The urinary system has some important roles, including cleaning the body by getting rid of the wastes; and it regulates the pit levels, which is a function that is shared with the lungs and the buffers in the blood. Moreover, it regulates the blood pressure in collaboration with the heart and blood vessels. A function of the urinary system that I found interesting is that the kidney determines 85% of the erythropoietin to stimulate red blood cell production. Based on the diversified functions of the urinary tract, one can easily guess that its failure can be quite disastrous and can end up causing various diseases, for example, a bladder infection.
The urinary system filters blood through 2 to 3 million tufts or specialized capillaries. However, during filtration large elements like blood cells (platelets, antibodies) are excluded. The solutes that are filtered are ions, amino acids, vitamins, and wastes, and they create a composition similar to plasma.
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Our urine can differ based on external influences, such as water intake, exercise, temperature, and nutrients. The odor and color of the urine can indicate whether we are hydrated or not. Moreover, through urinalysis (a urine analysis) we can get clues on renal disease, for instance. Moreover, urinating constantly can be an indicator of diabetes mellitus.
The urinary system has various organs with specific functions. The urethra transports urine from the bladder and it eliminates it from the body. The urethra is the only organ that shows some anatomic differences between males and females. The bladder has the function of collecting urine from the ureters. Other important organs are the kidneys. Each kidney has millions of filtering units known as nephrons, which include filters called glomerulus and tubule. The glomerulus has the function of filtering the blood, while the tubule has the role of removing wastes and returning needed substances to our blood.
A disease that occurs in the urinary system is a bladder infection. A bladder infection occurs when bacteria enter the body through the urethra, get attached to the walls of the bladder, and start to reproduce quickly to the point that the body is not able to fight the bacteria that is causing the infection. The symptoms of a bladder infection depend on how serious the infection is, however, the most common symptoms are pain, burning when urinating, cloudy or bloody urine, urinating frequently, and cramping or pressure in the lower abdomen or lower back. In comparison, kidney infections tend to be more serious as it causes fevers chills nausea, and vomiting, hence they require immediate medical attention (Healthline, 2020).
When it comes to a bladder infection, women are more at risk of getting it and this is because they have shorter urethras, which makes it easier for the bacteria to reach the bladder. Moreover, the urethra in women is close to the rectum. Some of the risks for bladder infections that concern both genders are advanced age, insufficient fluid intake, narrowed urethra, pregnancy, diabetes, and weakened immune systems (Healthline, 2020).
When diagnosing a bladder infection, doctors perform a urinalysis, where the patient’s urine is checked for the presence of white blood cells, red blood cells, and bacteria. Furthermore, on top of urinalysis, a urine culture can be performed, a test that determines the type of bacteria in the urine that is causing the infection. This process is important as it helps determine what kind of antibiotics can best cure the infection.
In general, tract infections (UTIs) are common in medical practices, and about 150 million people suffer from UTIs, therefore they tend to influence communities in a negative way, especially with the increase of drug-resistant bacteria.
In conclusion, the urinary system has various functions as it gets rid of wastes produced by the body and controls our PH levels. It is made up of various organs such as the urethra, bladder, and kidney, and each organ has its own specific function in the process of getting rid of wastes. There are various diseases that occur in the urinary system such as a bladder infection. A symptom of a bladder infection can be pain or burning when urinating. While diagnosing a bladder infection doctors perform urinalysis and urine culture in order to know what type of antibiotic to prescribe their patients.
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