Your body makes waste that it does not need. Getting rid of this waste keeps you healthy. There are two ways your body does this: excretion and defecation. They are not the same!
What is excretion?
Excretion is removing waste that your body made while it was working. This waste is not leftover food. Examples are urine (from the kidneys), sweat (from the skin) and carbon dioxide (from the lungs when you breathe out).
What is defecation?
Defecation is removing faeces, which is solid waste. This waste is the part of food your body could not use. It leaves the body through the large intestine when you go to the toilet.
Key idea
Excretion removes body waste (urine, sweat, carbon dioxide). Defecation removes undigested food (faeces).
Remember
- Kidneys make urine, skin makes sweat, lungs remove carbon dioxide.
- Faeces is NOT excretion because it is undigested food, not body waste.
- Drink plenty of water and eat fruits and vegetables to help your body remove waste.