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What is the function of the collecting duct?

The network of ducts facilitates the transportation of urine by channeling the waste into the renal pelvis for drainage into the ureters. The muscular ureter tubes lead to the urinary bladder from where urine is eliminated.\nThe actions of the collection ducts are controlled by hormones that cause dilation or constriction of the ducts based on the body’s electrolyte balance. Constriction conserves water while dilation allows more fluid to leave the body through elimination. Aldosterone and antidiuretic hormone are important hormones involved in these processes.\nThe healthy functioning of co..

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How do you give yourself the hiccups?

Medical News Today explains that a hiccup, also known as synchronous diaphragmatic flutter or singultus, refers to a sudden, involuntary diaphragm contraction that occurs simultaneously with the contraction of the larynx and complete closure of the glottis, the middle part of the larynx where vocal cords are found. Hiccups often occur rhythmically, with a relatively constant interval between every hiccup.\nMost experts agree that hiccups are usually triggered by minor stomach upsets, reports Medical News Today. Experts are not certain about the mechanisms that cause hiccups, although studies r..

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What organisms produce their own food?

Autotrophs also go by the name of "producers," and include most species of plants, which rely on sunlight for food production. These plants perform photosynthesis, which turns light from the sun into usable energy. Plants first absorb sunlight, then use the energy to create glucose, which forms when plants combine water and soil with sunlight. Glucose, a type of sugar, gives plants energy and helps them make cellulose, which enables building and reparation of cell walls. Plants with green leaves, including evergreens, conifers and small flowering herbs, perform photosynthesis to make food, as ..

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How many time zones are in North America?

The time zones in America begin with time zone P*, which consists of the island of Newfoundland and is three and a half hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). The Atlantic time zone, covering the eastern part of Canada, is four hours behind GMT. Eastern, Central, Mountain and Pacific are the time zones in the continental United States. Most of Alaska lies in the Yukon time zone, and some of the Aleutian Islands fall in the Alaska-Hawaii time zone, which is 10 hours behind GMT.

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Do smaller or larger molecules diffuse faster?

The size of a molecule is not the only factor that can influence the rate of diffusion. Molecules diffuse faster as temperature increases. Molecules also diffuse across a membrane with greater speed as the difference of the concentrations on both sides of the membrane increases. Molecules diffuse quickly across larger surface areas and move more slowly at greater distances. Some membranes can be more permeable than others, increasing the rate of diffusion.\nWhen molecules are released into an environment, they tend to spread out to less concentrated areas. This process is called diffusion. Dif..

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What is a grassland food web?

Some examples of primary consumers include insects, rodents and ruminants. Secondary consumers, carnivores like hawks and wolves, eat the primary consumers.\nThe third trophic level includes detrivores and decomposers, which are organisms that consume and break down the remains of dead plants and animals.\nGrasslands are open spaces where mostly grasses grow because the annual rainfall is not enough to support trees. Depending on the climate and geography, they are known as prairies, savannas, steppes\nand pampas. Grasslands can be tropical or temperate.

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What elements are magnetic?

Powerful rare earth magnets are referred to by the names of their component rare earth elements, but these elements are not ferromagnetic on their own. Neodymium magnets are the best-known type of rare earth magnets and composed of an alloy of neodymium, iron and boron. Samarium magnets consist of an alloy of samarium and cobalt. These are useful at high temperatures where neodymium magnets would lose their ferromagnetism.\nOther elements that are naturally nonmagnetic can undergo laboratory-induced ferromagnetism. When lithium gas is supercooled to near absolute zero, it exhibits ferromagneti..

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Why does your belly button stink?

Sometimes antibacterial or antifungal creams need to be applied to treat infections. Uncontrolled diabetes is a predisposing factor for developing belly button infections.\nA medical condition called patent urachus can also cause a foul smell to emanate from the belly button. In patent urachus, the tube connecting the bladder and the umbilical cord in babies does not close off after birth. This open connection can lead to odor, infections and discharge from the belly button. Surgery is required to correct patent urachus.

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What role does oxygen play in the body?

Cells contain nutrient compounds that are oxidized through complex enzymatic processes, according to Oxygen-Review.com. Oxidation is the source of energy for humans and most animals, particularly mammals. The body takes in oxygen through inhalation, after which oxygen diffuses through membranes and into red blood cells. The body eliminates carbon dioxide and water, which are the products of oxidation, through the lungs. Adequate oxygen levels are necessary to support cell respiration. Moreover, oxygen is essential in the energy metabolism of living organisms, which is the process of physical a..

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What is sodium bisulfate?

Sodium bisulfate is used as a pH additive in swimming pool products to adjust the pH of the water and as an herbicide and fungicide in toilet bowl and dishwasher cleaning products. However, according to About.com, sodium bisulfate also is found in dietary supplements such as GNC’s Liquid B-Complex in natural orange flavor. It is found in antifungal foot creams as well.\nAccording to the National Institute of Health, sodium bisulfate is a poisonous chemical if swallowed in large quantities. Swallowing more than a tablespoon of sodium bisulfate often results in vomiting, diarrhea, burning sens..

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