Summarizing Excretion Systems
Summary
Many systems have evolved for excreting wastes that are simpler than the kidney and urinary systems of vertebrate animals. The simplest system is that of contractile vacuoles present in microorganisms. Flame cells and nephridia in worms perform excretory functions and maintain osmotic balance. Some insects have evolved Malpighian tubules to excrete wastes and maintain osmotic balance.
Glossary
flame cell
(also, protonephridia) excretory cell found in flatworms
Malpighian tubule
excretory tubules found in arthropods
microvilli
cellular processes that increase the surface area of cells
nephridia
excretory structures found in annelids
nephridiopore
pore found at the end of nephridia
This lesson is part of:
The Excretory System
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