Urine Flashcards
Functions of Kidneys
- Filter blood to pull out waste products
- Produce urine
- Help to manage BP
- Regulate fluids
How many mL an hour do the kidneys produce?
30-60mL/hr
How much urine does the average adult produce a day?
1000-2000mL/day
Nephrons
Basic filter unit of the kidneys
Glomerulus
Capillary network that filters the blood in the kidneys
Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR)
How much blood the nephrons filter every minute
How much blood do nephrons filter a minute?
125mL/min
Ureters
Transport urine from the kidneys to the bladder through peristalsis
Bladder
Storage container for urine (max cap. 1000mL)
How do you know when you need to urinate?
As your bladder fills, nerves in the bladder wall send a message to the brain that it is time to void
Urethra
Transports urine to the outside of the body
Why are females more likely to get UTIs?
They have a shorter urethra than men. Men: 7-8inch, women 1-1.5 inches
How does your bladder work when urinating?
Detruser muscles in your bladder contract while urinating and your pelvic floor muscles relax
Food and Fluid Intake Influencing Urine
- Some foods cause an odor (Asparagus)
- Citrus/Spicy foods can be irritating to the bladder
- Tea, caffeine, alcohol can have a diuretic affect
- Green leafy veggies cause alkaline urine
- Adequate water intake can dilute urine
How do psychological variables influence urine?
- Anxiety/stress can increase frequency
- Shy bladder
Activity and muscle tone influencing urine
- Elderly have poor muscle tone = weak bladder
- Kegal exercises can strengthen bladder muscles
Pathologic conditions influencing urine
- Hypertension
- Kidney disease
- Obesity puts pressure on your bladder
- Diabetes
Medications influencing urine
- Diuretics - increased output
- Antibiotics/anticoagulants can change the color
- Nephrotoxic meds are toxic to the kidneys so monitor kidney function in patients
- Aspirin/Ibuprofen abuse