Human Excretory System

Introduction

Our body is composed of 11 main organ systems that control all of our body’s vital processes. Despite their interdependence, these systems can get out of sync. When one of them isn’t functioning properly, the others will try to compensate for the loss. All the other systems come together to accomplish homeostasis i.e. a state of equilibrium inside the body.

The integumentary system, skeletal system, muscular system, lymphatic system, respiratory system, digestive system, neurological system, endocrine system, cardiovascular system, excretory system, and reproductive systems are among the 11 organ systems.

The Human Excretory System is one of the systems whose proper functioning is critical for a healthy and happy body.

This system is in charge of removing metabolic waste products and other non-essential items from the body. The Excretory Organs work to maintain a regulated fluid volume in our body by controlling the quantity of water expelled, managing electrolyte balance, and maintaining adequate blood pH levels. Nephrosis, bladder cancer, urethritis, bedwetting (enuresis), urinary and kidney stones and infections, renal failure, incontinence, blood in the urine, and interstitial cystitis are all diseases and illnesses of the excretory system.

The excretory system is responsible for eliminating waste from the body. This system is made up of glomerular capillaries and specific structures that help with the excretory function. The kidneys and their functional unit, the nephron, are part of the human excretory system. Specialised hormones regulate the quantity of absorption within the nephron, thereby controlling the excretory action of the kidneys.

Every living organism produces garbage and has a way to eliminate it. Waste creation and removal are handled by the excretory system. Human excretory system classification has the following components:

• 2 Kidneys
• 2 Ureters
• 1 Urinary bladder
• 1 Urethra

All these structures together work in coordination to help our body properly excrete the waste.

Human Excretory System

Definition: The human excretory system is a specialized set of organs that eliminates waste material from the human body. Urea is the most common waste product produced by the human body. Other toxins are also generated as a result of this process. The kidneys remove urea through urine, whereas the intestines filter solid wastes from the body.

Organs of the Human Excretory System

The organs of the human excretory system work collectively to eliminate urea, a nitrogenous toxin, from our bodies. The human excretory system‘s main organs are:-

• Kidney

The human kidneys are the primary organs of the human excretory system. They are bean-shaped organs that sit on each side of the backbone, near the stomach and liver. Renal arteries carry blood into the kidneys, while renal veins carry it out. The ureters transport waste material from the kidneys to the urinary bladder, where they are stored or released.

Urine is a fluid containing waste products, salts, organic substances, and two key nitrogen compounds: uric acid and urea, which the kidneys produce. Uric acid is produced by the degradation of nucleic acids, while urea is produced by the degradation of amino acids in the liver. Both of these nitrogenous compounds are toxic to the human body and must be excreted through the urine.

A kidney’s functional unit is the nephron. Each kidney is made up of millions of nephrons. They collectively work together to filter blood and eliminate waste from it. It is made up of the following components:

• Bowman’s capsule– This is the nephron’s first component. The capillaries are received by this cup-shaped structure. Glomerular filtration takes place within this structure. Cells and enzymes are still present in the blood
• Proximal Convoluted Tubule– The proximal tubule is formed by the Bowman’s capsule extending downwards. The water and reusable materials in the blood are reabsorbed back into it
• Henle’s Loop– The tubule leads to the creation of a U-shaped loop known as Henle’s Loop

The descending limb, the u-shaped bend, and the ascending limb are the three sections of Henle’s Loop. As more and more water is absorbed by the body, urine becomes concentrated in this location. Water can pass through the descending limb, but not through the ascending limb.

• Distal Convoluted Tubule– The distal convoluted tubule is connected to the Loop of Henle. It’s here that renal hormones exert their influence
• Collecting Duct– Each nephron’s Distal Convoluted Tubule connects to the collecting ducts. The renal pelvis is made up of several renal tubules. Urine flows through the renal pelvis, into the ureter, and ultimately into the bladder

• Ureters- It is an important part of the human excretory system classification. Each kidney has a single ureter, which is an outgrowth of the renal pelvis. It’s a muscular tube that connects the kidneys to the bladder and transports urine

• Urinary Bladder- The urinary bladder is a pouch-like structure. It is lined by smooth muscle. The urine is stored in this organ. The ureters deliver urine to the bladder. The process of excreting urine from the body is referred to as micturition. The bladder in Males and females is located at different levels in the body.

• Urethra- The urethra is a tube that connects the bladder to the urinary meatus. Its primary role is to evacuate urine to the outside. Furthermore, it is shorter in females, while in males, it is longer. It also serves as a pathway for sperm in males. The urethra’s entry is guarded by the sphincter.

Other Human Excretory Organs Classifications

Other organs, in addition to the ones described above, are also involved in excretion. They are as follows:

Skin

The skin is the body’s largest organ. Its principal role is to safeguard the body’s various internal structures. Sweat is excreted by the skin. The skin, in particular, removes substances such as sodium chloride and a little quantity of urea.

Lungs

The main respiratory organs are the lungs. They aid in the intake of oxygen and the expulsion of carbon dioxide. However, they also expel some amount of water in the form of vapor during the process of breathing.

Liver

This organ is responsible for generating waste inside the body. It is the first line of defense when it comes to hormones, lipids, alcohol, and narcotics. Most drugs travel via this organ, which is known as first-pass metabolism. Excess fats and cholesterol are also eliminated by the liver. This is necessary in order to keep the body healthy.

Conclusion

The excretory system is a passive biological system that eliminates excess, superfluous elements from an organism’s body in order to maintain a state of equilibrium and reduce damage to the body. The following organs make up the human excretory system: Kidneys, Ureters, urinary bladder, and urethra.