What term describes the process of expelling waste from the body?

The term that describes the process of expelling waste from the body is excretion. This process involves the removal of metabolic waste and excess substances from the body, which is crucial for maintaining homeostasis and preventing the buildup of harmful materials.

Excretion typically occurs via various organs, such as the kidneys, which filter blood and produce urine, as well as the skin and lungs, which can also expel waste products. Understanding excretion is essential for recognizing how the body maintains its internal environment and eliminates substances that are no longer needed or could be detrimental if allowed to accumulate.

The other options refer to different processes: filtration is part of the excretion process dealing with separating waste from blood but does not itself define the act of expelling waste. Digestion relates to breaking down food into nutrients the body can use, while absorption refers to the uptake of these nutrients into the bloodstream. Each of these processes plays a role in overall bodily function, but it is excretion that specifically pertains to the elimination of waste.