Excretion In Humans

• The human excretory system is a group of organs which are specialised for the removal of certain excretory products

  • They include the lungs and kidneys
  • The liver also has a vital role in excretion
• Excretory system organs

  A) carbon dioxide

  B) carbon dioxide

  C) aerobic

  D) respiration

  E) exhalation

  F) excess water

  G) salts

  H) urea

  I) excess water

  J) salts

  K) urea

  L) liver

  M) excess amino acids

  N) formation

  O) urine

  
• Excretion is the removal of the waste substances of metabolic reactions (the chemical reactions that take place inside cells), toxic materials and substances in excess of requirements
• Carbon dioxide must be excreted as it dissolves in water easily to form an acidic solution which can lower the pH of cells

  • This can reduce the activity of enzymes in the body which are essential for controlling the rate of metabolic reactions
  • For this reason, too much carbon dioxide in the body is toxic
• Urea is also toxic to the body in higher concentrations and so must be excreted
• The excretory system diagram

  A) vena cava

  B) kidney

  C) renal vein

  D) ureter

  E) bladder

  F) urethra

  G) aorta

  H) renal artery

  I) water

  J) content

  K) blood

  L) ureter

  M) urine

  N) kidneys

  O) bladder

  
• The main components of the excretory system:

  A) bean-shaped

  B) filter

  C) blood

  D) tube

  E) kidney

  F) bladder

  G) urine

  H) excess

  I) water

  J) salts

  K) urea

  L) kidney

  M) tube

  N) bladder

  O) exterior

  P) urine

  
• Note the difference between the ‘ureter’ and the ‘urethra’

  • These two names are commonly confused by students so take care to learn them and know which tube is which – they are NOT interchangeable!