Guiding Questions
- What is the urinary system?
- What is the difference between the urinary and excretory system?
- What are the components of the urinary system?
- What are the functions of the urinary system?
- What are some common diseases related to the urinary system?
Overview
What does a water filter do? It removes impurities from the water in order to make it safer to use.
Similarly, the urinary system filters waste from the blood to maintain blood pressure and balance bodily fluids. It helps to maintain homeostasis, which means to keep the body’s internal environment balanced.
The Urinary vs Excretory System
Although the terms urinary system and excretory system are used interchangeably, there is a difference between the two. The excretory system is a general term for all the organs that remove waste, such as the skin and lungs. The urinary system is a specific subset of the excretory system that focuses on removing liquid waste.
Main Organs of the Urinary System
There are multiple organs working together to filter waste from the body. Let’s find out what some of those organs are:
- The kidneys are responsible for filtering waste and extra water from the blood. They help maintain the right balance of fluids and chemicals in the body by producing urine.
- The kidneys have millions of tiny filtering units called nephrons. When blood enters the kidneys, the nephrons filter it by separating toxins from nutrients. The nutrients return to the bloodstream, while the toxins are expelled from the body through the urinary tract.
- The ureters are tubes that carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder.
- The bladder is a storage organ that holds the urine.
- The urethra is a tube that allows urine to exit the body.
Together, this entire pathway is known as the urinary tract.
Functions of the Urinary System
The urinary system serves different purposes.
The major function is to remove waste from the body. This ensures that toxins are removed, while the nutrients and proteins stay within the body.
Secondly, it maintains a fluid balance. This means to keep the right balance between either removing water from the body or keeping it. This plays a key role in homeostasis.
It also maintains homeostasis by regulating electrolytes, which are minerals that help the body function properly.
By controlling fluid and electrolyte levels, the urinary system helps regulate blood pressure.
Common Diseases
There are some diseases that can hinder the functions of the urinary system. Common ones include:
- Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs): infections caused by bacteria that affect any part of the urinary tract
- Kidney stones: hard, pebble-like formations of minerals and salts that occur when the urine is too concentrated
In general, dehydration is a major contributing factor for many problems related to the urinary system.
Review
What organ filters waste from the blood? → Kidneys
What are the tiny filtering units of the kidneys called? → Nephrons
Where is urine stored before leaving the body? → Urinary bladder
What tube carries urine from the kidneys to the bladder? → Ureters
What is the main liquid waste product called? → Urine
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