Excretory System

Module
INTRODUCTION
1.1 OVERVIEW OF THE MODULE
1.2 IMPORTANCE OF STUDYING THE EXCRETORY SYSTEM

OBJECTIVES
2.1 GENERAL OBJECTIVE
2.2 SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES

LESSON AND DISCUSSION

3.1 WHAT IS EXCRETORY SYSTEM
3.2 MAJOR ORGANS AND THIER FUNCTIONS
3.3 URINE FORMATION PROCESS
3.4 OTHER ORGAN INVOLVE IN EXCRETION

ASSESSMENT
4.1 ACTIVITY
4.2 DIY KIDNEY FILTER
4.3 QUIZ / ASSESSMENT

INTEGRATION
5.1 VALUES INTEGRATION / SUMMARY
 INTRODUCTION
TO EXCRETORY
SYSTEM

OVERVIEW OF THE MODULE

This module is designed to help students understand the
structure, function, and significance of the human excretory
system. Through clear explanations, diagrams, and interactive
activities, students will learn how the body removes waste
products to maintain internal balance and overall health.
Emphasis is placed on the role of the kidneys in filtering blood
and producing urine, as well as the contributions of other
excretory organs like the lungs, skin, and liver.
The module also includes a hands-on activity to simulate how the
kidneys filter waste, encouraging experiential learning. With a mix
of scientific content, real-life applications, and reflection, this
module aims to engage learners and deepen their appreciation
for the body's complex systems.

Importance of studying the Excretory

System
The excretory system plays a crucial role in keeping the body free
from harmful waste products and maintaining a stable internal
environment—this balance is known as homeostasis. By studying
the excretory system, students gain an understanding of how the
body manages waste, regulates fluid levels, and maintains blood
pressure and pH balance.
Knowing how this system works encourages students to adopt
healthier habits, such as drinking enough water, eating a
balanced diet, and avoiding harmful substances. It also helps
them understand the effects of kidney disease, dehydration, and
other health issues related to excretion. In the broader context of
science education, learning about the excretory system builds
foundational knowledge for future lessons on body systems,
health, and human biology.
EXCRETORY
SYSTEM

General Objective
To understand the structure and
function of the human excretory
system and recognize its
importance in maintaining the
body's internal balance and overall
health.

OBJECTIVES:
By the end of this module, the learners
should be able to:
1. Identify the major organs involved in
the human excretory system.
2. Describe the process of urine
formation and the role of nephrons.
3. Explain how the excretory system
contributes to homeostasis.
4. Demonstrate the function of the
kidneys through a hands-on
simulation activity.
5. Evaluate practices that help
maintain a healthy excretory
system.
6. Appreciate the importance of proper
waste removal for maintaining a
healthy body.
 WHAT IS
EXCRETORY
SYSTEM?
The excretory system is a biological system in the human
body that is responsible for removing waste products formed
from the body’s metabolism. Just like how a household
needs a garbage disposal system to stay clean, the human
body also needs a way to eliminate waste and harmful
substances that accumulate from normal bodily functions.
Without this system, toxins would build up and interfere with
the body’s ability to function properly.

Definition
The excretory system is composed of specialized organs
that work together to filter the blood, remove waste, and
maintain balance in water, salts, and other vital substances.
This process is critical in maintaining homeostasis—the stable
internal environment necessary for life.

Main Functions of the Excretory System

Remove metabolic wastes such as urea, carbon dioxide,
excess salts, and water.
Regulate fluid balance by controlling water levels in the
body.
Maintain acid-base balance (pH) in the blood.
Help control blood pressure by managing the volume of
fluids in the body.
What Are Metabolic Wastes?
Metabolic wastes are substances that are produced when
the body breaks down nutrients for energy and growth.
These wastes are no longer useful to the body and must be
excreted. Examples include:
Urea: a nitrogen-based waste formed from the
breakdown of proteins.
Carbon dioxide: produced during cellular respiration.
Excess salts and water: filtered out when the body has
more than it needs.

Why is the Excretory System Important?

Imagine what would happen if you never took the trash out
of your house. Eventually, it would smell bad, attract pests,
and become a danger to your health. The same thing can
happen inside your body if wastes are not properly removed.
Some of the major health problems that can occur if the
excretory system fails include:
Kidney failure
Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
High blood pressure
Build-up of toxins (uremia)
Understanding how the excretory system works helps us
appreciate its role in keeping the body functioning smoothly
and encourages us to take care of it through healthy habits
like drinking water and avoiding substances that can
damage our organs.
 Major Organs
3.2 and Their
Functions
The excretory system is made up of different organs that
work together to remove waste from the body. Each organ
plays a specific role in the process of filtering out harmful
substances, maintaining water balance, and eliminating
waste through urine, sweat, breathing, or feces.

1. Kidneys
Function: The kidneys are two
bean-shaped organs located at
the back of the abdominal
cavity. Their primary job is to
filter the blood and remove
waste products, especially urea,
excess water, and salts.
Special feature: Each kidney
contains about 1 million
nephrons, the microscopic
filtering units.
Product of filtration: Urine,
which contains the body’s
excess waste and fluids.
 2. Ureters
Function: These are two thin
tubes that transport urine from
each kidney to the bladder.
How they work: The ureters use
muscle contractions to move
urine slowly down into the
bladder.

3. Urinary Bladder
Function: A muscular sac that
temporarily stores urine until
the body is ready to release it.
Capacity: The bladder can hold
400–600 mL of urine in a
healthy adult.

Urethra
Function: A tube that carries
urine from the bladder out of
the body during urination.
Note: The urethra is shorter in
females and longer in males,
which is why UTIs (urinary tract
infections) are more common
in females.
 URINE
3.3 FORMATION
PROCESS
Urine formation is a complex and vital process that takes
place in the kidneys, specifically in the nephrons—the tiny
filtering units found inside each kidney. This process ensures
that waste materials, excess water, and salts are removed
from the blood while retaining necessary substances like
glucose and amino acids.

There are three main stages of urine formation:

1. Filtration
Where it happens: In the glomerulus, a cluster of
capillaries located inside the nephron’s Bowman’s
capsule.
What happens: Blood enters the glomerulus under high
pressure, pushing out water, urea, glucose, salts, and
other small molecules into the Bowman’s capsule.
Result: This filtered liquid is known as the filtrate.
Note: Large molecules like blood cells and proteins remain
in the bloodstream because they are too big to pass
through the glomerular walls.
2. Reabsorption
Where it happens: Along the renal tubule, especially in the
proximal convoluted tubule, loop of Henle, and distal tubule.
What happens: The body reabsorbs useful substances from
the filtrate back into the bloodstream, such as:
Glucose
Certain salts (ions)
Water (based on the body’s needs)
Purpose: To conserve nutrients and maintain fluid and
electrolyte balance.
Result: The filtrate now contains mostly waste products and
excess substances.
 3. Secretion
Where it happens: In the distal convoluted tubule and
collecting duct.
What happens: Additional waste products and excess
ions (like hydrogen and potassium) are actively secreted
into the tubule from surrounding capillaries.
Purpose: To fine-tune the chemical composition of the
urine and maintain pH balance.
Result: The final urine is now ready to be transported to
the renal pelvis, then into the ureters, and finally to the
bladder for storage.

Composition of Urine
Normal urine is made up of:
95% water
5% waste products, such as:
Urea (from protein breakdown)
Creatinine (from muscle metabolism)
Uric acid
Salts (ions)
Other small waste molecules
 OTHER ORGAN
3.4 INVOLVE IN
EXCRETION
While the kidneys play the major role in removing liquid
waste from the body, other organs also help in the excretion
of different types of waste materials. The human body uses
multiple pathways to maintain cleanliness, balance, and
homeostasis. Let’s explore these supporting excretory organs
and understand how they assist in the process.

1. Lungs
Primary waste removed:
Carbon dioxide (CO₂) and
water vapor
How it works: During cellular
respiration, body cells
produce energy and
generate CO₂ as a waste
product. This CO₂ is carried by
the blood to the lungs and is
exhaled out of the body.
Importance: If CO₂ builds up
in the body, it can make the
blood too acidic and interfere
with normal functions.
 2. Skin
Primary waste removed: Water, salts, and a small amount
of urea
How it works: The skin contains sweat glands that produce
sweat, especially when the body is hot or under stress.
This sweat evaporates from the skin’s surface, cooling the
body and removing waste.
Importance: Helps regulate body temperature and salt
balance.

3. Liver
Primary waste processed: Toxins, alcohol, drugs, and
excess amino acids
How it works: The liver doesn’t directly excrete waste but is
a chemical processing center. It breaks down harmful
substances and converts ammonia (toxic) into urea, which
is then sent to the kidneys to be eliminated in urine.
Importance: Keeps the blood clean by neutralizing toxins
and preparing them for removal.
4. Large Intestine (Colon)
Primary waste removed: Solid waste, bacteria, undigested
food, and some salts
How it works: After digestion, the remaining waste travels
to the large intestine. Water is absorbed back into the
body, and the leftover solid waste is formed into feces,
which is then expelled through the rectum and anus.
Importance: Prevents buildup of solid waste and recycles
water back into the system.

ORGAN
TYPE OF WASTE REMOVED METHOD OF EXCRETION

LUNGS Carbon dioxide, water vapor Exhalation (breathing out)

Water, salts, urea (in small

SKIN Sweating
amounts)

Ammonia (converted to Detoxifies blood; urea goes

LIVER
urea), toxins to kidneys

LARGE INTESTINE
Solid waste, undigested
Defecation (feces)
food

Each of these organs plays a unique role in keeping the body

free from harmful substances. While the kidneys handle the
bulk of filtration, the lungs, skin, liver, and large intestine
provide support pathways to ensure total waste elimination.
 ACTIVITY 1

Write true if the statement is true. If the statement is false,

change the underlined term to make the statement true.

________1. Carbon dioxide and water are byproducts of cellular

respiration.
________2. Excretion is the process by which the body takes in
waste products.
________3. One of the waste products of the human body is heat.
________4. Waste products that build up in the body can be
harmful to the body.
________5. Removing waste products from the body is the job of
the circulatory system.
________6. The three main organs of excretion are the lungs, skin,
and nose.
________7. Undigested waste products are removed from the
body through the anus.
________8. The job of the small intestine is to remove water from
undigested wastes.
________9. The largest organ of the excretory system is the skin.
________10. The job of the kidneys is to get rid of solid wastes.
________11. The tube that carries liquid wastes from the kidneys to
the bladder is the ureter.
________12. Liquid waste is excreted through the large intestine.
 ACTIVITY 2
Complete the Diagram with the correct Organ Name.
 ACTIVITY 3
Directions:
Use the words in the box to complete the sentences and
paragraph about the excretory system. Write the correct word on
each blank based on its definition or role in the body.

Bladder Urethra Kidneys

Urea Ureters Liver Urine

1. Two ducts where urine travels to the bladder.

2. Where blood is filtered and waste is converted in to
urea
3. A muscular bag that holds urine
4. A pair of bean-shaped organs that filters urea from the
blood.
5. The substances that the liver creates from nitrogen
waste.
6. How urine leaves the body.
7. A mixture of urea and water.
8. Blood is filtered by the ___________ which turns waste
into a chemical called 9. ___________________. 10. Then the
________________ filter the urea but the blood and mix it
with water. 11. The _______________ then travel through the
12. _____________ to the muscular bag called the 13.
_______________ The urine leaves the body through the 14.
________________________.
 ACTIVITY 4
Directions:
Read each clue carefully and fill in the crossword puzzle with the
correct term related to the excretory system. Use your knowledge of
the organs and their functions to complete both the Across and
Down sections.
 ACTIVITY 5
Directions:
Using the following images and labels, explain how the excretion
process works. You may focus on both images or just one.

________________________________
________________________________
________________________________
________________________________
 ACTIVITY 6
Match the Organs
Directions:
Match the name of the excretory organ with its image, location and
purpose or division. Color the matching squares with same color.

First to Largest
process organ all
KIDNEY
hormones, over the
alcohol body.
and drugs

Located
on each
side of the
SKIN spine at
the level of
liver
Divided into
three Largest
regions the internal
renal cortex, organ
renal LIVER LUNGS found
medulla beneath
and renal the
pelvis diaphragm

Expel
Located waste by
taking in Excretes
on other body
oxygen and
side of the breathing waste via
chest out carbon sweating
dioxide
 ACTIVITY 7
Directions:
Read each description carefully and fill in the boxes with the correct
letters to complete the key terms related to the excretory system.
Use your knowledge of body parts and their functions to guide your
answers.

1. This system is responsible for disposing waste from an

organism's body.

E C O S M

2. It is a muscular tube that carries urine from the kidneys to the

bladder.

R R
[Link] waste material expelled through the largest organ of the
body.

S T

4. This is a sac-like structure, lined with smooth muscle layer,

where the ureters transport urine from the kidneys.

U I B D R

5. Found in the kidneys and responsible for the filtration of blood

and regulation of chemicals.

N P H S
 DIY KIDNEY FILTER
Build Your Own Kidney Filter!

Objective:
To simulate how the kidneys filter waste from the blood using
simple household or classroom materials.

Materials:

A clear plastic cup or small bottle (cut in half)

Coffee filter or paper towel
Sand or activated charcoal
Cotton balls
Rubber band
Dirty water (mix water with soil, food coloring, or small paper bits to
simulate waste)
Clean cup or beaker
Spoon

Procedure:

1. Create the Filter Setup:

Place the coffee filter or paper towel inside the mouth of the cut
plastic bottle (like a funnel).
Secure it with a rubber band if needed.
Add a layer of cotton balls at the bottom.
On top of that, add a layer of sand or activated charcoal (this
represents the filtering part of the nephron).
2. Simulate Kidney Function:
Pour the "dirty water" into the filter system slowly.
Let the water pass through the layers and collect in the clean cup
or beaker underneath.

3. Observe:
Compare the dirty water before and after filtration.
Discuss how the cotton, sand, and paper simulate how nephrons
in the kidney filter out waste.

Discussion Questions:

1. What did the cotton balls and sand represent in the kidney?
2. Was the water cleaner after going through the filter? Why?
3. How is this similar to how real kidneys work?
 ASSESSMENT
Directions:
Read each question carefully and choose the best answer from the
given choices. Circle the letter of your chosen answer.

1. Which organ filters blood to produce urine?

a. Heart
b. Liver
c. Kidney
d. Bladder
2. What is the function of the ureters?
a. Store urine
b. Filter blood
c. Carry urine to the bladder
d. Absorb nutrients
3. What is the tube that releases urine from
the body?
a. Ureter
b. Nephron
c. Intestine
d. Urethra

4. Which organ temporarily stores urine?

a. Liver
b. Kidney
c. Bladder
d. Lungs

5. Why is the excretory system important?

a. It stores energy.
b. It delivers oxygen to cells.
c. It filters and removes waste from the body.
d. It breaks down food.
6. What is the main purpose of excretion in the human
body?
a. To digest food
b. To release energy
c. To remove waste products
d. To produce blood cells

7. Which waste product is formed when proteins are

broken down in the liver?
a. Glucose
b. Carbon dioxide
c. Urea
d. Oxygen

8. Where is urine stored before being excreted from the

body?
a. Kidney
b. Liver
c. Bladder
d. Stomach

9. How does the skin assist in the excretory process?

a. By absorbing nutrients
b. By producing sweat to remove salt and water
c. By storing urine
d. By producing oxygen

10. What happens if waste is not properly removed from

the body?
a. The body becomes more energetic
b. The organs will function better
c. The body can become sick or poisoned
d. Nothing will happen
 INTEGRATION

Summary of Key Concepts

The excretory system plays a vital role in maintaining the body's

internal environment by removing waste products formed from
various bodily processes. Its main function is to filter out harmful
substances from the blood and eliminate them from the body. This
system ensures that excess water, salts, and nitrogenous wastes
are excreted properly, helping to maintain homeostasis or internal
balance.

The kidneys are the central organs of the excretory system. They
contain millions of filtering units called nephrons, which filter the
blood and form urine. The urine produced travels through narrow
tubes called ureters into the urinary bladder, where it is stored
temporarily. When the bladder becomes full, urine exits the body
through the urethra. Each step of this process is crucial in ensuring
that waste is efficiently removed from the body.

Other organs such as the lungs, skin, and liver also support the
excretory process. The lungs remove carbon dioxide during
breathing, the skin excretes excess water and salts through sweat,
and the liver converts toxic ammonia into urea, which the kidneys
later eliminate. By working together, these organs help prevent the
build-up of harmful substances in the body and contribute to
overall health and well-being.
 REFERENCES
[Link]
Parts-and-Function-of-Excretory-System

[Link]

[Link]

[Link]
copy=true&public_answer_key=3185

[Link]
science/505708
[Link]

[Link]
system/what-excretory-system?check_logged_in=1

[Link]
-biology/excretory-system/a/what-is-the-excretory-
system

[Link]
system-overview/
ANATOMY
MODULE
BSED SCIENCE 3A
Managaytay, Juila Jean