Wow, this line for the restroom is long!” Bintou says to Maeva, anxiously bobbing from side to side to ease the pressure in her bladder. Maeva nods and says, “It’s always like this at parties. It’s the alcohol.” Bintou and Maeva are 21-year-old college students at a party. They and many other people have been drinking alcoholic beverages over the course of the evening. As the night has gotten later, the line for the restroom has gotten longer and longer. You may have noticed this phenomenon if you have been to places where large numbers of people are drinking alcohol, like at the ballpark below. Bintou says, “I wonder why alcohol makes you have to pee?” Maeva learned about this in her Human Biology class and tells Bintou that alcohol inhibits a hormone that helps you retain water. So instead of your body retaining water, you urinate more out. This could lead to dehydration, so she suggests that after their trip to the restroom, they start drinking water instead of alcohol. For people who drink occasionally or moderately, this effect of alcohol on the excretory system—the system that removes wastes such as urine—is usually temporary. However, in people who drink excessively, alcohol can have serious, long-term effects on the excretory system. For example, heavy drinking on a regular basis can cause liver and kidney disease. 1. Which hormone do you think Maeva was referring to? Remember that this hormone causes the urinary system to retain water and excrete less water out in the urine. 2. How and where does this hormone work? 3. Long-term, excessive use of alcohol can affect the liver and kidneys. How do these two organs of excretion interact and work together?
“Wow, this line for the restroom is long!” Bintou says to Maeva, anxiously bobbing from side to side to ease the pressure in her bladder. Maeva nods and says, “It’s always like this at parties. It’s the alcohol.”
Bintou and Maeva are 21-year-old college students at a party. They and many other people have been drinking alcoholic beverages over the course of the evening. As the night has gotten later, the line for the restroom has gotten longer and longer. You may have noticed this phenomenon if you have been to places where large numbers of people are drinking alcohol, like at the ballpark below.
Bintou says, “I wonder why alcohol makes you have to pee?” Maeva learned about this in her Human Biology class and tells Bintou that alcohol inhibits a hormone that helps you retain water. So instead of your body retaining water, you urinate more out. This could lead to dehydration, so she suggests that after their trip to the restroom, they start drinking water instead of alcohol.
For people who drink occasionally or moderately, this effect of alcohol on the excretory system—the system that removes wastes such as urine—is usually temporary. However, in people who drink excessively, alcohol can have serious, long-term effects on the excretory system. For example, heavy drinking on a regular basis can cause liver and kidney disease.
1. Which hormone do you think Maeva was referring to? Remember that this hormone causes the urinary system to retain water and excrete less water out in the urine.
2. How and where does this hormone work?
3. Long-term, excessive use of alcohol can affect the liver and kidneys. How do these two organs of excretion interact and work together?
Trending now
This is a popular solution!
Step by step
Solved in 2 steps
