Which organ excretes cholesterol, steroids, and drug metabolites?

• A. Liver
• B. Stomach
• C. Pancreas
• D. Kidney

Answer: (A)

The liver handles detoxification and metabolism, making it the organ that excretes cholesterol, steroids, and drug metabolites. It processes cholesterol by forming bile salts and excreting cholesterol and its metabolites into bile. It also metabolizes steroid hormones, converting them into more water-soluble forms for elimination. For medications, the liver uses enzymes (like the cytochrome P450 system) to create drug metabolites that are then eliminated through bile or urine. The stomach and pancreas are involved in digestion, not in the excretion of these compounds. The kidneys do excrete waste, including some drug metabolites, but the removal of cholesterol and many steroids relies primarily on hepatic processing and biliary excretion.