Erittämää

Erittämää is a Finnish term that generally refers to excretion, the biological process by which waste products are eliminated from an organism. This process is vital for maintaining homeostasis, the stable internal environment necessary for life. In humans and many other animals, major excretory organs include the kidneys, which filter waste from the blood and produce urine, and the skin, which eliminates sweat containing salts and urea. The lungs are also involved in excretion by releasing carbon dioxide, a waste product of cellular respiration. The digestive system plays a role by eliminating undigested food material as feces, though this is often distinguished from metabolic waste excretion.

The specific substances excreted vary depending on the organism and its metabolic processes. Common metabolic wastes include nitrogenous compounds like urea and uric acid, excess salts, and water. The efficiency and mechanisms of excretion are crucial for preventing the buildup of toxic substances within the body. Disruptions to excretory functions can lead to serious health problems, highlighting the importance of these biological systems. The term "erittämää" encompasses the diverse ways organisms manage and remove their internal waste.