circulatory system: The Body's Filtering System
The Body's Filtering System
The organs most intimately related to the substances carried by the blood are the kidneys, which filter out nitrogenous wastes and regulate concentration of salts; the spleen, which removes worn red blood cells, or lymphocytes; and the liver, which contributes clotting factors to the blood, helps to control blood sugar levels, also removes old red blood cells and, receiving all the veins from the intestines and stomach, detoxifies the blood before it returns to the vena cava (see urinary system).
Sections in this article:
- Introduction
- Circulatory Disorders
- The Body's Filtering System
- Pulmonary Circulation
- Systemic Circulation
The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2024, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.
See more Encyclopedia articles on: Anatomy and Physiology
