Excretion
Excretion is the removal of toxic substances and metabolic waste products[1]. Every organism, from the smallest protist to the largest mammal, must cleanse itself of the potentially toxic by-products of its own vital activities. This process in living things is named elimination, which may be considered to include all of the different mechanisms and processes by which life forms dispose of or gets rid of waste products, harmful substances, and perished portions of the organism. [2]In vertebrate animals, this process is mainly carried out by the lungs, skin and the kidneys[3], with the urinary system being the main excretory system. Excretion through the skin occurs through sweating, which results in the removal of water and small amounts of urea and salts. The kidneys filter about 180 litres of blood everyday and removes urea, toxins, medications, and excess ions through the formation of urine[4].
References
- ↑ Britannicacom. 1. Encyclopedia Britannica. [Online]. Available from: https://www.britannica.com/science/excretion [Accessed 5 December 2016].
- ↑ https://www.britannica.com/science/excretion
- ↑ Wikipediaorg. 2. Wikipediaorg. [Online]. Available from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Excretion [Accessed 5 December 2016]
- ↑ http://science.jrank.org/pages/2626/Excretory-System-Excretion-in-humans.html