfer Experiments
4.10Materials
5Contemporary Issues in Science
5.1Contemporary Issues in Science
5.2Analysing Scientific Information
Jump to other topics
1Principles of Science I
1.1Structure & Bonding
1.1.1Atomic Model
1.1.2Electron Shells, Sub-Shells & Orbitals
1.1.3Ionic Bonding
1.1.4Representing Ionic Bonds
1.1.5Covalent Bonding
1.1.6Representing Covalent Bonds
1.1.7Metallic Bonding
1.1.8Intermolecular Forces
1.1.9Intermolecular Forces 2
1.1.10End of Topic Test - Bonding
1.1.11Relative Masses
1.1.12The Mole
1.1.13Molar Calculations
1.1.14Molar Calculations 2
1.1.15Empirical & Molecular Formulae
1.1.16Balanced Equations
1.1.17Percentage Yield
1.1.18End of Topic Test - Amount of Substance
1.2Properties of Substances
1.2.1The Periodic Table
1.2.2Ionisation Energy
1.2.3Factors Affecting Ionisation Energies
1.2.4Trends of Ionisation
1.2.5Trends in the Periodic Table
1.2.6Polarity
1.2.7Metals & Non-Metals
1.2.8Alkali Metals
1.2.9Alkaline Earth Metals
1.2.10Reactivity of Alkaline Earth Metals
1.2.11Redox
1.2.12Transition Metals
1.2.13Redox Reactions of Transition Metals
1.3Cell Structure & Function
1.4Cell Specialisation
1.5Tissue Structure & Function
1.5.1Human Gas Exchange
1.5.2Blood Vessels
1.5.3Atherosclerosis
1.5.4Skeletal Muscle
1.5.5Slow & Fast Twitch Fibres
1.5.6Neurones
1.5.7Speed of Transmission
1.5.8Action Potentials
1.5.9End of Topic Test - Neurones & Action Potentials
1.5.10Synapses
1.5.11Types of Synapse
1.5.12Medical Application
1.5.13End of Topic Test - Synapses
1.5.14Chemical Brain Imbalances
1.5.15Effect of Drugs on the Brain
1.6Working with Waves
1.7Waves in Communication
2Practical Scientific Procedures and Techniques
3Science Investigation Skills
3.1Scientific Processes
3.2Data Handling & Analysis
3.3Enzymes in Action
3.4Diffusion
3.5Plants & Their Environment
3.6Energy Content in Fuels
4Principles of Science II
4.1Extracting Elements
4.2Relating Properties to use of Substances
4.3Organic Chemistry
4.4Energy Changes in Industry
4.5The Circulatory System
4.5.1The Circulatory System
4.5.2Blood Vessels
4.5.3Blood Transfusion & the ABO Rhesus System
4.5.4The Heart
4.5.5The Cardiac Cycle
4.5.6Cardiac Output
4.5.7Coordination of Heart Action
4.5.8Heart Dissection
4.5.9Controlling Heart Rate
4.5.10Electrocardiograms
4.5.11Cardiovascular Disease
4.5.12Investigating Heart Rates
4.6Ventilation & Gas Exchange
4.7Urinary System
4.9Thermal Physics
4.9.1Power & Efficiency
4.9.2Work & Energy
4.9.3Conservation of Energy
4.9.4Pressure
4.9.5First Law of Thermodynamics
4.9.6Second Law of Thermodynamics
4.9.7Heat Engines, Heat Pumps & Refrigerators
4.9.8Non-Flow Processes
4.9.9p-V Diagrams
4.9.10Ideal Gases
4.9.11Ideal Gases 2
4.9.12Thermal Energy Transfer
4.9.13Thermal Energy Transfer Experiments
4.10Materials
5Contemporary Issues in Science
5.1Contemporary Issues in Science
5.2Analysing Scientific Information
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