The mammalian kidney is a complex organ responsible for both excretion and osmoregulation.
State what is meant by the term excretion.
Name one human organ, other than the kidney, that is involved in excretion and state the main metabolic waste product it eliminates.
The table below shows the concentrations of two solutes in healthy blood plasma and in urine.
| Solute | Concentration in blood plasma (g dm−3\text{g dm}^{-3}g dm−3) | Concentration in urine (g dm−3\text{g dm}^{-3}g dm−3) |
|---|---|---|
| Fibrinogen (a plasma protein) | 3.0 | 0.0 |
| Glucose | 0.9 | 0.0 |
Name one nitrogen-containing metabolic waste product normally found in human urine.
Explain how the kidney prevents fibrinogen from appearing in the urine.
Explain why the body does not excrete glucose, and describe the mechanism by which the kidney prevents its loss.
