URINARY SYSTEM
The urinary system also called the Excretory system is the organ system that produces, stores, and eliminates urine. In humans it includes two kidneys, two ureters, the bladder and the urethra. The female and male urinary system are very similar, they differ only in the length of the urethra. The kidneys are bean-shaped organs that lie in the abdomen, retroperitoneal to the organs of digestion, around or just below the ribcage and close to the lumbar spine. The organ is about the size of a human fist and is surrounded by what is called Peri-nephric fat, and situated on the superior pole of each kidney is an adrenal gland. The kidneys receive their blood supply from the renal arteries which are fed by the abdominal aorta. This is important because the kidneys' main role is to filter water soluble waste products from the blood. The other attachment of the kidneys are at their functional endpoints the ureters, which lies more medial and runs down to the urinary bladder. The kidneys perform a number of tasks, such as: concentrating urine, regulating electrolytes, and maintaining acid-base homeostasis. The kidney excretes and re-absorbs electrolytes (e.g. sodium, potassium and calcium) under the influence of local and systemic hormones. PH balance is regulated by the excretion of bound acids and ammonium ions. In addition, they remove urea, a nitrogenous waste product from the metabolism of amino acids. The end point is a hyperosmolar solution carrying waste for storage in the bladder prior to urination.
To Learn more see links below:
http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/a-z.aspx
A list from A to Z for urinary and Kidney disorders.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQZaNXNroVY
How the urinary system works, especially the kidneys and their functional unit,
the nephron.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXQb-0aDSrc
Brief news story about Dialysis for Kidney Disease.
http://www.kidneyfund.org/kidney-health/kidney-failure/end-stage-renal-disease.html
Information about End Stage Renal Disease.
http://www.medicinenet.com/kidney_failure/article.htm
In depth information about kidney failure, symptoms, cause and treatment.
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/bladderdiseases.html
In depth information about bladder diseases, diagnosis and treatments.
http://www.people.vcu.edu/~elmiles/hormones/
An animated tutorial about the Hormones that act on the kidneys.
To Learn more see links below:
http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/a-z.aspx
A list from A to Z for urinary and Kidney disorders.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQZaNXNroVY
How the urinary system works, especially the kidneys and their functional unit,
the nephron.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXQb-0aDSrc
Brief news story about Dialysis for Kidney Disease.
http://www.kidneyfund.org/kidney-health/kidney-failure/end-stage-renal-disease.html
Information about End Stage Renal Disease.
http://www.medicinenet.com/kidney_failure/article.htm
In depth information about kidney failure, symptoms, cause and treatment.
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/bladderdiseases.html
In depth information about bladder diseases, diagnosis and treatments.
http://www.people.vcu.edu/~elmiles/hormones/
An animated tutorial about the Hormones that act on the kidneys.