Skip to main content
Chapter 16 of 19
Syllabus

Excretory Products and their Elimination — Syllabus

CBSE · Class 11 · Biology

What Excretory Products and their Elimination covers in CBSE Class 11 Biology: 4 topics, for the 2026-27 session.

124 questions80 flashcards2 formulas & key relations5 concepts

Interactive on Super Tutor

Studying Excretory Products and their Elimination? Get the full interactive chapter.

Quizzes, flashcards, AI doubt-solver and a step-by-step study plan — built for syllabus and more.

Free trial, no card needed.

4 Topics · CBSE Class 11 Biology · 2026-27

Topics in Excretory Products and their Elimination

1

1. Nitrogenous Wastes and Excretory Structures in Animals

  • Ammonia, urea, and uric acid are the major nitrogenous wastes excreted by animals.
  • Ammonia is the most toxic form and needs a large amount of water for elimination, while uric acid is the least toxic and needs minimum water.
  • Ammonotelism means excretion of ammonia; it is seen in bony fishes, aquatic amphibians, and aquatic insects.
2

2. Human Excretory System

  • The human excretory system consists of a pair of kidneys, a pair of ureters, a urinary bladder, and a urethra.
  • Kidneys are reddish brown, bean-shaped organs located between the last thoracic and third lumbar vertebra close to the dorsal inner wall of the abdominal cavity.
  • Each adult kidney measures 10-12 cm in length, 5-7 cm in width, 2-3 cm in thickness, and weighs about 120-170 g.
3

3. Urine Formation: Filtration, Reabsorption, and Secretion

  • Urine formation involves three processes: glomerular filtration, reabsorption, and secretion.
  • On average, 1100-1200 ml of blood is filtered by the kidneys per minute, which is roughly one-fifth of the blood pumped by each ventricle per minute.
  • Blood filtration occurs through three layers: endothelium of glomerular blood vessels, epithelium of Bowman’s capsule, and the basement membrane between them.
4

4. Function of the Tubules

  • The proximal convoluted tubule is lined by simple cuboidal brush border epithelium, which increases surface area for reabsorption.
  • Nearly all essential nutrients and 70-80% of electrolytes and water are reabsorbed in the PCT.
  • PCT also secretes H+ and ammonia and absorbs HCO3- to help maintain pH and ionic balance.

Key Concepts

Central concept: Excretion and osmoregulation in animals and humans

Nitrogenous wastesExcretory patterns in animalsExcretory structuresHuman urinary systemNephronUrine formationTubular functionsConcentration mechanism

Work through every topic in Excretory Products and their Elimination with notes and quizzes

Start This Chapter

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the important topics in Excretory Products and their Elimination for CBSE Class 11 Biology?
Key topics in Excretory Products and their Elimination include Nitrogenous Wastes and Excretory Structures in Animals, Human Excretory System, Urine Formation: Filtration, Reabsorption, and Secretion, Function of the Tubules. Study these first, then practise questions on each for Class 11 exams.
How should I revise Excretory Products and their Elimination for Class 11 exams?
Learn the core ideas first, then work through the 124 practice questions on Excretory Products and their Elimination. Revise definitions regularly and use flashcards for quick recall before the exam.

Sources & Official References

Content is aligned to the official syllabus. Refer to the board website for the latest curriculum.

For serious students

Get the full Excretory Products and their Elimination chapter — start free.

Quizzes, flashcards, an AI doubt solver and a study plan for CBSE Class 11 Biology. Free to start, no card needed.