How the Urea Cycle Works

Science · Published 21 October 2026 · Updated 21 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: The urea cycle is a biochemical process in the liver that converts toxic ammonia into urea for excretion.

1. The urea cycle is a cycle of biochemical reactions that produces urea from ammonia. 2. The urea cycle takes place primarily in the liver and, to a lesser extent, in the kidneys. 3. Reactions related to the urea cycle also cause the production of 2 NADH, so the overall reaction releases slightly more energy. 4. The urea cycle converts highly toxic ammonia to urea for excretion.

Sources: Wikipedia, “Urea cycle (Wikipedia)” (CC BY-SA 4.0). Illustrative, not to scale.

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