The urinary system or renal system is the set of organs in our body that is responsible for producing, storing and eliminating liquid metabolic waste in the form of urine. It is considered as part of the excretory system and is made up of the kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra.
Our life depends on the proper functioning of all the tissues and organs of our body and the components of the urinary system are by far no exception.
On a daily basis, each of the cells that are part of these organs and tissues requires certain materials to survive, among which mainly oxygen, fluids and nutrients..
Oxygen enters and is distributed throughout our body thanks to the respiratory and circulatory systems. Nutrients are extracted from the food we consume through the digestive system and its accessory organs. Liquids, ingested directly or extracted from food, are processed by the urinary system in conjunction with part of the digestive system and are mobilized by the circulatory system.
Although these body systems are very efficient in extracting the compounds of interest from the air and food, cellular metabolism, that is, the chemical reactions by which cells obtain energy to carry out their functions, also results in the production of waste.
Different waste substances are produced in our body: feces, urine, carbon dioxide and sweat. They are metabolic wastes that are produced at the cellular level when fats, proteins, lipids or carbohydrates are processed.
The elimination of these wastes is essential to maintain constant conditions inside us, since their accumulation is usually very harmful to our body.
The main function of the urinary system is to maintain the balance of fluids and some salts and other molecules in the body; Among the salts and molecules that keep the urinary system balanced, sodium and potassium stand out..
Urea is one of the most important waste molecules that the urinary system removes from our blood; This is one of the by-products of the metabolism of meats and some protein-rich vegetables that we eat. It is transported by the bloodstream to the kidneys, which are responsible for filtering the blood and removing it and then discarding it with the urine..
The kidneys are also part of the endocrine system, since part of its structure is dedicated to the production of some very important hormones for the maintenance of body homeostasis.
Among these hormones, erythropoietin stands out, which participates in the regulation of the formation of erythrocytes (red blood cells), responsible for the transport of oxygen through the body.
In addition, two very important glands are associated with the kidneys: the adrenal glands. These important glands are in charge of the production of some sex hormones and cortisol, very important for our body's responses to different types of stress..
The kidneys also depend on the control of blood pressure, the balance of acidic and basic substances and the conservation of fluids.
The urinary system is made up of several organs, which work in conjunction with other body systems, such as the respiratory system, the circulatory system, and the digestive system to carry out their functions..
The main organs of the urinary system are the kidneys. Our body has two kidneys, which are organs shaped very similar to that of a bean. The kidneys are in the middle of our back, just below the rib cage.
The kidneys are the filtering structures that remove metabolic waste -such as urea- and excess fluids and salts from our body..
Its filtration capacity depends on some very small structures contained in its interior that are known as nephrons. A nephron is made up of a cluster or set of blood capillaries (tiny tubes through which blood circulates) and a small tube.
The set of blood capillaries is called the glomerulus, while the small tube connected to the glomerulus is known as the renal tubule..
The kidneys filter large amounts of blood throughout the day to eliminate waste substances and achieve a balance of fluids and salts in our body; this filtering process achieves the formation of approximately 2 liters of urine per day.
The kidneys connect with the urinary bladder, where they discharge the urine that forms inside it, thanks to small muscular tubes known as ureters, which are also two, one associated with each kidney.
The ureters are between 8 and 10 inches long and their muscular walls are constantly contracting and relaxing to promote urine out of the kidneys and into the bladder..
The bladder is another central component of the urinary system; It is a hollow, balloon-shaped organ that is located in the pelvic region of the body and is held in place by some ligaments that attach it to the pelvic bones..
This organ is mainly responsible for the reception and storage of urine derived from the kidneys and conducted by the ureters. It can store up to half a liter of urine in a period of 2 to 5 hours and is only emptied when the brain sends the appropriate signals for this purpose.
From the above, it is understood that the bladder is also associated with the nervous system, since it depends on this that the muscles that make up its walls relax or contract to fill or empty..
The urethra is the tube through which urine is transported out of our body during urination (the action of urinating). It is directly connected to the bladder and is associated with a series of circular muscles called sphincters, which allow or prevent the passage of urine from the bladder to the duct.
Men and women have the same elements of the urinary system, however, the only important difference between the two is the length of the urethra.
The female urethra is between 3 and 5 centimeters long and opens to the outside in the region between the clitoris and the vagina (part of the female reproductive system), while the male urethra can be up to 20 centimeters, covering the entire length of the penis. (part of the male reproductive system) and opening at its end.
The food we eat is processed by the digestive system and its accessory organs. During the digestive process, in this system of organs and tissues, solid waste is formed, composed of all the undigested elements, which leave the body through the anus, the final part of the large intestine..
Liquid waste from food circulates in the blood and is used by the kidneys to produce a special fluid known as urine, which is stored in the bladder and leaves the body through the tube called the urethra..
Excess fluids, salts, urea, and other potentially toxic molecules travel throughout the body in the blood, driven by the rhythmic movements and contractions of the heart..
Blood collects all waste products from cells and is essential for their purification.
For the kidneys to be able to exert their filtering power, the blood necessarily has to be conducted towards them, and this occurs through small arteries that are connected to these organs. Once inside, the nephrons and their glomeruli carry out the filtration process.
During filtration, the nutrients, proteins, vitamins and minerals contained in the blood are returned to the bloodstream and redistributed to the cells, where they can be used. The same happens with part of the liquids in this tissue.
Waste products mixed with urine are directed into the bladder, where they are stored.
When the bladder fills and receives the brain signals related to urination, we urinate, eliminating urine through the urethra.
There are many diseases related to the urinary system, but the most common of all is urinary infection, which can be considerably annoying and painful and is generally suffered by women..
When it comes to a bacterial infection, antibiotics are usually prescribed, but there are also cases of viral urinary infections.
Another common condition of the urinary system is the presence of crystals or "stones" from waste products that form in the kidneys or urethra. These stones often cause intense pain, especially in men, so drugs or ultrasound are often prescribed to dissolve them.
It is a very common problem in women who have given birth or in elderly people. It has to do with the loss of control over the bladder, which results in small, moderate or significant losses of urine involuntarily.
High blood pressure and other conditions such as diabetes can be the cause of significant kidney failure that, if definitive, can only be improved with dialysis, which is a process of external filtering of the blood, for which a special device is used in replacement of the kidneys themselves, or transplantation.
Among some of the various conditions that can lead to dialysis are polycystic kidney disease, excessive use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, overdose of a large number of different drugs, etc..
To maintain good health of the urinary system it is recommended:
- Be aware of always ensuring good hygiene.
- Drink plenty of fluids, but mainly water.
- Maintain a healthy and balanced diet, so that the digestive system works properly.
- Avoid excessive consumption of salts and sugar.
- Try to take the time necessary to urinate, emptying the bladder completely and avoid holding back the urge to go to the bathroom for too long.
- Exercising regularly, especially for your pelvic muscles, as strengthening them helps keep your bowels and bladder working properly.
Yet No Comments