The kidneys are the primary excretory organs in a pig. They are responsible for filtering waste products from the blood and producing urine. Each pig has two kidneys, located in the abdominal cavity, near the spine.
Ureters
The ureters are tubes that carry urine from the kidneys to the urinary bladder. Each kidney has one ureter.
Urinary Bladder
The urinary bladder is a muscular organ that stores urine until it is eliminated from the body. The pig's urinary bladder is located in the abdominal cavity, near the pelvis.
Urethra
The urethra is a tube that carries urine from the urinary bladder to the outside of the body. In male pigs, the urethra is also part of the reproductive system and carries semen. In female pigs, the urethra is shorter and does not have this dual function.
Additional Excretory Organs
In addition to the kidneys, ureters, urinary bladder, and urethra, the pig's excretory system also includes the skin and the lungs. The skin helps to eliminate waste products through sweat, and the lungs eliminate carbon dioxide through respiration.
How the Excretory System Works
The pig's excretory system works in conjunction with the circulatory system to remove waste products from the body. The circulatory system carries blood to the kidneys, where the waste products are filtered out. The filtered blood is then returned to the body, while the waste products are sent to the urinary bladder in the form of urine. The urine is eventually eliminated from the body through the urethra.