Urinary System
Body System Vocab
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Homeostasis- A state of balance in the body
(everything is A ok)
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Metabolism- Rate at which the body generates
energy. The sum of all the bodies processes
Urinary System – filters waste and extra fluid
from the blood in the form of urine
- Composed of four parts
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Part 1
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Kidneys
Two bean shaped organs about the size of a fist
 Contain nephrons, which are tiny filtering units (filter the
blood)
 Monitors and adjusts amount of salts and water in blood
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Part 2
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Ureters
Two tubes that carry
urine from the kidneys to the bladder
 Each is about 8 to 10 inches long
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Part 3
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Bladder
Hollow, muscular organ located in the pelvic cavity
 Stores urine
 Stores about 2 cups comfortably for 2 to 5 hours
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Part 4
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Urethra
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Tube that leads from the bladder to the outside of the
body
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Urinary System Video Clip
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZMJeZLBVg
Diagram of Urinary System
Problems of the Urinary System
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1. Cystitis – inflammation of the bladder caused
by a bacterial infection
2. Urethritis- inflammation of the urethra caused
by bacterial infection.
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Important – if you experience a burning pain
during urination, increased urination, or blood
in urine, you need to see a doctor ASAP! You
may have these disorders!
Kidney Problems
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1. Nephritis – inflammation of nephrons in
kidneys.
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This leads to a changed amount of urine produced.
2. Kidney Stones – formed when salts in the
urine crystallize into solid stones
If the stone moves into the ureter, it causes immense
pain
 Smaller stones may pass, but stones larger than 1 cm
have to be broken down using shock waves
 Sometimes, surgery is required
3. Uremia- Serious condition where the kidneys do not
filter blood properly
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Kidney Stone Video Clip
Kidney Failure
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1. Sometimes, our kidneys do not function
2. This can be caused by infection, decreased
blood flow, or diseases that damage kidney
tissue
3. So…what do we do? How do we treat it?
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4. We can use hemodialysis or dialysis– an
artificial kidney machine removes waste
products from the blood
Takes 3-5 hrs and is done 3-4 times per week
 YouTube - Hemodialysis machine
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5. We can also have a kidney transplant
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Basically, an organ donor gives a healthy kidney to
someone in need
Prostate Cancer
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Prostate gland is a gland only found in males
This type of cancer is generally found in older
adult males – 50 years old
Prostate Cancer
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Cancerous tumor causes prostate gland to swell
The swelling “pinches” the urethra
This causes decreased urination in males, painful
No known causes – doctors suggest eating
healthy diet and exercising.
How do I keep the urinary system
healthy?
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Drink at least 8 glasses of water a day
Limit your intake of caffeine and soft drinks
This can increase water loss through urine, thus
dehydrating your body
Take more showers than baths
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Eliminates the risk of bacterial infections due to
contaminated water
How do I keep the urinary system
healthy?
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Eat Cranberries! – chemical within cranberries
helps prevent bacteria from sticking to bladder
walls
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This prevents bacterial infections!
Be Proactive!!!
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1. If you experience pain, burning, or blood
during urination, you need to tell a doctor AS
SOON AS POSSIBLE!!!
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http://www.neok12.com/Urinary-System.htm
Explore
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CONSTRUCT THE URINARY
SYSTEM
You will make a model of the primary
components of their urinary system. Once
finished with this activity you will be able to
identify the structures, their functions and order
the process of the urinary system through your
model.
 You must correctly label and give the function
for the following parts…Ureter, Kidney,
Urethra, Bladder
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Kidney Filtration Simulation Activity
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This lab activity that will simulate the overall
function of the kidneys