What term describes the release of waste products from the body?

The term that describes the release of waste products from the body is excretion. This process is essential for maintaining homeostasis, as it helps regulate the composition of body fluids and remove harmful substances that could accumulate and cause toxicity.

Excretion involves the removal of substances like urea, carbon dioxide, and other metabolic waste from the bloodstream and it can occur through different organs such as the kidneys, lungs, and skin. The kidneys, for instance, filter blood to remove waste products, which are then excreted as urine.

Other terms mentioned, like respiration, refer to the process of gas exchange and energy production, digestion is the breaking down of food for nutrient absorption, and transpiration pertains primarily to the movement of water and minerals within plants. Each of these processes serves different roles in living organisms, but excretion is specifically focused on waste removal.