What it means
The kidneys excrete water, salts and waste in the urine, the bowel excretes waste in stool, and the lungs excrete carbon dioxide. Drugs are excreted too, mostly by the kidneys and the liver (through bile). The noun is excretion.
For the nurse
When the kidneys are not working well, drugs they excrete can build up to harmful levels, so doses are often lowered. Check kidney function labs before giving these drugs.
At a glance
| Spanish | excretar |
|---|---|
| Also written | excretes, excreted, excreting |
Related terms
renal
Relating to the kidneys.
creatinine
A waste product of muscle that the kidneys remove from the blood; its blood level is used to measure how well the kidneys work.
secretion
A substance a gland or cell makes and releases, such as mucus, saliva, sweat or a hormone.