Urinary Overview

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Urinary Overview Objectives

Describe the properties of water that make it a critical molecule for life as we know it.
Provide examples of ways humans take in and lose water.
List the various components of blood plasma, including their sources and functions.

We all know water is critical for life. Obtaining and retaining water, like these wasps are doing, is an important task for terrestrial (land) organisms, including humans.

This video introduces the significant properties of water and water balance in animals, including humans.

From the video (or your own knowledge), list three characteristics of the water molecule that make it ideal for supporting organisms.

Also, list how we humans obtain water (two obvious ways, one less obvious) and four ways we lose water.

Water is the primary component of blood plasma and This video introduces blood plasma.

The urinary system is responsible for maintaining homeostasis (balance) of plasma components. The first step is filtering of small components out of the plasma, as demonstrated in this video.

The next section explains how the kidneys filter plasma, and introduces the organs that transport and store urine.

Check your knowledge. Can you:

describe the properties of water that make it a critical molecule for life as we know it?
provide examples of ways humans take in and lose water?
list the various components of blood plasma, including their sources and functions?