Chapter 45 Lecture Enrichment Ideas


  • Describe the role of the excretory system in excretion and why it is so important that nitrogenous wastes be removed from the body; only the American bear can recycle amino acid metabolic wastes to usable proteins during hibernation; all other organisms must rid themselves of these toxins.
  • A freshwater fish placed in the ocean, or a marine fish placed in fresh water are under terrific physiological stress.
    A contrast of these two systems helps emphasize the modifications found in organisms.
  • Review the countercurrent mechanism in fish gill oxygenation as a review of the same concept found in the human kidney.
  • There is an overall principle in excretory systems of pushing out most fluids and then reabsorbing the useful nutrients and water; this can be a running theme as flame cells, Malpighian tubules, and nephrons are described.


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