Urea cycle

Definition

The urea cycle is a series of biochemical reactions in the liver that convert ammonia, a toxic byproduct of protein metabolism, into urea. Urea is then excreted from the body through urine, safely removing nitrogen waste.

Related terms

Ammonia:

A toxic waste product of protein metabolism that is converted into urea by the liver.

Liver:

An organ that detoxifies various metabolites, synthesizes proteins, and produces biochemicals necessary for digestion and growth, including those involved in the urea cycle.

Protein Metabolism:

The process by which proteins are broken down into their amino acid building blocks and either used to synthesize new proteins or metabolized for energy