Final answer:
The urinary system eliminates metabolic waste, regulates electrolytes, helps stabilize blood pH, but does not absorb water to compact waste. Main functions include filtering waste via the kidneys and maintaining fluid and electrolyte balance.
Step-by-step explanation:
The urinary system does many things, but it does not absorb water to compact waste. Instead, its main functions include the elimination of metabolic waste, the regulation of electrolytes and metabolites, and helping to stabilize blood pH. Specifically, the kidneys filter excess water and waste products like urea from the blood, and this filtered fluid (urine) is then transported through the ureters to the urinary bladder. The bladder stores urine until it is excreted from the body through the urethra. Moreover, the urinary system plays key roles in maintaining homeostasis such as regulating the volume of extracellular fluids, controlling blood pressure, and ensuring proper acid-base balance in the blood.