Question

Provide an example of a simple/basal excretory organ and a complex/derived excretory organ. Explain how their functions differ.

Answer 1

An example of a simple excretory organ is the contractile vacuole in unicellular organisms like amoeba. The cellular wastes and excess water are expelled by exocytosis. The contractile vacuoles merge with the cell membrane and expel wastes into the environment.

An example of a complex excretory organ is the kidney which has several filtering units known as the nephrons. It helps in maintaining overall fluid balance, regulating and filtering minerals from blood, filtering waste substances from food, medicines and other toxic substances.