Bio: Excretory System

Excretory system overview

Removes waste products and maintains homeostasis.

Key metabolic wastes removed

Urea, creatinine, and uric acid.

Consequence of excretion failure

Uremia, organ damage, and death.

Function of the lungs in excretion

Excrete carbon dioxide.

Function of the skin in excretion

Excretes salts, water, and sweat.

Main organs of the excretory system

Kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra.

Function of the ureters

Carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder.

Function of the urinary bladder

Stores urine until it is eliminated.

Stages of urine formation

Filtration, reabsorption, secretion, and excretion.

Filtration in urine formation

Blood enters kidneys and small molecules are filtered into nephrons.

Reabsorption in urine formation

Essential substances like glucose, amino acids, and water return to bloodstream.

Secretion in urine formation

Additional waste products and toxins move from blood into nephrons.