Premium Essay

The Urinary System

In:

Submitted By hmaymo
Words 521
Pages 3
The Urinary System
The urinary system plays a major role in maintaining the salt, water, and pH homeostasis of the blood. It carries out the process of excretion, which is the removal of metabolic waste from the body. The urinary system includes the kidneys, the ureter, the urinary bladder and the urethra. The kidneys produce the urine, the uteter transports the urine, the urinary bladder stores the urine and the urethra passes the urine outside of the body. As the bladder fills with urine, sensory impulses go to the spinal cord and to the brain. The brain can override the urge to urinate. When urination occurs, motor nerve impulses make the bladder contract and the sphincters relax.
The functions of the urinary system include excretion of metabolic wastes, maintenance of water-salt balance and the secretion of hormones. The structure of the kidneys include:
The renal cortex- It is the outer, granulated layer that dips down in between an inner layer called the renal medulla.
The renal medulla- The renal medulla consists of cone-shaped masses called renal pyramids.
The renal pelvis- A central space continuous with the ureter.
The kidney is composed of over 1 million nephrons or renal tubules. The nephrons filter the blood and produce urine. Each nephron is positioned so that the urine flows into a collecting duct. Nephrons enter the same collecting ducts and the collecting ducts eventually enter the renal pelvis.
There are three processes of urine formation:
Glomerular filtration. This is where water, salts, waste molecules move from the glomerulus to the inside of the glomerular capsule.
Tubular reabsorbtion- Nutrients and salt molecules are actively reabsorbed from the convoluted tubules into the peritubular capsillary network, and water flows.
Tubular secretion- Ions and molecules are secreted from the peritubular capillary network into the convoluted

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

Urinary System Case Study

...The urinary tract is the body’s drainage system for removing urine, which is composed of wastes and additional fluid. In sequence for normal urination to happen, all body parts in the urinary tract require to work as one in the proper order. The lower urinary tract includes the bladder and urethra. (National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NKUDIC), 2012). Urination is the process of emptying the bladder. To urinate, the lower urinary tract has two detached phases of activity: the storage (or guarding) phase, when urine is collected in the bladder; and the voiding phase, when urine is unconfined through the urethra The state of the reflex system is reliant on both a conscious signal from the brain and the firing rate...

Words: 905 - Pages: 4

Free Essay

Urinary System

...Essay Assignment – Unit 3 cont’d Urinary System A. Describe the structure of a kidney nephron and its associated blood vessels. * There are two parts of a kidney nephron; the renal corpuscle and the renal tubule. The renal corpuscle is the part of the kidney where the blood plasma is filtered and the renal tubule is the part of the nephron where the glomerular filtrate passes through after reaching the Bowman’s capsule. The renal corpuscle is made of the Bowman’s capsule and the glomerulus. In the glomerulus, there are capillaries located between the afferent arteriole and bring blood into the glomerulus and the efferent arteriole, which drains the blood away from the glomerulus. (IvyRose Holistic) There are cells that form the outer edges of the glomerulus and they form close attachments to cells of the inner surface of the glomerulus and these cells stick together and form a filtration membrane that would enable water and solutes to pass through the 1st wall of the Bowman’s capsule. * In the renal tubule, the first part of it is the Proximal Convoluted Tubule [PCT]. Solutes and water that have passed through the PCT would enter the Loop of Henlé and the water and the substances in it passes from the renal cortex and then into the renal medulla and then back to the cortex. The water and the substances dissolved in it returned to the renal cortex via the ascending limb of Henlé and then it passes through the Distal Convoluted Tubule [DCT]. The DCT converges onto...

Words: 676 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Urinary Tract Infection: A Case Study

...In this assignment, t will summarize three articles about preventing urinary tract infection. The urinary system is one of the most important organs in the body, it is contain of kidney, ureter, bladder, and urethra. The kidney helps to filter the blood and it secretion the toxin out of the body by urethra. If the urinary system get any infection it will not working probably and it will disturb to another system. “Urinary tract infection (UTI) is a common bacterial infection known to affect the different parts of the urinary tract and the occurrence is found in both males and females. Despite the fact, that both the genders are susceptible to the infection, women are mostly vulnerable due to their anatomy and reproductive physiology. The infection...

Words: 583 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Agin Aging Research Paper

...Aging has impacts on the urinary and reproductive system in the body and subsequently on the health and wellbeing of older people. Kidney and bladder are part of the urinary system and their function is affected by age. Some of the changes in the kidney relating to age are decrease in the number of nephrons (filtering units in the kidney), and the hardening of blood vessels surrounding the kidney (Patel & Wiggins, 2007). These changes cause the kidneys to filter blood more slowly and could lead to chronic kidney disease. Aging will cause the bladder muscle to become weakens and to lose its elasticity. This makes the bladder less stretchy and unable to hold as much urine as before (Smith & Kuche, 2010). This can cause many issues in old age such as bladder leakage or urinary incontinence, urinary retention and other urinary tract infections (Cohan, Pikna, & Duecy, 2007). Aging also causes changes in the reproductive system. For example in women, due to weakened muscle, the urethra can become blocked causing the bladder or vagina to fall out of position (prolapse). The urethra can also become blocked in men due to enlarged prostate gland caused by aging....

Words: 463 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Mmk Procedure

...attach these organs to the pelvic cartilage. The Marshall-Marchetti-Krantz procedure is performed to reinforce the bladder neck, which prevents unintentional urine loss also known as urinary stress incontinence. Stress incontinence is the unintentional loss of urine prompted by a physical movement or activity, such as coughing, sneezing or lifting heavy items, which puts pressure or stress on the bladder. Stress incontinence is also the most frequent for of incontinence and is most frequent in women, especially those who are past menopause. (Blaivas) It is reported that stress incontinence is more frequent in women because of the female anatomy, and the pelvic muscles weaken with age as well as childbirth because it places burden on the muscles. Even though it is more prone in women, male incontinence also occurs and is primarily caused in response to blockage in the prostate or after prostate surgery. To better understand urinary stress incontinence, it is important to understand the vital organs that are in the urinary system, such as: two kidneys, two ureters, a urinary bladder and the urethra. The urinary system is responsible in helping the body get rid of wastes and excess water in the form of urine, which is a vital part of maintaining homeostasis within the body. The urinary organs also help transport the urine, or store it and released until it is time for one to micturate. The kidneys are responsible for filtering and cleaning the body’s blood of wastes...

Words: 1704 - Pages: 7

Premium Essay

Urinary Frequency In Adults

...Urinary Frequency, Adult Urinary frequency means urinating more often than usual. People with urinary frequency urinate at least 8 times in 24 hours, even if they drink a normal amount of fluid. Although they urinate more often than normal, the total amount of urine produced in a day may be normal. Urinary frequency is also called pollakiuria. CAUSES This condition may be caused by: • A urinary tract infection. • Obesity. • Bladder problems, such as bladder stones. • Caffeine or alcohol. • Eating food or drinking fluids that irritate the bladder. These include coffee, tea, soda, artificial sweeteners, citrus, tomato-based foods, and chocolate. • Certain medicines, such as medicines that help the body get rid of extra fluid (diuretics). •...

Words: 683 - Pages: 3

Free Essay

Hs 130 Unit 9 Assignment

...Discovery Lauren Walker HS130 Unit #9 Assignment Kaplan University 11/19/13 Good morning everyone!! Are we ready for another exciting trip through the human body?! Today we will be following the food of 55 year old Harold who recently ate a hamburger and French fries and is now washing it down with a nice tall root beer. We will be following his meal through his GI tract and I will tell you all about all the structures that we will see on the way. Once we arrive at the distal ileum, we will make a small change to our route by getting into his blood stream. We will follow the superior mesenteric vein to the renal artery. Once there, we will travel through the heart, lungs and eventually reach his kidney. We will make our way into the urinary tract where we will eventually leave his body by way of his urethra. If we hurry, we can catch a ride on the tail end of it! As long as everyone is ready, let’s go Our journey will begin in Harold’s mouth, where he is chewing the last bite of his hamburger and washing it down with root beer. The clear fluid that you will see mixing with the chewed up bits of food is saliva. Saliva has enzymes that help break down the food for digestion. Next, digestion moves into the pharynx and then further down into the esophagus. Once inside the stomach, which looks like a large sac, you will see a small round muscle, called the sphincter. This keeps Harold’s food (and us) from flowing back up into the esophagus. Now inside the stomach, you will see...

Words: 1081 - Pages: 5

Free Essay

Antibacterial Activity of Herbal Preparations

...CHAPTER ONE 1. INTRODUCTION 1.0 DEFINITION OF TRADITIONAL MEDICINE, HERBAL PREPARATION AND FINISHED HERBAL PRODUCTS The World Health Organization (WHO) defines traditional medicine as the sum total of knowledge, skills and practices based on the theories, beliefs and experiences indigenous to different cultures. Traditional medicine is used in the maintenance of health the prevention, diagnosis, improvement or treatment of physical and mental illness, whether explicable or not and is passed on from generation to generation. Herbal Preparations contain plant parts or plant material in the crude or processed state as active ingredients and may contain excipients. (WHO, 1996a; Busse, 1999). Combinations with chemically defined active substances or isolated constituents are not considered herbal preparations (Busse, 2000; GNDP, 2004). According to the European Medicine Evaluation Agency (EMEA), herbal preparations are medicinal products containing exclusively herbal drugs or herbal drug preparations as active substances (WHO, 1996b; Busse, 2000). Several chemical constituents with different pharmacological targets are involved in the therapeutic action of herbal preparations. This may be an advantage compared to single isolated compounds, especially when the underlying disease has a multifactorial etiology which is the case in many chronic illnesses. Herbal preparations may include comminuted or powdered plant material, extracts, tinctures, fatty or essential oils of...

Words: 6624 - Pages: 27

Free Essay

Fantastic Voyage

...covered in a enamel layer for hardness. The tongue contains rough papillae, which grips food as it is moved the tongue muscles. The tongue also helps to push food toward the posterior part of the mouth for swallowing. In the mouth there are 3 sets of salivary glands that produce a watery secretion know as saliva. With the assistance of salivary enzymes or saliva the food particles are moistened and are then able for the tongue and other muscles to push the food into the pharynx, which is connected to the posterior end of the mouth. We are now travelling downward through a long muscular tube that extends from the pharynx to the stomach and the food will then enter the esophagus. The pharynx serves two different functions in the digestive system; it has a flap of tissue called the epiglottis that acts as a switch to route food to the esophagus and air to the larynx (enchantedlearning.com, 2001). The food has now entered the esophagus and we are experiencing a series of rhythmic, wave like muscle movements, called peristalsis. This movement forces food from the throat to the stomach. We have entered the stomach which is a large muscular sac located on the left side of the abdominal cavity, just inferior to the diaphragm. The stomach is lined with a mucous membrane which contains...

Words: 1330 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Lamha

...Excretory System Outcomes: Students will be expected to • Describe the structure and function of the major organs of the excretory system (302-5). Materials: • Body diagrams (showing the excretory system) and blank outlines of the human body. • Tag board or other sturdy paper on which to affix the model • Mini-marshmallows • Glue • Kidney beans • Cafeteria Straws • Scissors • Spaghetti (uncooked) • Red Yarn • Brown paper bags • Blue yarn Engage: Open with a class discussion on what the kids know about the Excretory System. What do they know about the Excretory System already? Explore: Working in small groups, provide each group with a brown bag full of materials that they will need to create their model. Write what each student needs to grab out of the bag. You can also provide this list on the whiteboard or overhead. Each student needs: • 3 kidney beans (kidneys) • 3 spaghetti pieces (urethra) • 2 marshmallows (bladder) • 2 straw pieces (urethra) • 2 pieces of yarn (veins) One of each item will be used for the key at the top of the tag board. It is helpful to have a model already assembled as a guide for the students. Explain: To assemble: • Glue the online of the human body onto tag board or heavy construction paper. • Glue the kidney beans in the appropriate place on the human body. Use a diagram of the excretory system to help with...

Words: 592 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Health and Social Care

...Renal System Kidneys: Our bodies create sweat, carbon dioxide, stool and urine. Urine is produced by the kidneys and contains the hyproducts of metabolism. These includes salts, toxins and water which then end up in the blood. The kidneys filter and get rid of these waste substances from our blood. Without the kidneys, waste products would build up in the blood to levels which are dangerous. The kidneys regulate the important functions. An example of this is that the kidneys monitors and maintains the bodies balance and makes sure that our tissues receive enough water to function properly. The kidneys work together to perform the important functions. Besides filtering the blood, producing urine and making sure that body tissues receive enough water. The kidneys regulate the blood pressure and level the important salts. By doing this this can produce and enzyme called renin. The kidneys ensure that the blood pressure is regulated. The kidneys also secrete hormones which stimulate the blood cell production. The kidneys also help regulate the pH of the blood and the body fluids (Kidshealth, no date) A thin layer of fibrous connective tissue is formed in the renal capsule. This provides a stiff outter shell which maintains the shape of the tissue. The cortex is the outer smooth layer of the kidney. The process of the ultra filtration of the blood is transferred in the renal cortex which is known as ultra filtration. The filtration processes can only be completed when the blood...

Words: 1472 - Pages: 6

Free Essay

Free Ratio Analysis

...DHS: Seniors and People with Disabilities State Operated Community Program SOCP Nurse Tools: http://www.dhs.state.or.us/spd/tools/dd/socp/nurses.html |Foley Catheter Care |Date: |      | |Client name: |      |DOB: |      |House: |      | |Site Manager: |      |Phone #: |      | |Allergies: |      | Foley Catheter basics: |What is it? A Foley catheter is a thin rubber tube which is put into your bladder (organ that holds urine). It is used to drain |[pic] | |urine out of your body. A Foley catheter is also called an "indwelling catheter". After the catheter is inserted, its tiny tip can| | |be inflated (filled) with sterile (clean) water to make a small balloon. The balloon holds | | |the Foley in place and keeps it from slipping out of your bladder. A Foley catheter can stay in the bladder for a short or long time. | |...

Words: 1668 - Pages: 7

Premium Essay

Renal System

...Renal system urinary system Kidneys The kidney job is to filter metabolic wastes excess iron and chemicals from the blood to form urine. Every day the two kidneys filter about 120 to 150 quarts of blood to be able to produce 1 to 2 quarts of urine, composed of wastes and extra fluids. The urine flows from the kidneys to the bladder by 2 thin tubes of muscle called ureters one tube on each side of the bladder the bladder will then store the urine. The kidneys are important because they keep the composition or make up if the blood stable which in turn will help the body function. The left kidney is located slightly higher than the right kidney because of the liver but more because of the right side of the liver because the right side of the liver is much larger than the left side of the liver. Urinary Bladder The bladder is located in the pelvis between the pelvic bones the bladder is hollow and a muscular balloon shaped organ that expands when it is filled with urine. Though a person cannot control kidney function they however can control when the bladder empties. A normal bladder can act like a reservoir and can hold up to 1.5 to 2 cups of urine, how often does the person needs to urinate depends on how fast the kidneys produce the urine that fill the bladder. Urethra The urethra is a tube which passes urine from the bladder to the exterior of the body, the female urethra is approximately 2 inches long and ends inferior to the clitoris and superior to the vaginal...

Words: 318 - Pages: 2

Free Essay

Kidney Failure

...Kidney Failure HCA/240 Kalkita Dodson February 2, 2012 * Scenario A: Acute renal failure. Ms. Jones, a 68-year-old female, underwent open-heart surgery to replace several blocked vessels in her heart. On her first day postoperatively, it was noted that she had very little urine output. * * What is happening to Ms. Jones’s kidneys, and why is it causing the observed symptom? * Oliguria – is a sudden drop in urine volume, or complete cessation of urine production. * What other symptoms and signs might occur? * Other symptoms that may occur is headache, gastrointestinal distress, and the odor of ammonia on the breath. * What is causing Ms. Jones’s kidney disease? * Her disease can be caused from the blood flow to the kidneys resulting from the surgical shock from her open heart surgery. * What are possible treatment options and prognosis? * Since Mrs. Jones has had open heart surgery it is very important to make sure that they monitor her hyperkalemia to make sure the levels of potassium stay where they need to so it does not cause the heart to weaken. Treatment should include restoration of the blood volume to normal, restricted fluid intake, and dialysis. * * Scenario B: Chronic renal failure...

Words: 502 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Kidney Failure

...causing the observed symptoms? Ms. Jones’s kidneys are shutting down which means they can no longer remove waste from the blood, which means they are building up and becoming toxic. The symptom of reduced urine output could be a blockage in the urinary tract. What other symptoms or signs might occur? Severe dehydration, which may cause extreme thirst, lightheadedness or faintness, and a weak, rapid pulse. What is causing Ms. Jones’s kidney disease? Ms. Jones’s just underwent a major surgery which reduced the blood flow to her kidneys and sent her body into surgical shock. What are possible treatment options and prognosis? Restore blood volume and treat her for any type of infection she may have. The treatment mostly depends on the reason for the kidney disease. Why is the condition of Mr. Hodges’s kidneys affecting the rest of his body? The kidneys shift out waste products and extra water which becomes urine. If your kidneys can not do this than the toxins build up and will cause you to become ill. This will cause to much potassium in your blood which will eventually lead to heart problems. As his chronic renal failure worsens what other symptoms and signs might occur in his respiratory, digestive, nervous, and urinary systems? His hands and feet may swell, he may feel tired and weak, suffer from nausea, vomiting, problems with vision, cause confusion, fluid in the lungs, seizures or even a coma. What is causing Mr. Hodges’s kidney disease? Since he has congestive...

Words: 331 - Pages: 2