Transportation in Organisms: Excretion
Various activities always go on inside the body of a living being. These activities are collectively called metabolism. Many harmful substances are created during metabolic activities. These substances can prove lethal if not removed from the body in time. Removal of waste from the body is called excretion.
Excretory System
The human excretory system is composed of a pair of kidneys, two tubes: called ureter and a urinary bladder.
Kidney
Kidneys are bean-shaped. They work like filters. Blood, laden with waste materials enters the kidney. The waste is filtered from the blood and the purified blood is sent to the normal circulation. The waste, along with water, is transferred to the urinary bladder through the ureters. The content of the ureter is called urine. Urine contains 95% water, 2.5% urea and 2.5% other wastes. Urine is expelled out from time to time.
Type of waste and mode of excretion
Protein is made up of nitrogen. Metabolism of protein creates nitrogenous wastes in the body. The nitrogenous waste is the main waste in animals. The nitrogenous waste takes different forms in different animals. These are, ammonia, urea and uric acid. Based on the type of nitrogenous waste, animals can be divided into following categories:
Ammonotelism
Ammonia is the main nitrogenous waste in these animals. Lot of water is required for removal of ammonia. Ammonotelism is present in aquatic animals, e.g. fish, frogs, etc.
Ureotelism
Urea is the main nitrogenous waste in these animals. Less water is required for removal of urea. Ureotelism is present in mammals.
Uricotelism
Uric acid is the main nitrogenous waste in these animals. Removal of uric acid requires negligible amount of water. Uricotelism is present in reptiles and aves.
Note: Some of the wastes are removed along with sweat. Carbon dioxide is an important waste which is removed through the lungs.
Review Questions
Which is the main excretory organ in humans?
Answer: Kidneys
Which is the main excretory product in humans?
Answer: Urea
Transportation in Plants
For transportation in plants, there are two main tissues, viz. xylem and phloem. These are composed of narrow tube-like structures. Xylem is responsible for transport of water, while phloem is responsible for transport of food.
Transport of Water
Plants take water from soil. Following are the main steps in transport of water in plants.
In Roots
From soil, the water enters the root hairs because of osmosis. From root hairs water enters further because of root pressure.
In Stem
Various factors are at play during transportation of water through xylem in stems. The transport of water through xylem is also called Ascent of Sap.
- Root pressure is responsible for the rise of water to some height.
- Capillary action pushes the water further up. The rise of liquid in a very narrow tube is called capillary action. Capillary action happens because of very small diameter of the tube.
- Adhesion Cohesion: Water molecules stick to each other and make a continuous column inside the xylem tubes. This happens because of adhesion and cohesion
- Transpiration pull: There are numerous small pores on the surface of leaves. These pores are called stomata. Water vapour is continuously removed through stomata during daytime. Removal of water vapour in plants is called transpiration. This creates a pull in the underlying xylem tissues. The pull is called transpiration pull. Transpiration pull creates a suction effect on the water column inside the xylem.
Note: When water molecules stick to surface of another sbstance, it is called adhesion. Water molecules stick to each other as well, and this is called cohesion.
Transport of Food
Food is prepared in leaves and needs to be transported to different plant parts for use and for storage. The transport of food takes place through phloem. Some biological force is used in transport of food in plants.
Review Questions
Transport of water and minerals in plants happens through which tissues?
Answer: Xylem
Transport of food in plants happens through which tissues?
Answer: Phloem