Renal and Urological Systems Flashcards
What structures does waste product pass through to eliminate through urination
- Kidneys
- Renal pelvis
- Ureter
- Bladder
- Urethra
Functions of the kidneys
- Regulates composition and pH of body fluids
- Eliminates metabolic waste
- Assists BP regulation through rennin-angiotension-aldosterone mechanisms and salt/water elimination
- Controls production of RBC in bone marrow
What is the glomerular filtration rate (GFR)
- The amount of filtrate that is formed each minute as blood moves through the glomeruli and serves as an important gauge of renal function
- Measured clinically by obtaining creatinine levels in blood and urine
- Normal creatinine clearance is 115-125 mL/min
What is BUN
- Blood urea nitrogen is urea produced in the liver as a by-product of protein metabolism that is eliminated by the kidneys
- BUN levels are elevated with increased protein intake, GI bleeding, and dehydration
Normal UA findings
- Color: yellow-amber
- Clarity: clear
- Specific gravity: 1.010-1.025 with normal fluid intake
- pH: 4.6-8.0; average is 6 (acid)
- Protein: 0-8 mg/dL
- Sugar: 0
Signs and symptoms of dehydration
- Poor skin turgor (rigidity)
- Dry mucous membranes
- HA
- Irritability
- Postural hypotension
- Incoordination
- Lethargy
- Disorientation
Define edema
- An excess of body fluids with expansion of interstitial fluid volume
What should you look for/observe with edema
- Swelling of ankles and feet
- Weight gain
- HA
- Blurred vision
- Muscle cramps and twitches
Signs and symptoms of hypokalemia
- Potassium <3.5
- Muscle weakness
- Aches
- Fatigue
- Abdominal distention
- Nausea and vomiting
- Life threatening arrhythmias
- Flattened or inverted T-wave
- ST depression
Signs and symptoms of hyperkalemia
- Potassium >5.5
- Often symptomless until very high levels
- Observe for muscle weakness
Signs and symptoms of hyponatremia
- Sodium <135
- Confusion
- Decreased mental alertness can progress to convulsions
- Signs of increased intracerebral pressure
- Poor motor coordination
- Sleepiness
- Anorexia
Signs and symptoms of hypernatremia
- Sodium >146
- Circulatory congestion (pitting edema, excessive weight gain)
- Pulmonary edema with dyspnea
- HTN
- Tachycardia
- Agitation
- Restlessness
- Convulsions
Signs and symptoms of hypocalcemia
- Calcium <8.4
- Muscle cramps
- Tetany
- Spasms
- Paresthesias
- Anxiety
- Irritability
- Twitching convulsion
- Arrhythmias
- Hypotension
Signs and symptoms of hypercalcemia
- Calcium >10.4
- Fatigue
- Depression
- Mental confusion
- Nausea and vomiting
- Increased urination
- Occasional cardiac arrhythmias
Signs and symptoms of hypomagnesemia
- Magnesium <1.8
- Hyperirritability
- Confusion
- Leg and foot cramps
Signs and symptoms of hypermagnesemia
- Magnesium >2.4
- Hyporeflexia
- Muscle weakness
- Drowsiness
- Lethargy
- Confusion
- Bradycardia
- Hypotension
What are the normal value ranges for pH, CO2, and HCO for acid-vase relationships
- pH: 7.35-7.45
- CO2: 35-45 (inverse relationship with pH; CO2 high pH low)
- HCO: 23-27 (direct relationship with pH; HCO high pH high)
Signs and symptoms of metabolic acidosis
- Hyperventilation
- Deep respirations
- Weakness
- Muscular twitching
- Malaise
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhea
- HA
- Dry skin and mucous membranes
- Poor skin turgor
Signs and symptoms of metabolic alkalosis
- Hypoventilation
- Depressed respirations
- Dysrhythmias
- Prolonged vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Weakness
- Muscle twitching
- Irritability
- Agitation
- Convulsions and coma (death)
Signs and symptoms of respiratory acidosis
- Dyspnea
- Hyperventilation cyanosis
- Restlessness
- HA
Signs and symptoms of respiratory alkalosis
- Tachypnea
- Dizziness
- Anxiety
- Difficulty concentrating
- Numbness and tingling
- Blurred vision
- Diaphoresis
- Muscle cramps
- Twitching or tetany
- Weakness
- Arrhythmias
- Convulsions
