Urinary System Deck Flashcards
Study guide for the urinary system quiz on Applied Educational Systems.
functions of the urinary system
- to filter blood and remove wastes from it
- to excrete waste from the body in the form of urine
- to help maintain the body’s acid-base balance
two other names for the urinary system
- renal system
2. excretory system
location of the kidneys
on either side of the vertebral column, behind the upper part of the abdominal cavity
cortex
contains nephrons, which help to produce urine
medulla
contains tubules to collect the urine and carry it through the kidney
hilum
an intended area that serves as a passageway for nerves and vessels to enter and leave the kidney
nephrons
tiny structures in the kidneys where the blood is actually filtered and urine is formed
Bowman’s Capsule
the materials filtered out of the blood in the glomerulus are picked up by the Bowman’s Capsule and passed to the convoluted tubules
Convoluted Tubules
in the convoluted tubules, substances needed by the body are reabsorbed into the bloodstream
Collecting tubules
any water and excess wastes that remain in the convoluted tubules become urine that passes to the collecting tubules
percentage of urine that is water
95%
ureters
muscular tubes that use peristalsis to move the urine to the bladder
bladder
a hollow, muscular sac that receives the urine from the ureters and stores it until it is ready to be emptied from the body
urethra
the tube that carries the urine from the bladder out of the body
length of the urethra in males
about 8 inches (20 cm) long
length of the urethra in females
about 1.5 inches (4 cm) long
polyuria
an amount of urine output that is above normal, usually more than 2,000 milliliters per day
pyuria
pus in the urine
retention
inability to empty the bladder
oliguria
an amount of urine output that is below normal, usually less than 500 milliliters per day
nocturia
urination at night
anuria
no urine output
incontinence
lack of voluntary control over urination
hematuria
blood in the urine
dysuria
painful urination
glycosuria
sugar in the urine
renal calculus
(aka kidney stone) formed when uric acid and calcium salts from the urine clump together
exact cause of a renal calculus
unknown
causes of a renal calculus
low fluid intake and large doses of vitamins may lead to kidney stones being formed
the kidney stone
may block an area of the kidney or the ureter
symptoms of a renal calculus
include sudden, intense pain; frequent urge to urinate; and possibly blood in the urine
treatment for a renal calculus
involves increased fluid intake, pain medication, and medication for dissolving the stone
in some cases of renal calculus
shock waves may be used to crush the stone or surgery may be used to remove it
cystitis
inflammation of the bladder
cause of cystitis
could be many types of bacteria, which get into the urinary tract
in most cases of cystitis
the bacteria are transferred from the rectal and vaginal areas into the urethra
symptoms of cystitis
include painful and frequent urination and blood in the urine
treatment for cystitis
involves antibiotics and increased fluid intake
nephritis
inflammation of the kidneys
causes of nephritis
may be an illness or recurring bouts of cystitis
symptoms of nephritis
include painful urination, low urine output, blood and protein in the urine, and back pain
treatment for nephritis
involves rest, increased fluid intake, and antibiotics
renal failure
(aka kidney failure) caused by other health problems that have done permanent damage to the kidneys little-by-little, over time
most common cause of renal failure
diabetes
second most common cause of renal failure
high blood pressure (hypertension)
