Urinary System

Question of the Day Is it safe to drink your own urine?????

The Urinary System The main job of the urinary system is to remove the body’s waste. The waste products that are filtered out of the blood are excess vitamins, minerals, and waste from chemical reactions in the body’s cells. If the wastes, especially nitrogen, were not removed from the body, you would die. The organs in charge of removing the waste are the kidneys. The urinary system is made of several organs. These organs are the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra.

Scenario You have been hired at your dream job but before you sign the contract, your employer wants you to submit a urine sample. Why is your employer making this request? What types of things might be found in a urine sample? Why is urine different shades of yellow?

Kidneys/Urination The kidneys are 2 fist sized, bean shaped organs. They are positioned on either side of your spine, just above the waist. Wastes are filtered from the blood inside the nephrons. Once the water and wastes enter the nephron, they are turned into urine.

Urinary System Diagram Major organs of the urinary tract

Kidneys/urination continued… Urine is a pale yellow solution of urea, water, salts, and other substances Urine leaves the nephrons and flows through the ureters, which are narrow muscular tubes that connect the kidneys to the bladder. The bladder is a muscular sac that stores urine. When the bladder becomes full, it releases urine to the urethra, which sends it outside of the body.

Activity #2: Matching Write the WORD (not the letter) that best completes each statement 1. Pale yellow solution that is made mostly of water, salts, and urea: ________________ Bladder 2. The main organ of the urinary system (bean shaped): ________________ Urine 3. The main job of the urinary system: _________________ Kidneys 4. The muscular sac that holds urine: _________________ Waste removal 5. narrow, muscular tubes that connect kidneys to the bladder: ________________ Ureters

Answers….. 1.Pale yellow solution that is made mostly of water, salts, and urea: urine 2.The main organ of the urinary system: kidneys 3.The main job of the urinary system: waste removal 4.The muscular sac that holds urine: bladder 5.Narrow, muscular tubes that connect kidneys to the bladder: ureters

Urinary system problems Kidney stones – lumps of crystallized salts and minerals that form in the kidneys. Kidney stones can cause severe pain as it passes out of the kidney. The pain usually goes away when the stone passes into the bladder. Doctors can use ultrasound waves to dissolve kidney stones if they are unable to pass.

Urinary System Problems Cont. Kidney Failure – occurs when both kidneys stop working and excess fluid and wastes build up in the body. This can lead to death if it is not treated. Some causes of kidney failure include: infections, allergic reactions, or a blockage in another part of the urinary system. The best way to care for your urinary system is to drink plenty of fluids – at least 6 to 8 glasses of water every day.

Dialysis One form of treatment for kidney failure is called dialysis. During dialysis, a machine does the job of the kidneys. Tubes are inserted into openings in an artery and vein in the patient’s arm or leg. The tubes are connected to the machine and as the blood circulates through the machine, waste is removed and clean blood is pumped back into the patient. Kidney transplants are another option for kidney failure patients. The diseased kidney is removed and replaced with a healthy kidney from a donor with similar body tissue.

Question to ponder…. Who would most likely be a matching donor for you if you needed a kidney? Why????