1. The urinary system is responsible for eliminating fluid from the body. It maintains the fluid/salt balance in our bodies.

2. Kidney Filter’s blood to get waste out. It produces urine. Located towards middle of the back. Kidney also produces erythropoietin and aids in the production of red blood cells.

3. Ureters Take urine to bladder from kidney.

4. Bladder Holds urine until it is signal to be released.

5. Urethra Takes urine out of the body from the bladder.

6. Diabetes There are little fibers that make up the kidneys that are called nephrons. These nephrons have their own little fibers. Diabetes is distinguished by very high levels of glucose. Over time, the high levels of glucose damages the nephrons. This negatively affects the Kidney’s ability to filter blood. This causes waste to be left in the blood, causes serious issues. This kidney damage takes years to developed

7. Sickle Cell Anemia Sickle cell anemia is a disease passed down through families in which red blood cells form an abnormal sickle or crescent shape. Red blood cells carry oxygen to the body and are normally shaped like a disc. Sickle red blood cells can damage the kidney so that it is unable to filter properly. This kidney damage is called sickle cell nephropathy. The first sign of this damage is protein in the urine (proteinuria).

8. Heart Disease Coronary heart disease is a narrowing of the small blood vessels that supply blood and oxygen to the heart. Without a good blood supply the kidney would not be able to function causing kidney failure.

9. Urinary Tract Infection Cystitis is a lower UTI and causes the bladder lining to become inflamed Pyelonephritis is an upper UTI and can affect the kidneys which can leave kidney scars and lead to chronic kidney disease and failure. Causes pain when passing urine, cloudy or bloody urine, and a low fever

10. http://diabetes.about.com/od/preventingcomplication s/p/kidneydisease.htm http://diabetes.about.com/od/preventingcomplication s/p/kidneydisease.htm http://www.womenshealthfoundation.org/Bladder+H ealth+Topics/Bladder+Facts http://www.womenshealthfoundation.org/Bladder+H ealth+Topics/Bladder+Facts http://www.kidney.org.au/ForPatients/UrinaryHealth/ tabid/653/Default.aspx http://www.kidney.org.au/ForPatients/UrinaryHealth/ tabid/653/Default.aspx http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/pyelone phritis/#1 http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/pyelone phritis/#1