Texas Esthetician License Practice Exam

What organ removes waste created by digestion?

1. Kidney

2. Heart

3. Liver

4. Spleen

The correct answer is: Liver

The liver plays a crucial role in processing nutrients and detoxifying harmful substances, but when it comes to removing waste created specifically by digestion, the primary organ responsible is actually the kidney. The kidneys filter blood and create urine, which consists of waste products and excess substances that are excreted from the body. The liver does assist in processing waste products from digestion, particularly by metabolizing substances, converting them into forms that can be excreted by the kidneys, and producing bile, which helps in fat digestion and also aids in the elimination of certain waste products. However, for the direct removal of waste created by digestion, it is the kidneys that carry out the physical filtration and excretion. The heart is primarily involved in pumping blood throughout the body, and the spleen is largely responsible for filtering blood and aiding in immune function, but neither of them plays a direct role in the removal of digestive waste. Therefore, the liver's function is important in the broader context of waste management in the body, but for the specific question posed, the kidneys are ultimately the organs that execute the removal of waste created by digestion.