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The
excretory system is responsible for the elimination
of wastes produced by homeostasis. There are several
parts of the body that are involved in this process,such
as sweat glands,the liver,the lungs and the kidney
system.
The
structures of the excretory system are: renal artery,
renal vein, kidneys, nephrons, renal pyramids, renal
pelvis, bladder and urethra.
The
kidneys are a pair of bean-shaped organs located at
the back of the body about the level of the waist.
Each kidney measures 10 - 15 cm in length and weighs
approximately 160 gms.
The
amazing thing about the excretory system is that it
works every time you eat- without fail. Another thing
that I find amazing is that you can live with only
one kidney.
Each
day the two kidneys excrete about 1.5 to 2.5 litres
of urine. In doing this, the vital functions of the
kidney is to remove toxic and waste products and excess
water from the body. The other functions of the kidney
are to maintain the body's balance of various salts
such as sodium, potassium, calcium, phosphate as well
as acid.
The
kidneys remove wastes from the body by producing urine,
which is basically a mixture of water and whatever
wastes your body needs to get rid of.
Urine is carried from the kidneys to the bladder by
tubes called ureters. Urine collects in the bladder
and, when the bladder is full, exits the body through
another tube, called the urethra. A healthy adult
produces about two liters of urine a day.
When
the kidneys are working properly, they keep your blood
free of wastes.
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