The human body consists of a number of systems having their own importance and contribution towards keeping human beings alive. As blood flows through the body, waste products are deposited into the bloodstream that needs to be removed. The system that does this is the ‘Urinary system’ also known as the ‘Renal system’. It is made up of two kidneys, two ureters, a urinary bladder and a urethra that produce, store and then excrete urine out of the body. For the purpose of this assignment the structure and functions of the urinary system will be explored focusing on the kidneys, in order to explain the importance of maintaining homeostasis. Homeostasis is the regulation of internal processes and substances that maintain a constant internal environment within the body.
The kidneys lie on the posterior abdominal wall, with one on each side of the vertebral column, and are held in position by a mass of fat called ‘Adipose’. (Innerbody.com, 1997). Kidneys are the primary organs of the urinary system that filters waste, water and electrolytes from the blood forming urine, through a continuous process called ‘Filtration’. (Innerbody.com, 1997). Each kidney has millions of nephrons, these are the functional units of the kidneys where filtration takes place. (Freudenrich, 1997). Nephrons have three functions known as Ultrafiltration, Selective reabsorption and tubular secretion. They are lined with a cellular membrane called ‘Microvilli’, this increases the surface area within the tubule to enable substances to secrete and reabsorb the filtrate. (Innerbody.com, 1999)
The formation of urine is initiated when blood is taken to the kidney via the renal artery. As blood flows from the renal artery through the afferent arteriole to the capill...
... middle of paper ...
...com (nd) – Kidney http://www.biologymad.com/resources/kidney.swf [Accessed on 20/11/2013]
Boundless.com (2011) – Regulating the kidney – Osmolality regulation https://www.boundless.com/biology/water-and-waste-management/physiological-control-of-osmoregulation-and-excretion/regulating-the-kidney/ [Accessed on 24/11/2013]
Endocrinology.org (nd) – Hormones – Aldosterone http://www.yourhormones.info/hormones/aldosterone.aspx [Accessed on 25/11/2013]
Innerbody.com (1997) – Urinary System – Kidneys http://www.innerbody.com/image/urinov.html [Accessed on 23/11/2013]
Ross and Wilson: Anatomy and Physiology in Health and Illness, 11th ed (Waugh, A and
Grant, A, 2010) The Urinary System p329-350
Accessed on 10/11/2013
Science.howyoustuffworks.com (1997) – How your kidneys work http://science.howstuffworks.com/life/human-biology/kidney1.htm [Accessed on /21/11/2013]
The kidneys are located in the posterior section of the retroperitoneal cavity and are small, dark red kidney-bean shaped organs in the lower part of the rib cage (Marieb, The Urinary System, 2015). They are undervalued organs considering how essential they are for the body’s ability to maintain homeostasis. The kidneys filter about 120-150 quarts of blood to produce about 1-2 quarts of urine each day (NIH, 2014). Blood initially enters the kidneys through the renal artery. It then flows into the segmental artery before moving into the interlobar artery. From the interlobar artery the filtrate enters the arcuate artery before branching into the cortical radiate artery, which feeds into the afferent arteriole, before passing into the glomerulus where it begins to filter out waste. The filtered waste is then collected by renal tubule. The tubules drain to collecting ducts and all of these components together makes up a small unit called a nephron. Each kidney has over a million nephrons (Marieb, Blood Supply/ Nephrons, 2015). They filter out wastes that run through different body systems via blood; the majority of that waste is nitrogenous wastes, toxins, excess fluids, electrolytes, and drugs. These waste products are eliminated as urine. While waste are removed vital enzymes, hormones, and water are returned
Kidneys play an important role in the unary tract. They are located on each side of the spine, just below the ribcage. Each kidney is connected to the bladder by ureters. The kidneys have many functions, but the most common functions are to clean waste, control chemicals, and regulate fluid in the body which makes up the urine. Urine collects in the kidney before entering the ureters and as time passes more materials are added. When calcium and oxalate or phosphates are combined in the kidney tiny stones are formed called nephrolithiasis, commonly known as kidney stones. These stones can be very painful and “increases risks for diabetes, high blood pressure, and osteoporosis” (Goldfarb, 2009). About ten percent of all people will have kidney stones in their lifetime. Kidney stones are most frequently found in white men over the age of forty, relatives of kidney stone patients, and people who have formerly had kidney stones.
All play a role in removing waste from your body. Your kidneys filter waste from your blood and regulate the concentrations of many substances. Tubes called ureters carry urine from your kidneys to the bladder, where it’s store until it exits your body through the urethra.
Conforming to Melmed, Polonsky, Larsen & Kronenberg (2011) the waste products of the blood can form crystals which can collect inside the kidneys and aggregate to form stones. Normally the stones are composed of phosphate, oxalate, uric acid, and magnesium ammonium phosphate, single or combined. The type of stone is determined by the pathogenic mechanisms. When the stones are find in the bladder, ureters, renal tubules and collecting system they tend to be symptomatic. When the urine is oversaturated with the stones constituents the stones are formed. During the passage through the renal tubules the crystals aggregate into stones. In order to allow more time for growth the crystals anchor themselves to the renal tubular epithelium in the renal papillae and Randall’s plaques. The concentration of excreted ions is influenced by the diet. The intake of fluids can reduce the stone formation and growth. A reduction in the sodium int...
The urinary tract consists of two kidneys, to ureters, urethra, and the urinary bladder. The urinary system works to remove waste from the body, maintain homeostasis of water, blood pressure, and regulate the body’s pH levels. The kidneys regulate several important internal conditions by excreting substances out into the body. After urine has been produced in the kidneys it is then transported to the urinary bladder via the ureters. The urinary bladder then holds the urine until the body is ready for excretion through the urethra.
(5) NIH Publication No. 03–4241. Your Kidneys and How They Work. National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse, 2003. http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/yourkidneys/
Widmaier, E.P., Raff, H. and Strang, K.T. (2008) Vander's Human Physiology: The Mechanisms of Body Function.11th ed. New York: McGraw-
Introductions Throughout our body we have many majors organs and each organ has a major function on our body. One of the major organs of the urinary system is the kidneys. We have 2 reddish brown, fist size, bean shaped kidneys in our body located on the anterior side by the lower edge of the ribs on either side of the spinal cord. The major function of your kidneys is to filter the blood to remove waste products, helps balance water, salt, electrolytes and forms urine. There must be an adequate blood supply in order for the kidneys to function properly. When your kidneys suddenly shut down and stop working it’s called acute renal failure. Acute renal failure is the most common leading deaths in hospitals today.
The urinary system has many different organs in order for it to work as a whole. Each organ does different functions. The urinary system consists of the two kidneys, the two ureters, the bladder, the two sphincter muscles, the nerves in the bladder, and the urethra. After your body takes what it needs from the food you eat waste products are then left behind in the blood. The urinary system works with the lungs, skin, and intestines to keep the chemicals and water in your body balanced. The urinary system removes urea from your body. Urea is made when the foods you eat that are high in protein are broken down in the body. Urea is then carried into the bloodstream to the kidneys by the renal arteries.
The urinary system is just one component of the Excretory system, and serves the purpose of filtering wastes from blood and ejecting it through the urethra.
In the human body, there are a number of systems that have their own importance and provide different functions to help keep us alive. One of these systems is the urinary system, also known as the renal system. As blood courses through the body, waste products are transferred into the bloodstream that needs to be extracted. The urinary system is designed to help the body remain free of excess water and waste that we no longer need. This particular system is made up of two kidneys, two ureters, a urinary bladder and a urethra that produces, stores, and then excretes urine out of the body. When it comes to the urinary system,
Kidneys clear waste products from our blood. They play a role in controlling the body’s level of water and chemicals, and produce essential hormones. (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2013)
Kidneys are filter organs present in vertebrates which help in removing water soluble wastes from the blood. A normal human body possesses two kidneys which are bean shaped and weigh around 150 grams each. Kidneys function as the waste disposal system of our body. Every day kidneys are processing around 200 litres of filtrate while absorbing large amount of it and producing around 1 to 2 litres of waste. Kidneys allow reabsorption of molecules from this filtrate into the blood. Thereafter these molecules are transferred to urinary bladder and then expelled from the body as urine. Kidneys are also producing hormones like erythropoietin, vitamin D and enzyme renin. Kidneys perform homeostatic functions which includes regulating
The urinary system is located in the middle of the body closer to the beginning of the lower half. It works with the lungs, intestines, and skin to maintain the balance of chemicals and water in the body. Per day, the average human produces 27 to 68 fluid ounces of urine. Included in this system are the urethra, kidneys, ureters, and bladder. Each of these organs is vital to us. The kidneys filter the blood and work to rid waste and produce urine. The rest of the organs included in the system (urethra, kidneys, ureters, and bladder) work together as what is called the urinary tract. The ureters are a tube-like organ that carries urine from the kidneys to the bladder. Every 10 to 15 seconds urine a little bit of urine is sent from the ureters
Kidney function as a filter for harmful substances from which we eat and drink. Renal function would be maximized if the urine osmotic force in the body reaches 1,000 to 12,000 osmosis ml / kg of water. With reduced water intake during fasting to practice, to achieve the targets in the urine osmotic strength can be achieved so that in the end will be good for kidney health.