USR - Introduction to the Urinary System Lesson

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Introduction to the Urinary System

The urinary system is a group of organs that are used to filter and regulate wastes and solutes within the bloodstream. Its functions include:

  • Removal of metabolic waste products from the body (mainly urea and uric acid)The components of the urinary system include the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra.
  • Regulation of electrolyte balance (ex. sodium, potassium, and calcium)
  • Osmoregulation (control of blood volume and body water content)
  • Regulation of acid-base homeostasis and blood pH

The organs of the urinary system include the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra. Metabolic wastes and excess ions are filtered out of the blood, combined with water, and leave the body in the form of urine.

Waste Management in Other Body Systems

The excretory system functions to remove excess and waste materials from the body to help maintain homeostasis and prevent damage. It is responsible for the elimination of the waste products of metabolism, as well as other liquid and gaseous wastes.

In addition to the kidneys, the skin, lungs, and liver are also waste management organs in the body.  

The liver plays an important function in the management of body waste. It acts as a detoxification system for the body, processing and neutralizing drugs and hazardous substances. The liver is involved in the breakdown and recycling of red blood cells, including the removal of bilirubin from the body by secreting it into the bile. Additionally, the liver also is involved in the removal of ammonia from the body by converting it to urea, which is then excreted by the kidneys.

The skin has sweat glands that secrete a fluid waste called perspiration. Perspiration, or sweat, is a fluid consisting primarily of water, as well as various dissolved solid wastes, that is excreted by the sweat glands.

The lungs are responsible for the removal of gaseous waste from the body. Carbon dioxide is a toxic by-product of cellular respiration. The lungs remove carbon dioxide from the bloodstream during ventilation, exchanging it for oxygen.

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