The Urinary System The urinary system consists of the organs, tubes, muscles and nerves that work

together to create, store and carry urine. It includes two kidneys, two ureters, the urinary bladder and urethra. Waste products (nitrogen) are released into the bloodstream (urea, creatinine and uric acid). The urinary system removes them from the blood. Then, the kidneys filter the blood. The kidneys also regulate water, electrolytes, and acids in body fluids. Homeostasis takes place because of the stability provided by the urinary system. Renin and erythropoietin are hormones secreted by the kidneys. Renin is an enzyme for blood pressure regulation. Erythropoietin stimulates BBC production in bone marrow. The kidneys are retroperitoneal in the lumbar area. In other words, they are located above the waist, towards the back. Each kidney is fist-sized and weighs around four-six oz. each. The outer portion of the kidney is known as the cortex. The middle/inner portion is known as the medulla. The hilum is the depression/area where blood vessels past through. The collection point for urine is located in the renal pelvis. Blood first enters the renal arteries. Next, it enters into the arterioles. Last, it goes to capillaries. A tiny ball of capillaries is known as a glomerulus. In each kidney, there are approximately one million glomeruli. A Bowmans capsule surrounds each glomerulus. The ureters are around sixteen-eighteen inches long. Each ureter is lined with a mucous membrane. Their function is to move urine to bladder via peristalsis. The bladder is a hollow muscular sac. Its function is to hold urine until voluntary release. The urethra is a membranous tube. A female urethra is around one and one-half inches long. A male urethra is much longer, measuring at eight inches long and goes through the male prostate. Its function is to carry urine out of the body. The external opening is called the urinary meatus. Urine production comes in three steps: filtration, reabsorption and secretion. This occurs in the nephrons (found in the kidneys). In filtration, nitrogenous wastes leave the bloodstream. Next, reabsorption occurs. Water, sugar and salt are reabsorbed back into the bloodstream. Last, secretion occurs. Secretion is when acids, drugs, potassium, etc. leave the body in the form of urine. The ADH (anti-diuretic hormone) and aldosterone are the two hormones that control the amount of urine that the nephrons produce. Urine is normally straw colored to clear. It is composed of ninety-five percent water. Other terms for urinating are voiding or micturition.