Exam Review And Revision Notes On The Urinary System; Anatomical, Physiological And Clinical Explanation

Urinary system331Urinary system332987612 345LSIRFig 159 The components of the urinary system (without the urethra) and some adjacent structuresUrinary system333CommentsAnatomical: The urinary system consists of two kidneys, two ureters, one bladder and one urethra.Physiological: The urinary system has vital excretory functions, such as the formation\ of urine to maintain water and electrolyte homoeostasis (water, electro\lyte and acid-base balance), the excretion of metabolic waste products (nitr\ogenous compounds such as urea, creatinine and uric acid, ions in excess of body\ needs and some drugs), the secretion of erythropoietin (a hormone stimulatin\g the produc-tion of red cells), the secretion of renin (an enzyme critical for the control of arterial blood pressure) and the transport and storage of urine.Clinical: The bladder fills with urine at the rate of about 60 mL per hour. The collection of urine every hour or every 24 hours allows renal function to be monitored. Signs and symptoms suggestive of obstruction in the tract or of renal di\sease (e.g., renal stones, infections and other lesions) include severe pain in the \lumbar region, increase in volume and frequency of urination, oliguria (a urine volume\