Table of contents:
- The functions and organs of the excretory system in the body
- 1. Kidneys
- 2. Liver (liver)
- 3. Digestive system
- 4. Skin
- 5. Lungs
Humans routinely sweat, urinate, and defecate to get rid of toxic deposits and metabolic waste that can harm the body. All these exhaust processes are carried out and regulated by the excretion system. Let's learn how the exhaust system in your body works.
The functions and organs of the excretory system in the body
The excretory system is the body's natural way of getting rid of harmful toxins in the body. In general, there are five organs that are responsible for undergoing the excretion process.
1. Kidneys
Every food, drink, and medicine we consume will leave behind waste substances after being digested by the body. Waste substances are also produced every time the metabolism works to produce energy and repair damaged cells in the body.
If not removed, all these wastes will build up in the blood and have the potential to cause several health problems. Well, the kidneys are the main organs in the excretory system that function to get rid of toxic waste products in the blood and other excess fluids.
After your body takes the nutrients and nutrients it needs from food, the remaining waste will be transported by the blood to the kidneys to be excreted with urine through the urethra when urinating. About two liters of waste will be excreted from the body in the form of urine.
The entire excretion process is necessary to maintain a stable balance of fluids and other chemical compounds in the body.
2. Liver (liver)
The work of the kidneys to remove waste is closely related to liver function. Initially, the blood will be filtered by the liver to be separated from its wastes.
The waste from the blood will then be broken down by the liver into a substance called urea. After that, urea will be carried to the kidneys by riding the bloodstream to be converted into urine that we excrete.
While breaking down wastes from the blood, the liver will also produce a byproduct in the form of bile. This bile will then be channeled into the intestines to break down fat during digestion and help get rid of the remaining waste in the form of feces when we defecate.
3. Digestive system
The main function of the digestive system is to break down food and absorb essential nutrients for absorption by the body. However, the main digestive organs such as the stomach and intestines also have a "side job" of being an excretory system.
After being swallowed from the mouth, food will fall from the esophagus to the stomach to be broken down. Then the food fragments will flow into the small intestine to be digested and absorbed into the blood.
The remaining food that has not been fully digested will then be carried to the large intestine. It is the large intestine that is responsible for separating fluids, substances, and undigested food residue to become feces that will come out through the anus during defecation.
4. Skin
As mentioned above, humans sweat to remove waste products from the body. Sweat is produced to cool the body when we are hot or physically active.
Sweat is released by the sweat glands in the dermis layer of the skin. Apart from water, sweat also contains oil, sugar and salt, as well as metabolic waste products such as ammonia and urea. Ammonia and urea are waste products that are produced by the liver and kidneys when your body breaks down protein.
Sweat glands are all over the body. There are two main types of sweat glands, namely:
- Erin gland: produce sweat that does not contain protein and fat. These glands are found on the hands, feet, and forehead.
- Apocrine glands: produce sweat containing protein and fat. This type of gland is only present in certain parts of the body, such as the armpits and on the genitals.
5. Lungs
The lungs are an important organ for regulating the passage of breath. However, not many people know that the lungs are also an important part of the excretory system.
Initially, humans inhale air through the nose or mouth and enter into the back of the throat or trachea. Then the air will continue to flow up to the bronchial tubes. After passing through the bronchial tubes or bronchi, the air will pass through the two branches of the lung tract (right and left) which are called bronchioles.
The air that enters through the bronchioles will then collect in the alveoli. The alveoli are tiny balloons where the oxygen that we breathe in is exchanged with the carbon dioxide that must be released. Carbon dioxide itself is a waste gas that results from the process of making energy from food.
You see, every time we digest food, the body will get glucose (blood sugar) which is circulated to all body cells. In the cells, glucose will be burned with the help of oxygen in the blood to produce energy. One of the by-products of this metabolism is carbon dioxide (CO2). Automatically, carbon dioxide will then flow back from the rest of the body to the lungs until it reaches the alveoli to be exhaled when we exhale.
Remember, the smooth operation of the excretory system is important for maintaining the health of our body. Therefore, maintain a healthy body by maintaining a good diet and routine physical activity.
