The Urinary System
Maintenance Systems
Unit 5
Basic Functions of the Urinary System
• Regulates the composition and
volume of the blood by
removing and restoring
selected amounts of water and
solutes.
• Eliminates water, nitrogenous
wastes from the breakdown of
protein, inorganic salts, and
assists in eliminating heat and
carbon dioxide.
The Organs of the Urinary System
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Kidneys (2)
Ureters (2)
Bladder
Urethra
Kidneys
• The kidneys are paired organs found
laterally to the spinal canal in the
upper left and right quadrants.
• Their main function is to produce
urine.
Kidney Anatomy
Kidney Anatomy
• Renal Capsule- outside covering of
the kidney
• Cortex- lighter colored outer region
• Medulla- darker, reddish-brown inner
region
• Pyramids- direct urine formation
towards renal pelvis
• Renal Pelvis- flat funnel-shaped
cavity that collects urine
Nephron
• The functional unit of
the kidney
– A. Glomerulus
– B. Proximal
Convoluting Tubule
– C. Loop of Henle
descending limb
– D. Loop of Henle
ascending limb
– E. Distal Convoluting
Tubule
– F. collecting duct
Nephron
The Ureters
• The ureters are long, slender tubes which
extend from the kidneys to the urinary
bladder.
• Their main function
is to transport urine
from the kidneys to
the bladder.
The Urinary Bladder
• A sac-like structure found in the
pelvic cavity.
• Its main function is to hold urine.
The Urethra
• A small tube (about 2 inches in the
female and 8 inches in males)
which transports urine from the
bladder to the outside of the body.
Diseases and Disorders
of the Urinary System
Kidney Stones
• Kidney stones are hard masses
developed from crystals that separate
from the urine within the urinary tract.
• Usually, the first symptom of a kidney
stone is extreme pain, which begins
suddenly when a stone moves in the
urinary tract and blocks the flow of
urine.
Kidney Stones continued
• Typically, a person feels a sharp,
cramping pain in the back and side in the
area of the kidney or in the lower
abdomen. Sometimes nausea and
vomiting occur.
• Later, pain may spread to the groin.
Predisposing factors for kidney stones
include dehydration, infection, obstruction,
and genetics.
• Treatment includes medication to relieve
the pain, forcing fluids, and sometimes
surgical intervention such as lithotripsy.
Kidney Failure
• Kidney failure is the loss of the kidney’s ability
to perform their main function — eliminate
excess fluid and waste material from the blood.
• When the kidneys lose their filtering ability,
dangerous levels of fluid and waste
accumulate in the body.
• Signs and symptoms include decreased urine
output, fluid retention, drowsiness, shortness of
breath, fatigue, confusion, seizures or coma in
severe cases.
• Treatment includes a modified diet, IV fluids,
and dialysis until kidney function returns to
normal.
Cystitis
• Cystitis is the inflammation of the urinary
bladder caused by bacteria.
• It is more common in women.
• Signs and symptoms of cystitis include
urgency, frequency, burning upon
urination, dysuria, and possible urethral
discharge.
• It is treated with antibiotics.
Careers
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Urologist
Dialysis Technician
Medical Lab Technician
Medical Assistant
Careers
• Urologist
• Urologists are trained to diagnose, treat, and manage
patients with urological disorders. The organs an urologist
treats include the kidneys, ureters, urinary bladder, and
urethra. In males an urologist may also treat conditions of
the reproductive organs
• Disorders they treat
– Incontinence, hematuria, cystitis, UTI, infertility (male), cancer,
prostate disorders, kidney stones, diabetes, kidney disease and
failure, sexual function
• Must complete medical school + residency and specialize
in internal medicine- Urology (15 years)
• $166,000- 285,000 – Urology surgeons make the upper
end
Dialysis Technician
• Operate dialysis machines which remove
waste and excess fluids from the blood of
patients whose kidneys can no longer carry out
those functions.
• Prepare patients for dialysis- patient history,
vitals, warning signs of complications
• Complete certificate program
– Community or vocational college or on the
job training
– Venipuncture, local anesthesia
administration
– Work in hospitals and dialysis clinics
• $15/hour = $30,000/year
Medical Lab Technician
• Works under the supervision of a medical
technologist or physician to perform tests on
tissues, blood and other body fluids to help
physicians diagnose and treat disease and
disorders.
• Associates degree
• $35,000
• Can continue education and complete
Bachelors degree and become Medical Lab
Scientist
• $50,000+
Medical Assistants
• Perform many administrative duties as well as clinical
duties
• Take medical histories and record vital signs, explain
treatment procedures to patients, prepare patients for
examination, and assisting the physician during the
examination
• Collect and prepare laboratory specimens or perform basic
laboratory tests on the premises, dispose of contaminated
supplies, and sterilize medical instruments
• Arrange examining room instruments and equipment,
purchase and maintain supplies and equipment, and keep
waiting and examining rooms neat and clean
• Complete Medical Assistant program at vocational or
community college that last 1-2 years
• Work in Clinics and Doctor offices
• Salary ranges from 20,000-30,000/year ($10-15/hour)
Word Parts/ Abbreviations
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Cyst/o- urinary bladder or cyst
Ren/o- kidney
Ur/o- urine
Retro- backward, back, behind
Trans- across, over, beyond,
through
• -ectomy – surgical removal
• PCT- proximal convoluted tubule
• DCT- distal convoluted tubule
Vocabulary
• Renal- pertaining to the kidney
• Cortex- the outer layer of an organ
• Medulla- inner or central portion of
an organ
• Glomerulus- a twisted group of
capillaries where filtration begins
• Bowman’s capsule- covering around
glomerulus where filtration occurs
• Collecting duct- final tube in the
formation of urine
Vocabulary
• Dialysis- process of diffusion through
a semipermeable membrane to
remove toxins and waste
• Dysuria- painful or difficult urination
• Lithotripsy- use of sound waves to
crush renal stones
• Nephron- functional unit of the
kidney
Vocabulary
• Loop of Henle- U shaped portion of
the renal tubules
• Benign- not recurrent or progressive,
non cancerous
• Malignant- growing worse, resistant
to treatment, cancerous
• Metastasis- movement of cells from
one body part to another