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The urinary system is made up of the kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra. Its function is basically to filter the blood to eliminate toxins and metabolic remains through urine, maintaining homeostasis, which is the internal balance of the organism and which promotes the proper functioning of the organs.
The kidneys filter all body blood in a few minutes, which is a continuous process. Blood reaches the kidney through the abdominal aorta, which branches and forms the renal arteries, and the inferior vena cava also divides and forms the renal vena cava.
Organs of the urinary system
The main characteristics of each part of this system are:
- 2 Kidneys: The kidneys have a bean shape, measure on average 12 x 6 x 3 cm in adults, and weigh around 150 g each. The kidneys are located on either side of the spine, and the right kidney is slightly lower than the left because of the position of the liver. The kidneys are covered by a fibrous capsule formed of adipose tissue, which protects the kidneys from trauma. The kidneys can be divided into: cortex and medulla. The cortex has vascular structures, the renal corpuscles, where the blood is filtered. In just one day, the kidneys produce 1-2 liters of urine by filtering 180 liters of blood.
- 2 Ureters: These are two tubes that connect the kidney to the bladder. The ureters perform peristaltic movements to conduct 'urine' to the bladder.
- Bladder: It is a bag that stores urine, it has a muscular layer called muscular tunic. Empty it is shaped like a pear and full it is shaped like a ball. The bladder can store up to 800 ml of urine.
- Urethra: It is a tube that conducts urine from the bladder out of the body, being a little different in men and women. In women it only serves to excrete urine, but in men it also leads to ejaculation.
Male urinary system
The difference between the male and female urinary systems is that in men the urethra has a dual function, passing urine and semen. The male urethra is divided into: prostatic (3-4 cm), membranous (1-2 cm) and penile (about 15 cm).
Female urinary system
The female urethra is different from the male urethra by carrying only urine out of the body. It ends close to the external environment and is more likely to be contaminated with microorganisms present inside the vagina and anal area, which is why urinary tract infection is more common in women.
Urinary system functions
The main function of the urinary system is to filter the blood, in order to maintain the hydroelectrolytic balance, maintaining in ideal quantities water and electrolytes, such as sodium, chloride, potassium and others. However, this system is also responsible for maintaining the pH of the blood, and for maintaining blood pressure, since it regulates the amount of water that is present in the blood.
Possible diseases of the urinary system
The most common diseases of the urinary system are:
1. Urinary infection
It occurs when microorganisms from the external environment enter the urethra and reach the bladder, causing symptoms such as pain and burning when urinating. The treatment is done with antibiotics prescribed by the doctor, but when it is not done right at the beginning of the symptoms, the microorganisms continue to proliferate and rise, reaching the kidneys and ureters. Learn how to identify and treat urinary tract infection.
2. Nephritis
It is when the microorganisms reach the kidneys causing symptoms such as weakness, back pain, high fever with chills and drops of blood in the urine. Treatment is done with antibiotics prescribed by the doctor. Here's how to identify nephritis.
3. Renal failure
It happens when the kidneys do not filter the blood properly, with complications such as blood acidity and increased blood pressure. This situation needs to be reversed as soon as possible, as it is a serious situation and can put the person's life at risk.
In some cases it is possible to cure with medications, however, in more severe cases, the doctor may indicate that blood is filtered through a hemodialysis device, every day or 2-3 times a week. When the treatment is not done correctly or when there is no response from the body to the treatment indicated by the doctor, it is possible that the disease may become chronic. Learn how to identify and treat kidney failure.