utsöndrar

Utsöndrar is a Swedish verb meaning to secrete or to excrete, used mainly in biological contexts to describe the release of substances from cells, tissues or organs. Utsöndring covers both the production and release of useful compounds as well as the removal of waste products from the body or from cells.

In biology, utsöndring can occur through different processes. Secretion refers to the release of substances that have a physiological function, such as enzymes, hormones or bile, often via ducts or directly into the bloodstream. Excretion refers to the elimination of waste products, such as urea and excess water in urine. Mechanisms include vesicular transport (exocytosis), diffusion and active transport, and secretion can be regulated by nerves or hormones.

Common examples in humans include: salivary glands that utsöndrar saliva, the liver that utsöndrar bile, the pancreas that utsöndrar digestive enzymes and bicarbonate into the digestive tract, and the kidneys that utsöndrar urine. The skin also utsöndrar sweat as part of temperature regulation and waste removal. Plants also participate in utsöndring, producing nectar, resins or mucilage that are released from glands or tissues.

The subject or organ that performs utsöndringen is often described as utsöndrare, while the process itself is termed utsöndring. The term is sometimes used interchangeably with sekretion, especially when emphasizing the functional release of substances, and excretion when focusing on waste removal.