Urogenital systems in exotics Flashcards
What is the simplest way to excrete waste?
To excrete it as ammonia
What does ammonia require to be excreted
large amounts of water as it is toxic to the nervous system
Which animals excrete ammonia?
aquatic species such as fish, crocodiles and alligators
What is excreted in a semi-solid form thar requires a lot of ATP to excrete?
Uric acid (excreted by birds)
Why is uric acid excreted in a semi-solid form?
It mixes with sodium and potassium to form a suspension, consequently it has a large protein concentration
What do fish mainly use for most of their excretion and retention processes?
their gills
Where do kidneys sit in the fish?
ventral to the spine and in some species sit on the swim bladder
What is the cranial section of the kidneys predominantly?
haematopoietic and lymphoid tissue
What is the caudal section of the kidneys predominantly?
excretory tissue with some hematopoietic and lymphoid tissue
Why must reptiles use other methods of conserving water that aren’t the kidneys?
They have no loop of henle
Where do the kidneys lie in sea turtles?
In the caudal coelom, they are flattened and lobated
What does the sea turtle bladder look like?
Large and thin, it serves mostly to store water and electrolytes
What do the kidneys look like in lizards?
paired, symmetrical, elongated and slightly lobated
Where are the kidneys in lizards located?
Deep in the pelvis canal, hence why disease that leads to swelling/enlargement of the kidneys can translate to constipation
Where does urine waste flow in the reptile kidneys
It flows from the kidney through the ureter into the urodeum of the cloaca
