Cards (66)

  • Urinary System
    • Removes metabolic wastes, hormones, drugs and other foreign material from the body
    • Regulates water, electrolyte, acid-base balance
    • Secretes erythropoietin
    • Activates vitamin D
    • Regulates blood pressure through the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system
  • Urinary System organs in order

    1. Kidneys
    2. Ureters
    3. Urinary bladder
    4. Urethra
  • Kidney
    • Nephrons are the functional units
    • Each kidney has over a million nephrons
  • Nephron in order

    1. Renal corpuscles
    2. Glomerulus
    3. Bowman capsule
    4. Renal tubules
    5. Proximal convoluted tubules
    6. Loop of Henle
    7. Distal convoluted tubules
    8. Collecting duct
  • Antidiuretic hormone (ADH)

    Secreted by the posterior pituitary, reabsorbs water in distal convoluted tubules and collecting ducts
  • Aldosterone
    Secreted by adrenal cortex, reabsorbs sodium in exchange for potassium or hydrogen
  • Atrial natriuretic hormone
    Hormone from the heart, reduces sodium and fluid reabsorption
  • Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR) control
    1. Autoregulation
    2. Sympathetic nervous system
    3. Renin-angiotensin mechanism
  • Incontinence
    Loss of voluntary control of the bladder
  • Enuresis
    Involuntary urination by child age older than 4 years
  • Stress incontinence
    Happens when physical movement or activity puts pressure on the bladder, causing urine leakage
  • Overflow incontinence
    You have the urge to urinate but can release only a small amount
  • Incompetent bladder sphincter
    The muscles and tissues that control the release of urine from the bladder are weakened or damaged, leading to involuntary urine leakage
  • Retention
    Inability to empty bladder, may be accompanied by overflow incontinence
  • Urinalysis: Appearance of Urine
    • Straw colored with mild odor is normal
    • Cloudy may indicate presence of large amounts of protein, blood, bacteria, and pus
    • Dark color may indicate hematuria, excessive bilirubin, or highly concentrated urine
    • Unpleasant or unusual odor may indicate infection or result from certain dietary components or medication
  • Urinalysis: Urinary Infection
    Heavy purulence and presence of gram-negative and gram-positive organisms
  • Abnormal Constituents of Urine
    • Blood (hematuria)
    • Elevated protein level (proteinuria, albuminuria)
    • Bacteria (bacteriuria)
    • Urinary casts
  • Urinary casts are tiny tube-shaped particles that can be found when urine is examined under the microscope during a urinalysis. Urinary casts may be made up of white blood cells, red blood cells, kidney cells, or substances such as protein or fat. The content of a cast can help tell your health care provider whether your kidney is healthy or abnormal.
  • Elevated serum urea and serum creatinine levels
    Indicate failure to excrete nitrogen wastes, caused by decreased GFR
  • Metabolic acidosis
    Indicates decreased GFR and failure of tubules to control acid-base balance
  • Anemia
    Indicates decreased erythropoietin secretion and/or bone marrow depression
  • Elevated renin levels
    Indicate kidney as a cause of hypertension
  • Clearance tests

    Examples: creatinine or inulin clearance, used to assess GFR
  • Cystoscopy
    Visualizes lower urinary tract, may be used to perform biopsy or remove kidney stones
  • Diuretic drugs
    Used to remove excess sodium ions and water from the body, increase excretion of water through the kidneys, reduce fluid volume in tissues and blood
  • Dialysis
    1. Hemodialysis
    2. Peritoneal dialysis
  • Hemodialysis
    Exchange of wastes, fluids, and electrolytes, blood cells and proteins remain in blood, blood returned to patient's vein
  • Peritoneal Dialysis
    Takes more time than hemodialysis, major complication is infection resulting in peritonitis
  • Disorders of the Urinary System
    • Urinary Tract Infections
    • Cystitis and Urethritis
    • Pyelonephritis
    • Glomerulonephritis
    • Nephrotic Syndrome
  • Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)
    Very common infections, urine is an excellent growth medium
  • Lower urinary tract infections
    • Cystitis (inflammation of the bladder)
    • Urethritis (urethra becomes swollen and sore)
  • Cystitis and Urethritis
    Bladder wall (cystitis) and urethra (urethritis) are inflamed, causes pain, dysuria, urgency, frequency, and nocturia
  • Pyelonephritis
    One or both kidneys involved, purulent exudate fills pelvis and calyces, recurrent or chronic infection can lead to scar tissue formation and eventual chronic renal failure if untreated
  • Glomerulonephritis
    A group of diseases that injure the glomeruli, presence of antistreptococcal (ASO) antibodies, causes inflammatory response in glomeruli
  • Glomerulonephritis symptoms
    Urine becomes dark and cloudy, facial and periorbital edema, elevated blood pressure, flank or back pain, decreased urine output
  • Blood tests in glomerulonephritis show elevated serum urea and creatinine levels, and metabolic acidosis. Urinalysis shows proteinuria, hematuria, and erythrocyte casts.
  • Hyperactive bladder and reduced capacity
    Pain is common in pelvic area
  • Dysuria
    Painful Urination, urgency, frequency, and nocturia
  • Systemic signs
    • Fever, malaise, nausea, leukocytosis
  • Pyuria
    A condition in which you have pus in your pee