The process of removal of excess water and salts from the body is called osmoregulation.
The process of osmoregulation is also controlled by the kidneys. Osmoregulation is related to the habitat of an animal. The fresh water animals like fishes take up a large amount of water and frequently excrete a lot of urine in order to get rid of excess water. But other animals like birds and mammals take up a small quantity of water, thus they need to conserve the water. In these animals, a large quantity of water is reabsorbed in the tubules of the nephrons. In this way, we see that kidneys not only remove the toxic waste materials out of the body but also control the balance of water and salts in the body.
Test Your Understanding and Answer These Questions:
- Write a note on haemodialysis.