Anatomy and Physiology of Urinary System

Our body is like a machine. Machine needs oil or gasoline to work. Our body needs food in order
to carry out its activities. Once the food has reached the body systems, they are quickly used for
energy. In the process, wastes materials are produced which need to be removed from the body.
The solid waste material comes out through the anus, while the fluid material is eliminated
through the urinary system.
The Urinary System and Its Major Parts
1.
Kidneys- the kidneys are two brownish, bean shaped organs about the size of a fist, they
weigh about 5 ounces. They are located in the upper right and left back part of the abdominal
cavity. Each kidney contains about 1,200,000 microscopic filters called nephrons. Nephrons are
smaller than the smaller dots.
The main function or the kidneys are to maintain the water balance and to eliminate waste
materials from the blood.
2.
Ureters the left and the right ureters are long muscular tubes. They are about 12 inches
long with a diameter 2 to 3 millimeters.
The ureters connect pelvis of each kidney to urinary bladder. They carry urine from each kidney
to the urinary bladder.
3.
The Urinary Bladder the urinary bladder is a muscular sac that holds urine. It is located
in front the pelvis and behind the pubis. As the bladder fills walls stretch signaling the desire to
urinate.
4.
The Urethra- the urethra is a muscular tube which carries urine from the bladder to the
outside part of the body. In the female, it is a one inch long from the bladder to the cleft of the
labia. In the male, it is several inches long from the prostate gland to the penis. When one is
about to urinate, a value in the urethra relaxes to allow the urine to flow out.
The Urinary System Cleans the Blood
Waste Products
During normal activity of the body, waste product are formed. The chief waste of the body are
carbon dioxide, water, urea and salts. Carbon dioxide is eliminated through the lungs while
water, urea and salts are eliminated through the urine. Urea is a product resulting from the
breakdown of protein foods and of protoplasm. It is excreted mainly but the kidneys.
Urinary Systems Mechanism
1.
Glomerulus each nephron is composed of a glomerulus. The glomerulus is surrounded
by hollow capsule known as Bowmans Capsule. The capillaries in the glomerulus filters the
waste materials of the blood except protein and the cells.

2.
Filtered Fluid the filtered fluid enters the bowmans capsule, where it flow down through
its twisted tubes. The walls of the tubes absorb back in to the blood the needed water and blood
chemicals.
3.
Pathway of Unwanted Chemicals Unwanted chemicals are discharged. The unwanted
chemicals are the waste products. They come out in the form of urine. The urine passes into the
ureter and on to the urinary bladder. And the urethra which releases it to the outside of the body.
Urine gives valuable clues to the body. Sugar in the urine is an indication of diabetes. Albumen
may signify that the kidneys are not functioning properly.