Anatomy and Physiology

University of the People

Written Assignments

26th Dec, 2022

Introduction

According to Betts et al. (2018), the urinary system carries out a wide range of tasks,

including cleansing the blood and body of waste products, controlling pH and blood pressure,

determining red blood cell concentration, and finishing the last step of vitamin D synthesis.

(OpenStax, 2018) state that the urinary system provides the anatomical mechanisms to

transport pee out of the body as well as store urine until it is time to evacuate it. Loss of

urinary control is a symptom of the condition known as incontinence, which is brought on by

nerve or anatomical structural failure.

How the Urinary Tract Work

One of the body's fluids, urine, is produced and stored by the urinary system. The kidneys,

ureters, bladder, and urethra are components of the urinary system. The kidney is a bean-

shaped, brown organ that is hidden from view by the thorax beneath the belly button, just

above the waist (Betts et al., 2018). These are the bodily filters that transform waste and

water from the blood into the urine. The ureters, which are tiny tubes, are responsible for

carrying urine from the kidneys to the bladder. The bladder is a bag-like container that

collects urine from both ureters and stores it before traveling through the body, as opposed to

the urethra, which takes pee from the bladder out of the body for excretion(OpenStax, 2018).
Functions of The Kidneys

The kidney is a vital organ of the urinary system. By filtering blood through the kidney, the

organ aids in the transfer and elimination of extra water from the human body (OpenStax,

2018). The nephrons in the kidney have two functions: they remove poisons from the blood

and take in water for eventual excretion. A brush border with cuboidal cells and microvilli

makes up the most crucial part of the nephron and is used to digest liquids like salt, glucose,

and chloride. These compounds, like sodium, migrate from the lumen via the proximal

convoluted tubule cell layer into the interstitial space and out into the bloodstream as they

move into and out of the kidney (OpenStax, 2018).

Various types of movement, including active transport, diffusion, facilitated diffusion,

secondary active transport, and osmosis, are used to move substances from the bloodstream

into and out of the kidney and vice versa (OpenStax, 2018). The kidney uses active transport

to reabsorb the majority of the salt. Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) energy is used by active

transporters to carry salt across membranes from a low concentration to a high concentration.

When sodium levels are normal, the sodium/potassium pump, which transports sodium from

a lower-concentration environment to a higher-concentration environment, allows sodium to

exit the kidney (OpenStax, 2018).

The physiological functioning of the kidney within the urinary tract system is impacted by the

clinical disease known as hypertension. Higher water retention levels in the body result in
increased blood flow and hypertension (OpenStax, 2018). The increased risk of kidney stones

is one consequence of ongoing renal problems. The amount of calcium leaving the body can

be increased by a salt-rich diet; the accumulation of calcium crystals is what can cause kidney

stones(OpenStax, 2018). Over time, having high blood pressure might cause increasingly

severe health problems. The cardiovascular system is most significantly impacted by

hypertension, which affects several organs. Heart failure, stroke, atrial fibrillation, and

peripheral vascular disease are all possible consequences of this condition. (Oparil, S., et al.,

2018).

The impact of urinary tract infections (UTIs) on the community

Anyone can get a urinary tract infection, but one in five women will get one at some point in

their lives. This is true because women's urethras are smaller and located nearer to the anus,

where E. coli germs grow (Betts et al., 2018). Estrogen lowers the incidence of urinary tract

infections in some women even when they are genetically predisposed to them(OpenStax,

2018). Menopausal women are more prone to UTIs because the vaginal lining acts as a

barrier. Due to insufficient bladder emptying, older individuals are more likely to develop

cystitis.

Lists of various measures to prevent urinary tract infections, including

a change in lifestyle, including improved hygiene, especially for women whose urethras are

shorter than those of men, making it simpler for E. coli bacteria to reabsorb into the body
through the rectum. After a bowel movement, women are advised to dry themselves back and

forth. Women should practice good hygiene, prevent infections, routinely replace their pads

and tampons, and refrain from using feminine deodorants while they are menstruating.

Drink a lot of liquids, especially water, to help the urinary tract get rid of extra bacteria. Urine

production is boosted by water, which helps the body get rid of bacteria. As a result, altering

your pee patterns and staying away from foods and drinks that can irritate your bladders, such

as alcohol, citrus drinks, coffee, and spicy foods, can help a lot. The body is meant to be

cleansed of any bacteria that may have entered during intercourse by urinating both before

and after.

In conclusion

Abnormally excessive sodium levels can stress and unbalance the kidney, which is one

primary disturbance that can happen within the urinary tract. Aldosterone and glucocorticoid

hormones are influenced by salt intake, and this can increase the quantity of salt expelled into

the bloodstream while decreasing the amount of water the body excretes (Wein, H., 2017).

Kidney stones and cardiovascular problems may result from this (OpenStax, 2018). To

support healthy kidney functioning inside the urinary tract system, one should reduce sodium

intake and include diuretics in their diet (OpenStax, 2018).

 Reference:

Oparil, S., Acelajado, M. C., Bakris, G. L., Berlowitz, D. R., Cífková, R., Dominiczak, A. F., Grassi, G.,
Jordan, J., Poulter, N. R., Rodgers, A., & Whelton, P. K. (2018). Hypertension.Nature reviews.
Disease primers, 4, 18014. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrdp.2018.14

OpenStax. (2018) Anatomy & physiology. Houston, TX: Rice University.

https://cnx.org/contents/FPtK1zmh@12.6:fEI3C8Ot@16/Preface.

Wein, H. (2017, May 12). How the body regulates salt levels. National Institutes of Health. Retrieved
May 22, 2022, from https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/how-body-
regulates-salt-levels