Full Anatomy And Physiology Note On Renal System For Nursing Students

THE RENAL (URINARY OR EXCRETORY) SYSTEMIntroduction The body maintains the homeostasis of several important internal conditions by controlling the excretion of substances out of the body through the renal system function. Urine is formed while normal blood compositions are reabsorbed into the body through active and passive transport, and ammonia in the form of uric acid is excreted as waste. This process also, has a significant role in the maintenance of electrolytes balances in the body. Definition of the Renal System The renal system is also called the urinary or excretory system of the body. This is because, some of its functions include the formation of urine and removal (excretion) of waste products from the blood and their elimination from the body to the outside. The Components of the Renal System The urinary system consists of: Two (2) Kidneys Two (2) Ureters One (1) Urinary bladder One (1) Urethra Fig. 1: Diagram of the Renal System- Two Kidneys: This organ extracts wastes from the blood, balance body fluids and form urine. The kidneys are a pair of bean-shaped organs found along the posterior wall of the abdominal cavity. The left kidney is located slightly higher than the right kidney because