Parent & Patient Information System 06/09/2015 Page27 / 51 Chapter 5 - Structure, Development and Function Of Urinary System What is the urinary system Urinary system means the sum of the organs which take role in production, propagation, storage and emptying of urine that is the liquid waste product of our body. Upper urinary tract includes the kidneys and ureters. Kidneys are the organs which produce urine, filter the necessary materials, discharge the waste product. Ureters are the organs which have tube-like structure draining urine to the bladder (urinary sac). Bladder and urethra constitute the lower urinary tract. Bladder is an organ made of muscle which can enlarge as the urine volume increases in it and the urethra is the tube like organ from bladder to outside. How is urine produced? We have 2 kidneys and both of them function together. In some of the population, one kidney is not formed, however one single kidney, either from birth or taken out by surgery later in life, can supply the demands of the body. Twenty percent of the blood pumped by heart goes to the kidneys. The main function of kidneys is to filter the blood and discharge the waste products in a dissoluted state in urine. Kidneys make the water and salt balance of the body. Also by producing different hormones, it sets the blood pressure, stimulates and controls the production of red blood cells which carry the oxygen to the tissues. Moreover, kidneys have an important role in managing the acid-base balance of our body. How does the urinary system function? Kidneys have a shape like bean and located at the back of the body under the chest cage on both sides. Right kidney is placed under the liver and therefore it is in a lower level than the left kidney. Size of one kidney is as the fist of the person. The outer side of kidney is called cortex and includes the filtration units. The most outer surfaces of kidneys are surrounded by a fat tissue which is protective against traumas. The inner side is called medulla and 10-15 fan-shaped structures called pyramids are located in here. Urine is drained from pyramids to goblet-like tubular structures called calyx.
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