The Importance of the Urinary System

998 Words2 Pages

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]

More about The Importance of the Urinary System

Open Document