Removal of these wastes from the body is very important and it is called
excretory system. Excretion is a process in which metabolic waste is eliminated
from an organism.
The human excretory system consists of a pair of kidneys, a pair of ureters, the
urinary bladder and the urethra. Urine is formed by the kidneys by separating
the waste and unwanted excess substances from the blood.
The two bean-shaped kidneys are situated one on either side of the vertebral
column, on the posterior side of abdomen. The functional unit of the kidney that
performs the basic function of filtration is called a nephron. Each nephron has
a cup-like, thin-walled upper part called the Bowman’s capsule. The network of
capillaries in it is called a glomerulus. The urea produced in the liver comes
into the blood. When the urea-containing blood comes into the glomerulus, it is
filtered through its capillaries and urea and other similar substances are
separated from it.
Water molecules and small molecules of some other substances can cross the
semipermeable membrane of Bowman’s capsule. The solution accumulated in the
cavity of Bowman’s capsule passes into the tubular part of the nephron. Here,
molecules of water and some other useful substances are reabsorbed into the
blood. Urine is formed from the remaining solution which is full of waste
materials. The urine is carried by the ureters and stored in the urinary
bladder. Afterwards, urine is given out through the urethra. The urinary bladder
is muscular and it is under the control of nerves. Hence, we are able to keep a
control on urination. Though the kidneys are the main organs of excretion in
human beings, the skin and lungs also help in the process of excretion.
The right kidney is in a slightly lower position than the left. Each kidney
hasThe right kidney is in a slightly lower position than the left. Each kidney
has approximately 10 lakh nephrons. The approximately 5 litre of blood which is
present in a normal healthy person’s body is filtered by the kidneys about 400
times every day. Thus, every day, the kidneys filter about 190 litres of blood
from which about 1 to 1.9 litres of urine is formed. The remaining liquid is
reabsorbed.