excretory system
Body's sewage network
The excretory system is the collection of organs that removes metabolic waste from the body.
In humans, this includes the kidneys, bladder, and urinary tract, which filter blood and expel urine.
The term sometimes extends to include the lungs (expelling carbon dioxide) and skin (expelling sweat), though these have other primary functions.
Blood-filtering organ pair
- bladderOrgan holding urine
- urethraUrinary exit canal
- uretersKidney drainage ducts
- nephronsKidney's filtering units
glomerulus · urinary tract · sphincter · renal artery · adrenal glands · skin · sweat glands · lungs
Separating solids from liquids
- reabsorptionReclaiming filtered substances internally
- urinationReleasing fluid waste
- micturitionMedical term for peeing
- homeostasisBiological internal stability maintenance
osmoregulation · detoxification · waste removal · pH balance · electrolyte balance · water balance · blood pressure regulation · perspiration
Renal excretion fluid
- ureaNitrogenous metabolic waste compound
- creatinineMuscular metabolism waste compound
- uric acidNitrogenous purine metabolite
- ammoniaAcrid nitrogen-hydrogen gas
toxins · electrolytes · sodium · potassium · sweat · bilirubin · excess water · ketones
Kidney disease medicine
- dialysisMechanical blood filtration
- kidney stonesMineral formations in organs
- urinary tract infectionBacterial bladder invasion
- nephritisRenal tissue inflammation
renal failure · incontinence · uremia · cystitis · nephropathy · kidney transplant · catheter · diuretic
kidneys
Blood-filtering organ pair
nephrons · glomerulus · urinary tract · sphincter · renal artery · adrenal glands · skin · sweat glands · lungs · liver
filtration
Separating solids from liquids
- reabsorptionReclaiming filtered substances internally
- urinationReleasing fluid waste
- micturitionMedical term for peeing
homeostasis · osmoregulation · detoxification · waste removal · pH balance · electrolyte balance · water balance · blood pressure regulation · perspiration · sweating
urine
Renal excretion fluid
- ureaNitrogenous metabolic waste compound
- creatinineMuscular metabolism waste compound
- uric acidNitrogenous purine metabolite
ammonia · toxins · electrolytes · sodium · potassium · sweat · bilirubin · excess water · ketones · hormones
nephrology
Kidney disease medicine
- dialysisMechanical blood filtration
- kidney stonesMineral formations in organs
- urinary tract infectionBacterial bladder invasion
nephritis · renal failure · incontinence · uremia · cystitis · nephropathy · kidney transplant · catheter · diuretic · urology
excretory systemdigestive system
Organs processing ingested food
respiratory system · gastrointestinal tract · circulatory system · respiratory tract · lymphatic system
excretory systemingestion
Consuming into the body
absorption · assimilation · anabolism · biosynthesis · acquisition
system, excrete, secretion, secrete, excretion, secreted, excretory, secretes, secretory