Major Waste Products:
* Carbon Dioxide (CO2): A byproduct of cellular respiration, CO2 is transported in the blood to the lungs to be exhaled.
* Urea: A nitrogenous waste product formed from the breakdown of proteins. It's filtered out of the blood by the kidneys and excreted in urine.
* Uric Acid: Another nitrogenous waste product formed from the breakdown of nucleic acids. It's filtered out by the kidneys and excreted in urine.
* Creatinine: A waste product of muscle metabolism. It's filtered out by the kidneys and excreted in urine.
Other Waste Products:
* Bilirubin: A breakdown product of heme (the iron-containing molecule in red blood cells). It's processed by the liver and excreted in bile.
* Ammonia: A toxic waste product formed from the breakdown of proteins. It's converted to urea in the liver.
* Lactate: Produced during anaerobic respiration, especially during intense exercise. It's converted back to glucose by the liver.
* Ketone Bodies: Produced when the body breaks down fat for energy, often during starvation or uncontrolled diabetes.
Important Note: These waste products are normally present in the blood in very small amounts. The body's organs, particularly the kidneys and liver, are responsible for filtering and removing these waste products to maintain homeostasis.
