The Osmoregulatory/excretory System of an Insect is Based on the Operation

Question

The osmoregulatory/excretory system of an insect is based on the operation of
A) protonephridia.
B) metanephridia.
C) Malpighian tubules.
D) nephrons.
E) ananephredia.

Accepted Answer

The osmoregulatory/excretory system of an insect is based on Malpighian tubules. These are outpocketings of the digestive system, which actively remove metabolic wastes, ions, and water from the hemolymph and deposit them in the hindgut for excretion. This system is different from the kidneys found in vertebrates, which use nephrons for osmoregulation and excretion. Protonephridia and metanephridia are found in some invertebrates, but not insects. Ananephridia does not exist.