ADEPEJU OMOTOYOSI ADESEGUN- 3C

The urinary system, also known as the renal system,

produces, stores and eliminates urine, the fluid waste excreted by the
kidneys. The kidneys make urine by filtering wastes and extra water from
blood. Urine travels from the kidneys through two thin tubes called
ureters and fills the bladder. When the bladder is full, a person urinates
through the urethra to eliminate the waste.

The urinary system is susceptible to a variety of infections and other problems,

including blockages and injuries. These can be treated by a urologist or another
health care professional who specializes in the renal system.

Parts of the urinary system

Two kidneys. This pair of purplish-brown organs. Their function is to
remove liquid waste from the blood in the form of urine; keep a stable balance
of salts and other substances in the blood; and produce erythropoietin, a
hormone that aids the formation of red blood cells. The kidneys remove urea
from the blood through tiny filtering units called nephrons. Each nephron
consists of a ball formed of small blood capillaries, called a glomerulus, and a
small tube called a renal tubule. Urea, together with water and other waste
substances, forms the urine as it passes through the nephrons and down the
renal tubules of the kidney.
 The kidneys are a pair of organs found along the posterior muscular wall of the
abdominal cavity. The left kidney is located slightly more superior than the right
kidney due to the larger size of the liver on the right side of the body. Unlike the
other abdominal organs, the kidneys lie behind the peritoneum that lines the
abdominal cavity and are thus considered to be retroperitoneal organs. The ribs
and muscles of the back protect the kidneys from external damage. Adipose
tissue known as perirenal fat surrounds the kidneys and acts as protective
padding.

Two ureters. These narrow tubes carry urine from the kidneys to the
bladder. Muscles in the ureter walls continually tighten and relax forcing urine
downward, away from the kidneys. If urine backs up, or is allowed to stand still,
a kidney infection can develop. About every 10 to 15 seconds, small amounts of
urine are emptied into the bladder from the ureters.
 Bladder. This triangle-shaped, hollow organ is located in the lower
abdomen. It is held in place by ligaments that are attached to other organs and
the pelvic bones. The bladder's walls relax and expand to store urine, and
contract and flatten to empty urine through the urethra. The typical healthy adult
bladder can store up to two cups of urine for two to five hours.

Two sphincter muscles. These circular muscles help keep urine from
leaking by closing tightly like a rubber band around the opening of the bladder.

Nerves in the bladder. The nerves alert a person when it is time to

urinate, or empty the bladder.
 Urethra. This tube allows urine to pass outside the body. The brain
signals the bladder muscles to tighten, which squeezes urine out of the bladder.
At the same time, the brain signals the sphincter muscles to relax to let urine
exit the bladder through the urethra. When all the signals occur in the correct
order, normal urination occurs.

The nephrons
 Each kidney contains around 1 million individual nephrons, the kidneys
microscopic functional units that filter blood to produce urine. The nephron is
made of 2 main parts: the renal corpuscle and the renal tubule.

Responsible for filtering the blood, our renal corpuscle is formed by the
capillaries of the glomerulus and the glomerular capsule (also known as
Bowmans capsule). The glomerulus is a bundled network of capillaries that
increases the surface area of blood in contact the blood vessel walls.
Surrounding the glomerulus is the glomerular capsule, a cup-shaped double
layer of simple squamous epithelium with a hollow space between the layers.
Special epithelial cells known as podocytes form the layer of the glomerular
capsule surrounding the capillaries of the glomerulus. Podocytes work with the
endothelium of the capillaries to form a thin filter to separate urine from blood
passing through the glomerulus. The outer layer of the glomerular capsule holds
the urine separated from the blood within the capsule. At the far end of the
glomerular capsule, opposite the glomerulus, is the mouth of the renal tubule.

A series of tubes called the renal tubule concentrate urine and recover non-
waste solutes from the urine. The renal tubule carries urine from the glomerular
capsule to the renal pelvis.

1. The curvy first section of the renal tubule is known as the proximal
convoluted tubule. The tubule cells that line the proximal convoluted tubule
reabsorb much of the water and nutrients initially filtered into the urine.
2. Urine next passes through the loop of Henle, a long straight tubule that
carries urine into the renal medulla before making a hairpin turn and returning to
the renal cortex.
3. Following the loop of Henle is the distal convoluted tubule.
4. Finally, urine from the distal convoluted tubules of several nephrons
enters the collecting duct, which carries the concentrated urine through the
renal medulla and into the renal pelvis.
5. From the renal pelvis urine from many collecting ducts combines and
flows out of the kidneys and into the ureters.
 Components of the urine
Urine is a liquid byproduct of the body secreted by the kidneys through a
process called urination and excreted through the urethra. The normal chemical
composition of urine is mainly water content, but it also includes nitrogenous
molecules, such as urea, as well as creatinine and other metabolic waste
components.

Other substances may be excreted in urine due to injury or infection of the

glomeruli of the kidneys, which can alter the ability of the nephron to reabsorb
or filter the different components of blood plasma.

Normal Chemical Composition of Urine

Urine is an aqueous solution of greater than 95% water, with a minimum of

these remaining constituents, in order of decreasing concentration:

Urea 9.3 g/L.

Chloride 1.87 g/L.
Sodium 1.17 g/L.
Potassium 0.750 g/L.
Creatinine 0.670 g/L .
Other dissolved ions, inorganic and organic compounds
(proteins, hormones, metabolites).

Urine is sterile until it reaches the urethra, where epithelial cells lining the
urethra are colonized by facultatively anaerobic gram-negative rods and cocci.
Urea is essentially a processed form of ammonia that is non-toxic to mammals,
unlike ammonia, which can be highly toxic. It is processed from ammonia and
carbon dioxide in the liver.
 Abnormal Types of Urine

There are several conditions that can cause abnormal components to be

excreted in urine or present as abnormal characteristics of urine. They are
mostly referred to by the suffix -uria. Some of the more common types of
abnormal urine include:

ProteinuriaProtein content in urine, often due to leaky or damaged

glomeruli.
OliguriaAn abnormally small amount of urine, often due to shock or
kidney damage.
PolyuriaAn abnormally large amount of urine, often caused
by diabetes.
DysuriaPainful or uncomfortable urination, often from urinary tract
infections.
HematuriaRed blood cells in urine, from infection or injury.
GlycosuriaGlucose in urine, due to excess plasma glucose in diabetes,
beyond the amount able to be reabsorbed in the proximal convoluted tubule.
 How to have an healthy urinary system
The best way to prevent urinary tract infection complications is to keep the
kidneys and the entire urinary system healthy. This can be done through proper
diet and nutrition.

1. Drink at least 10 glasses of water to flush out toxins.

2. Exercise regularly for at least 30 minutes a day. Maintain a healthy

weight according to your age to avoid putting excess strain on all bodily
systems.

3. Avoid taking too many drugs especially pain medicines or drugs

containing NSAIDs

4. Get routine physical exams. If you are prone to urine infections regularly,
you must consider getting urine culture tests done every few months.

5. Eat healthy- avoid excess of red meat or go for a low protein diet. Eat
more fresh fruits and cruciferous vegetables like cauliflower, cabbage,
broccoli etc. Choose foods low in sodium, sugar and fats but high in fiber
content. Take black strap molasses and, every few days, fast by drinking
only lemon water.

6. Educate yourself about kidney diseases, kidney stones and urine

infection causes etc.

7. If you suffer from diabetes, exercise control over blood sugar. Follow all
medical advice given by your doctor about the disease, taking insulin, diet
and other medications etc.

8. If you have high blood pressure of hypertension, then your risk of

developing kidney related issues is greater. So talk to your doctor about
ACE inhibitors which are known to reduce these risk factors.
9. If you are prone to getting UTIs frequently, get them treated immediately.
Procrastinating treatment can complicate matters. See an expert urologist
to rule out other complicated health conditions that could be the
underlying cause behind frequent UTIs.

10. Through diet or medication where needed, control high cholesterol.

11. Avoid smoking and excess alcohol.

12. Dont wait too long to use the restroom. Withholding urination can put
added pressure on your bladder which can lead to infection.

13. Pay close attention to hygiene avoid harsh soaps and make sure to
shower thoroughly after swimming in pools or lakes.

14. Avoid foods that may irritate the bladder. If you have an overactive or
sensitive bladder, avoid carbonated and caffeinated drinks and alcoholic
drinks.

15. Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of water throughout the day in order to keep
a normal urinary pattern. This works to remove any waste products in
your system.

16. Ask the right questions If you suspect something is wrong, talk to your
doctor.
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