The Body System Summary Created by Christy Hui

Signs Symptoms A characteristic of an illness that can be observed by a third party Penile discharge A characteristic of an illness observed or experienced by a patient Burning sensation upon urination Penile discharge

Affected body system- genitourinary In Naser’s case, the urethra is affected by the pathogens via unprotected sexual intercourse Infection may spread to other urinary and reproductive organs The genitourinary system is composed of both reproductive and urinary organs which are interconnected in males

The Urinary System Composed of four major organs in both males and females: kidneys, ureter, bladder, urethra

Kidneys Maintains homeostasis of volume and fluid composition of blood in the body Filter metabolic waste from blood Form urine Balance fluid and electrolytes Balance blood pH Regulate blood pressure Waste filtered from the kidneys is directed to the bladder via a tube called the ureter

Bladder The bladder is an expandable organ that collects urine filtered from the kidneys Once expanded, epithelial lining of the bladder sends signals to the body to pass urine via the voiding reflex Subsequent innervation of the urethral sphincter regulates urine release Urethra is connected to bladder and is responsible for excreting urea, waste and excess water Pathogens present in this system is also excreted via the urethra Men’s urethra is longer than women’s

The Reproductive System Primary purpose is for copulation and production of the offspring In males, the reproductive system is closely tied with the urinary system External genitalia includes penis, scrotum Internal genitalia includes testes, epididymis, vas deferens, ductus deferens, seminal vesicle, ejaculatory duct, prostate gland, Cowper’s gland, and the urethra.

Testes are located in the scrotum, responsible for spermatogenesis Contain tightly coiled seminiferous tubules Comprised of interstitial cells known as Leydig cells, responsible for producing testosterone and other androgens Epididymis is a tightly coiled tube connected to seminiferous tubules that function to mature sperm Vas deferens are connected to the seminal vesicles that cause the production of semen Cowper’s gland helps lubricate and secrete alkaline fluid to protect sperm travelling through the urethra and vaginal environment

Disturbance to normal physiological function due to N. gonorrhoeae Can cause urethritis, Linked with blindness and infertility Adherence is mediated through bacterial pilli and Opa proteins IgA1 protease cleaves IgA antibodies and block Fc function for destruction Porin mediates penetration of host cell, allows bacteria to survive within phagocytes They inhibit complement, apoptosis and oxidative burst in neutrophils Lipooligosaccharide (LOS) is responsible for most Gonorrhea’s symptoms Induction of an inflammatory response, activation of complement, local production of TNF-α Causing pain and swelling of the urethra, leading to the burning sensation Bacteria leaving the urethral cells, infected cells are shed into the urethral lumen causing the penile discharge

Gonococcal invasion mechanism

Disturbance to normal physiological function due to C. trachomatis C. trachomatis has a cell wall structure that inhibits phagolysosome fusion, and induces inflammatory response Infection of mucosal epithelial cells can deteriorate barriers and impact immune system Bacterial cells stimulate T helper cells to release IFN-g that causes tissue damage This inflammation causes painful urination Bacteria may spread up along the reproductive tract The symptom of discharge is caused by bacterial cell necrosis If left untreated, chlamydia can cause skin lesion, epididymitis and arthritis

Secondary Sites N. gonorrhoeae may disseminate into the bloodstream and infect other sites such as skin and joints; the infection is then aptly named “disseminated gonococcal infection” It can survive within phagosomes due to Por, an outer membrane porin. Serum resistant strains can evade bactericidal activity by LOS binding to sialic acid Mucosal IgA blocks anti-LOS IgG bactericidal activity in serum C. trachomatis may also disseminate into the blood stream and infect secondary sites (i.e. epididymis, conjunctiva, oral cavity and joints) Intracellular pathogens form reticulate bodies to survive

STI Testing Imperative to get tested for STIs and HIV/AIDS when beginning a sexual relationship with a new partner. Gonorrhea and chlamydia are sometimes asymptomatic in men and women Treatment should begin as soon as possible if detected Untreated infections can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease (in women), ectopic pregnancies (in women), infertility (in men and women) and chronic infections Increased risk of transmission to fetus and premature birth if infection occurs during pregnancy Note: treatment may differ in pregnant women to ensure the safety of the fetus