The excretory system removes excess and unnecessary materials from the body's fluids to maintain homeostasis. It consists of the kidneys, liver, bile, large intestine, skin, and sweat glands. The kidneys are bean-shaped organs located between vertebrae T12-L3 that produce urine through filtering blood. Kidney tissue contains an outer cortex and inner medulla. Nephrons are the structural and functional units of the kidney, consisting of a renal corpuscle, renal tubule with proximal convoluted tubule, loop of Henle, and distal convoluted tubule. The collecting tubule and duct drain urine from nephrons to the renal pelvis.