Running head: 115 CHAPTER 7 ASSIGNMENT

115 Chapter 7 Assignment

Institution

Date
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115 Chapter 7 Assignment

The human body consists of two kidneys. Kidneys are two bean-shaped structure with a

concave and convex border found in vertebrates. Kidneys also perform their functions

independent of nephron as they excrete waste products and excess fluid through urine. However,

Urinary tract infections and Kidney stones are significant defects that affect the primary

functioning of the kidney.

1.

Kidneys remove excess fluid, remove wastes, secret hormones, and maintain a constant

internal temperature (homeostasis) for extracellular fluids in the body. The excess water and

waste product are excreted through urine to maintain a stable balance of body chemicals (Akkina

& Becker, 2017). Kidneys also secret hormones that affect the functioning of other body organs.

For instance, the hormones angiotensin II and aldosterone regulate the excretion of sodium into

the renal collecting tubule and reabsorption of sodium from the renal filtrate, respectively

(Akkina & Becker, 2017). Similarly, erythropoietin hormone stimulates the red blood cell

production by promoting the erythrocyte progenitor’s survival, proliferation, and differentiation

(Akkina & Becker, 2017). Kidneys also maintain homeostasis by regulating the volume and

concentration of body fluid. For instance, the amount of H+ and HCO3- that kidneys secret

controls the body pH.

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2.

Kidney stones are hard deposits of acid salts and minerals salt formed inside the kidney.

Since these stones vary in size, can travel to other parts of the urinary tract (Pawar, 2018). This

condition is dangerous to Cathy because the stones in her left ureter will block the flow of urine

from her kidney to the bladder. This blockage will result in blood in her urine, smelly urine, and

pain during urination. Cathy will experience pain during urination because once the stones reach

the junction between bladder and ureter, blocks urine. Also, Cathy will experience smelly urine

because stones in her left ureter will produce a strong odour smell. Therefore, the condition is

dangerous to Cathy because it can move quickly from mild infection to severe loss of kidney

function.

 3.

Women use some birth control methods, such as diaphragms and spermicidal agents,

which make them more prone to a bladder infection. Spermicides have a dangerous chemical

called nonoxynol-9, which increases women’s risk of urinary infection (Biggel, 2019). On the

other hand, the diaphragm changes the vagina pH balanced and kills off the vagina's protective

bacteria. This increases chances for bacteria to latch onto the inner lining, hence causing UT.

Pregnancy also makes women more susceptible to bacteria by inducing women’s anatomic

changes. For instance, during pregnancy, a heavy and expanding uterus prevents the urine exist

by pressing hard on the bladder (Biggel, 2019). This means that the remaining urine in the

bladder becomes a breeding ground for bacteria and hence expose the pregnant women to

increased risk of urinary infection.

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4.

Hydronephrosis refers to enlargement of the kidney due to a back-up of urine. The

condition is caused by an infection, an enlarged prostate, and a blood clot (Nuraj & Hyseni,

2017). It is also a secondary condition that results from other underlying diseases, such as

kidney stones. If someone has been experiencing a frequent tract infection, kidney, ureter, and

bladder are the main organs screened. The doctor diagnoses the condition by ordering an

ultrasound to check the bladder and kidney for irregularities that may need treatment (Nuraj &

Hyseni, 2017). Sound waves are used to diagnose swelling, infection and cause of pain in

internal parts of kidney and bladder. Sound wave also detects the fluid, tumour, abscesses, and

infection with the organs.

Summarily, kidneys remove excess fluid from the body, remove wastes, secret hormones,

and maintain a constant internal temperature (homeostasis) for extracellular fluids in the body.

However, kidney stones, urinary tract infections, and Hydronephrosis are major conditions that

affect the kidney. Early diagnoses should be embraced to prevent the severe loss of kidney

functioning.
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References

Akkina, S., & Becker, B. N. (2017). MicroRNAs in kidney function and disease. In Translating

MicroRNAs to the Clinic (pp. 39-53). Academic Press.

Biggel, M., Heytens, S., Latour, K., Bruyndonckx, R., Goossens, H., & Moons, P. (2019).

Asymptomatic bacteriuria in older adults: the most fragile women are prone to long-term

colonization. BMC geriatrics, 19(1), 170.

Nuraj, P., & Hyseni, N. (2017). The diagnosis of obstructive Hydronephrosis with colour doppler

ultrasound. Acta Informatica Medica, 25(3), 178.

Pawar, A. S., Thongprayoon, C., Cheungpasitporn, W., Sakhuja, A., Mao, M. A., & Erickson, S.

B. (2018). Incidence and characteristics of kidney stones in patients with horseshoe

kidney: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Urology Annals, 10(1), 87.