The Parts and Function of the Urinary System

Bernadeta T Galea

Sto. Rosario Elementary School

Division of Taguig and Pateros

Pateros District

Our body is like a machine . Machine needs oil or gasoline to work. Our body needs food in order to carry out its activities. Once the food has reached the body systems, they are quickly used for energy. In the process, wastes materials are produced which need to be removed from the body. The solid waste material comes out through the anus, while the fluid material is eliminated through the urinary system.

The Urinary System and Its Major Parts

  Kidneys- the kidneys are two brownish, bean shaped organs about the size of a fist, they weigh about 5 ounces. They are located in the upper right and left back part of the abdominal cavity. Each kidney contains about 1,200,000 microscopic filters called nephrons. Nephrons are smaller than the smaller dots.The main function or the kidneys are to maintain the water balance and to eliminate waste materials from the blood.

Ureters

• Ureters – the left and the right ureters are long muscular tubes. They are about 12 inches long with a diameter 2 to 3 millimeters.

• The ureters connect pelvis of each kidney to urinary bladder. They carry urine from each kidney to the urinary bladder.

The Urinary Bladder

• The Urinary Bladder – the urinary bladder is a muscular sac that holds urine. It is located in front the pelvis and behind the pubis. As the bladder fills walls stretch signaling the desire to urinate.

The Urethra-•  The Urethra- the urethra is a muscular tube

which carries urine from the bladder to the outside part of the body. In the female, it is a one inch long from the bladder to the cleft of the labia. In the male, it is several inches long from the prostate gland to the penis. When one is about to urinate, a value in the urethra relaxes to allow the urine to flow out.

The Urinary System Cleans the Blood

• Waste Products• During normal activity of the body, waste

product are formed. The chief waste of the body are carbon dioxide, water, urea and salts. Carbon dioxide is eliminated through the lungs while water, urea and salts are eliminated through the urine. Urea is a product resulting from the breakdown  of protein foods and of protoplasm. It is excreted mainly but the kidneys.

Urinary Systems Mechanism• Glomerulus – each nephron is

composed of a glomerulus. The glomerulus is surrounded by hollow capsule known as Bowman’s Capsule. The capillaries in the glomerulus filters the waste materials of the blood except protein and the cells.

•  Filtered Fluid – the filtered fluid enters the bowman’s capsule, where it flow down through its twisted tubes. The walls of the tubes absorb back in to the blood the needed water and blood chemicals.

• Pathway of Unwanted Chemicals – Unwanted chemicals are discharged. The unwanted chemicals are the waste products. They come out in the form of urine. The urine passes into the ureter and on to the urinary bladder. And the urethra which releases it to the outside of the body. Urine gives valuable clues to the body. Sugar in the urine is an indication of diabetes. Albumen may signify that the kidneys are not functioning properly.