Excretion in Humans - Liver, kidneys and urea formation

✓ Engaging presentation
✓ Recaps previous learning
✓ Lots of AFL tasks and activities
✓ Exam questions and mark schemes
✓ Diagrams to print

This lesson on Excretion in Humans is designed for KS4 Science students enrolled in the CIE Cambridge IGCSE Biology 0610 (2023-25) course. This is the first and only lesson in the topic 13 Excretion in Humans.

The lesson recaps previous learning from other linked topics to ensure students have a strong foundation before diving into the material. It also includes concise and easy-to-understand information and a variety of quick assessment for learning tasks to help students solidify their understanding of the topic. There is a strong emphasis on answering exam questions, with examples and the mark scheme included in the presentation.

Objectives:

• State that carbon dioxide is excreted through the lungs
• State that the kidneys excrete urea and excess water and ions
• Identify in diagrams and images the kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra
• Identify in diagrams and images the structure of the kidney, limited to the cortex and medulla
• Outline the structure and function of a nephron and its associated blood vessels, limited to: (a) the role of the glomerulus in the filtration
  from the blood of water, glucose, urea and ions (b) the role of the nephron in the reabsorption of all of the glucose, some of the ions and most of the water back into the blood © the formation of urine containing urea, excess water and excess ions (details of these processes are not required)
• Describe the role of the liver in the assimilation of amino acids by converting them to proteins
• State that urea is formed in the liver from excess amino acids
• Describe deamination as the removal of the nitrogen-containing part of amino acids to form urea
• Explain the importance of excretion, limited to toxicity of urea

This lesson would also be adaptable for all GCSE students (whether AQA, Edexcel, OCR) and great for KS3 Science or as a GCSE revision resource.