- Excretory products are waste substances that are produced by the cells and need to be removed from the body.
- The main excretory products in humans are carbon dioxide, urea, and water.
- Carbon dioxide is produced as a waste product of cellular respiration in the mitochondria. It is transported through the bloodstream to the lungs, where it is excreted through exhalation.
- Urea is produced in the liver as a result of the breakdown of proteins. It is then transported to the kidneys, where it is filtered out of the blood and excreted in the urine.
- Water is also excreted through the kidneys, as it is constantly being filtered out of the blood and excreted as urine.
- The excretory system consists of the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra. The kidneys are responsible for filtering waste products out of the blood and maintaining the balance of water and electrolytes in the body.
- The kidneys filter the blood through a process called filtration, where waste products and excess water are removed from the blood and form urine.
- The urine is then transported from the kidneys to the bladder through the ureters, where it is stored until it is expelled from the body through the urethra.
- The excretory system also plays a role in maintaining the acid-base balance in the body by regulating the levels of hydrogen and bicarbonate ions in the blood.
- Other excretory organs in the body include the lungs, which excrete carbon dioxide, and the skin, which excretes sweat containing water, salt, and small amounts of urea.
- Disorders of the excretory system can lead to various health problems, such as kidney stones, urinary tract infections, and kidney failure.