The main waste excreted by the skin is sweat.
Understanding Sweat and Its Excretion
The skin, being the largest organ of the human body, plays a vital role in excretion through its sweat glands. These microscopic exocrine glands are strategically located at the hair follicles.
Sweat Glands and Their Function
- Location: Sweat glands are found throughout the skin, particularly near hair follicles.
- Function: They secrete sweat, a watery substance, to eliminate excess water and ions from the body. The reference explicitly states: "The skin has a sweat gland which is a microscopic exocrine gland... It helps to excrete the waste product called sweat at the region of the hair follicle present in the skin. It secretes watery-like substances to remove the water and ions from the human body."
Composition of Sweat
While primarily water, sweat contains:
- Water
- Ions (e.g., sodium, chloride)
- Other trace wastes
