Class 11 · Excretory Products and Their Elimination

Role of Skin in Excretion — NEET Biology

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The sweat and sebaceous glands in the skin can eliminate certain substances through their secretions. Sweat produced by the sweat glands is a watery fluid containing NaCl, small amounts of urea, lactic acid, etc. Though the primary function of sweat is to facilitate a cooling effect on the body surface, it also helps in the removal of some of the wastes mentioned above. Sebaceous glands eliminate certain substances like sterols, hydrocarbons and waxes through sebum. This secretion provides a protective oily covering for the skin. Do you know that small amounts of nitrogenous wastes could be eliminated through saliva too?

NCERT Biology · Class 11 · Chapter 16 · Paragraph 38
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Which of the following statements correctly explain why the skin is considered both a regulatory and excretory organ? S1: The skin's sweat glands primarily function in thermoregulation through evaporative cooling, which is a key homeostatic regulatory process. S2: Excretory substances such as NaCl, small amounts of urea, and lactic acid are eliminated via sweat glands, demonstrating the skin's excretory role. S3: Sebaceous glands contribute to the skin's protective barrier and also aid in the excretion of lipid-soluble wastes like sterols and waxes. S4: The skin actively synthesizes hormones like erythropoietin to regulate blood cell production, contributing to its regulatory capacity. S5: The skin acts as a significant storage site for metabolic waste products, thus reducing the burden on the kidneys. Choose the option containing only correct statements:

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