Abstract
Amino acids absorbed from the alimentary tract and in excess of metabolic requirements, together with those generated by the breakdown of body proteins, are broken down further in a process known as oxidative deamination:
The keto acids can be used in other pathways of intermediary metabolism. However, because of its low pH, ammonia is highly toxic to tissues and must be removed rapidly from the body or be rendered harmless. These processes are referred to as excretion.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Badman, D.G. (1971). Nitrogen excretion in two species of pulmonate land snails. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology, 38A, 663–73
Baldwin, E. (1935). The energy sources in ontogenesis. VIII. The respiratory quotient of developing gastropod eggs. Journal of Experimental Biology, 12, 27–35
Duerr, F. (1966). Nitrogen excretion in the freshwater pulmonate snail Lymnaea stagnalis appressa (Say). Physiologist, 9, 172
Duerr, F. (1967). The uric acid content of several species of prosobranch and pulmonate snails as related to nitrogen excretion. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology, 22, 33–340
Horne, F.R. (1971). Accumulation of urea by a pulmonate snail during aestivation. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology, 38A, 565–70
Needham, J. (1931). Chemical Embryology. 3 vols. Cambridge University Press; Cambridge
Needham, J. (1938). Contribution of chemical physiology to the problem of reversibility in evolution. Biological Reviews, 13, 225–51
Pilgrim, R.L.C. (1954). Waste of carbon and energy in nitrogen excretion. Nature (London), 173, 491–2
Potts, W.T.M. and Parry, G. (1964). Osmotic and Ionic Regulation in Animals. Pergamon Press; London
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1981 P. Calow
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Calow, P. (1981). Excretion. In: Invertebrate Biology. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-8451-9_4
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-8451-9_4
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-0-7099-0001-6
Online ISBN: 978-1-4684-8451-9
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive