Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
excretory organ

excretory organ

5.1
A body part that removes waste from the blood and sends it out of the body, like the kidneys
  • noun
  • /ɪkˈskrɛtəri ˈɔrɡən/
  • Specialized
translation icon : órgano excretor
  • The kidneys are the main excretory organs in the human body.

Examples

  • In many animals, different types of excretory organs have evolved to suit their environments.

  • Failure of an excretory organ can lead to the buildup of harmful substances in the blood.

  • The excretory organ removes waste.

  • Kidneys are vital excretory organs in the human body.

  • The kidneys are important excretory organs that filter waste from the bloodstream.

  • The human body relies on the liver as a key excretory organ to detoxify and remove harmful substances.

  • Insects use their Malpighian tubules as excretory organs to dispose of waste efficiently.

Synonyms

urinary organ
vsexcretory organ
  • Specialized
5.1

An organ that removes waste from the blood and sends it out as urine

is broader, removes blood wastes and releases them from the body in multiple ways

Surface Forms

excretory organ singular
excretory organs plural

Morphology

excretory + organ

The meaning is directly compositional: 'excretory' (related to eliminating bodily waste) combined with 'organ' (a body part with a function) yields 'an organ that removes waste'. This follows common biomedical naming patterns found across languages, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would readily infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

Excretory organ names a body part that sends waste out: excretory, meaning 'to send out', and organ, meaning 'a body part'. The phrase gives the image of a drain or filter that moves unwanted waste from the blood out of the body, so it means 'an organ that removes waste products'.