• Monitors and regulates fluids (plasma,
tissue fluid, lymph)
• Filters substances from plasma
• Excretes harmful substances as urine
• Returns useful products to blood
• Macroscopic
• Kidneys
• Renal Artery
• Renal Vein
• Renal Pelvis
• Ureter
• Urethra
• Urinary Meatus
• Kidney: fist sized, kidney shaped organs that filter tissue fluids
and reabsorb useful nutrients for the body
• Renal Artery: carries blood containing waste to kidney
• Renal Vein: carries “cleaned” blood out of kidney
• Renal Pelvis: waste material in the form of urine stored here
during filtering process
• Ureter: extends from renal pelvis and carries urine to bladder
• Bladder: temporary reservoir for urine
• Urethra: tube at base of bladder that releases urine
• Urinary Meatus: urine expelled; in females, located above the
vagina
Structural overview
• The most common disorder of the urinary system
• UTI is a broad diagnosis covering any infection of the urinary
tract including the urethra, ureters, bladder and kidneys.
• May be caused by virus or fungus; most common infection is
caused by bacteria
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Dysuria – painful urination
Proteinuria – protein in the urine
Hematuria – blood in the urine
Pyuria – pus in the urine
Oliguria – absence of urine production
Frequency, urgency
Flank/back pain, fever, nausea, vomiting
• Cystitis is the medical term for inflammation of the bladder
which is the most common area of infection
• Diagnostics: U/A – urinalysis, C&S – culture and sensitivity,
blood tests (BUN, CBC, Electrolytes), IVP – intravenous
pyelogram, Cystoscopy, Biopsy
• Treatments: based on cause. Antibiotics, catheterization, surgery,
dialysis, lithotripsy, anti-hypertensive medications