urinary system/disorders

Question 1

Glomerulus

Answer 1

• Knot of capillaries, Glomerulus, sits in the Glomerular (Bowman’s) capsule
• pressue in the glomerulus is higher then the bowmans cap so Water and solutes smaller than proteins are forced through the capillary walls of the glomerulus into the Bowmans Capsule. this is called filtration.
• This fluid is called filtrate (blood plasma without
proteins)

Question 2

Characteristics of Urine

Answer 2

• In 24 hours, about 1.0 to 1.8 litres of urine are produced
  • Urine is what remains after the filtrate has lost most
  of its water, nutrients, and necessary ions
  • Urine contains nitrogenous wastes (urea, uric acid,
  creatinine, ammonia) and Na+, K+ and bicarbonate
  (HCO3-) ions
• Yellow color due to the pigment urochrome (from the
  destruction of hemoglobin) and solutes
• Sterile
• Slightly aromatic
• Normal pH of around 6
• Specific gravity of 1.001 to 1.03 (water = 1)

Question 3

substances reabsorbed in urinary process

Answer 3

Reasorption of much of the filtrate takes place in the proximal convoluted tubule

– H2O( osmosis) glucose, ions & amino acids (active transport) are reabsorbed into peritubular capillaries
– Urea (end product of protein breakdown), uric acid, creatinine and unwanted ions are left behind

Question 4

substances secreted in urinary process

Answer 4

transfer of materials from the blood in the peritubular capillaries to the fluid in the renal tubules.

• Usually only a few substances are secreted (K+, H+, ammonium ions (NH4+), creatinine, urea, some hormones, and some drugs (e.g., penicillin)

Question 5

Renal Calculi- kidney stones

Answer 5

• Occurs when uric acid salts form crystals which precipitate in the renal pelvis
• S & S;
– Excruciatingly painful when passed through the ureter walls
or lodged in ureter
– Haematuria
– UTIs
– Uri
– nary retention
• Causes
– Hereditary
– Diet
– Dehydration

Question 6

Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)

Answer 6

• Presence of microorganisms in any urinary system
structure (bacteria most common)
• Cystitis: (bladder) 
pyelonephritis: (kidney) 
urethritis:(urethra)
• Normally flushing of urethra with urine keeps pathogens away
• Common with
– Use of some antibiotics
– Urinary retention
– IDC
– Diabetes

• Signs and symptoms / Assessment data
• Urgency
• Frequency
• Dysuria
• Nocturia
• Pain
• Haematuria
• Offensive odour
• Cloudy urine
• Pyuria

Diagnosis
• Urinalysis
• Urine microscopy and culture