Contextualization

The human excretory system is a complex network of organs, tissues, and cells that work together to remove toxins and waste from the body. Its efficiency is vital for maintaining health and overall well-being, as the failure of these processes can lead to the accumulation of harmful substances that can cause a range of health problems.

Technically, excretion involves the removal of metabolic substances, that is, the waste produced by cellular metabolism. The main excreta of the human body are: urine, sweat, CO2, and feces. In addition to these, the body also excretes excess salt and water, as well as nitrogenous compounds, such as urea and uric acid - waste products from the metabolism of proteins and nucleotides.

The excretory system is composed of various organs, including the kidneys, ureters, urinary bladder, and urethra. Although many people associate excretion mainly with the process of urination, each component of the excretory system plays a unique and crucial role.

Importance of the Excretory System

The excretory system not only removes waste and toxins from the human body but also helps maintain the balance of water, salts, and other solutes in the body. Without it, our body would not be able to maintain homeostatic balance, which is essential for life.

In the real world, a solid understanding of the excretory system is relevant in various ways. For medical professionals, it is especially important for the diagnosis and treatment of various kidney and urinary tract diseases. Furthermore, a detailed study of the excretory system can help in understanding how drugs are metabolized and eliminated from the body, aiding in the development of new drugs and optimizing the effectiveness of existing medications.

Practical Activity: "Excreting Knowledge: A Journey through the Human Excretory System"

Project Objectives:

1. Understand the main organs of the excretory system and their functions.
2. Understand the functioning of the excretory system.
3. Understand the different types of excreta released by the human body and their functions.
4. Develop skills such as time management, teamwork, problem-solving, and creative thinking.

Project Description:

Groups will create a detailed three-dimensional model of the human excretory system, which should include the kidneys, ureters, urinary bladder, and urethra and show how substances are filtered, reabsorbed, and excreted. In addition, students should produce a project presentation video, explaining each part of the excretory system and its functioning. The video should be informative, clear, and creative.

Required Materials:

• Cardboard, paper mache, or modeling clay
• Paints
• Brushes
• Markers
• Scissors
• Glue
• Camera or cell phone with video recording capability.

Step by Step:

1. Research: Each group should start their research to gather detailed information about the excretory system. This information will be used for the construction of the model and for the creation of the explanatory video.

2. Model Construction: Students should use the materials listed above to create a 3D model of the excretory system.

3. Video Creation: Once completed, students should present the model in a video of up to 15 minutes, explaining each organ, its function, and how they interconnect to form the excretory system.

4. Report Writing: Each group should prepare a detailed project report. The report should include:

• Introduction: Contextualization of the excretory system, relevance of the topic, and the project's objective.
• Development: Theoretical discussion on the excretory system, detailed description of the model and video, explanation of the procedures used, any problems encountered during the project and how they were resolved.
• Conclusions: This section should summarize what the students learned during the project and the importance of this learning.
• Bibliography: References of the materials used for research.

Deliverables:

1. Model: The model should represent the excretory system with as much detail as possible, in a creative way.

2. Explanatory Video: It should be clear and informative. Students should explain each part of the excretory system and its functioning, providing a better understanding of the topic.

3. Report: This document will be the formal record of the work done by the students. In it, students should provide a complete view of their work process, theoretical discussion, problems encountered and how they were solved, conclusions, and learnings.