Saladin 23 – The Urinary System, Essay Example

Your textbook lists 8 different functions for the urinary systems. Can you list these?

The eight functions of the urinary systems are the following. The urinary system excretes waste products and foreign material. The urinary system also emits excess glucose in the urine when it cannot be metabolized. The urinary system is responsible for the production of Vitamin D. The urinary system also administrates the ionic composition of the sanguine system. The urinary system contributes to the production of red blood cells by emitting the erythropoietin hormone which is a catalyst in the production of red blood cells.  In addition, the urinary system emits the hydronium ions into the urine. The kidneys also preserve the bicarbonate ions, which are significant hydrogen buffers. The urinary system also administrates the blood pressure by means of adjusting the volume of water contained in the sanguine system. This is achieved by means of the enzyme renin (Saladin & McFarland 22).

Where does urea come from? Where does uric acid come from?

Urea originates from a collection of metabolic responses that start in the liver. Ammonia is transformed into urea by the application of omithine that is cyclically regenerated as a carrier. In addition, the surplus nitrogen which is in the ammonia form is transformed into urea that is soluble, by the application of L. omithine as a recyclable carrier. Creatinine is a deconstructed product of creatine which is derived from the muscles. Uric acid is derived from purines of which two thirds are produced in the body and one third is produced from dietary consumption (Saladin & McFarland 31).

What happens if the body is unable to remove the three nitrogenous wastes (Urea, creatinine and uric acid)?

When the kidneys do not have the capacity of extracting the nitrogenous waste from the physiognomy, an infection of the urinary tract takes place (Saladin & McFarland 22).

What happens to glomerular filtration if the glomerulus becomes infected or damaged?

Glomeruli are minute sanguinary vessels that respond as small filters. The glomerular filtration from the kidneys regarding the extraction of wastes and surplus fluids from the body becomes influenced (Saladin & McFarland 20).

What would happen if we had normal glomerular filtration, but there was no reabsorption of water?

Wastes may not be allowed to be reabsorbed and excreted from the body (Saladin & McFarland 20).

How does the body maintain consistent GFR despite changes to systemic blood pressure?

The body maintains a constant GFR due to the glomerular sanguine hydrostatic pressure (GBHP), capsular hydrostatic pressure (CHP) and the sanguine colloid osmotic pressure (BOCP). The glomerular filtrate and the pressure of filtration also maintain constant GFR. The fluids must pass through the endothelium with expansive fenestrations, the basal laminate of the glomerulus and the podocytes containing pedicels which create filtration slits (Saladin Chapter 23).

How do the kidneys know which substances are toxic and should be excreted (note: This is a bit of a trick question, but it’s the kind of question a middle school student might ask, and you should be able to answer it!)

Glomerular filtration will only extract the metabolites or drugs which are not associated to proteins of which blood plasma is composed in addition to the organic acids that are continually secreted (Saladin Chapter 23).

Why do individuals with diabetes mellitus have polyuria? 

Each of the kidneys is composed of a million operational units. The nephrons absorb the urine through the Bowman´s capsule from the capillary and reabsorption takes place. In diabetes mellitus, there is an elevated amount of filtered glucose. The load that is filtered is in excess of the normal reabsorption capacity. As a result, there is glucose in the urine. The body evacuates the glucose that is perceived to be in excess. As a result, there is excessive urination that is detailed as polyuria (Saladin Chapter 23).

Describe the countercurrent multiplier

The Henle loop functions as the counter current multiplier. The motivating force in the counter current multiplier is the continuous mechanism of transporting salt (NaCl) and urea in the rising branch of the loop. The continuous transport system extract s the solutes from the tubular fluid and the fluid is transferred to the medullary interstitial fluid (Saladin Chapter 23).

Describe the countercurrent exchange system (Not to be confused with the countercurrent multiplier).

The countercurrent exchange system, provides the continuous salt transport of the rising limb of the Henle loop that is thick and water impermeable. This function creates a horizontal gradient that is equal to approximately 200 mos moles /kg of water in the tubular fluid and the medullary interstitial fluid. The enhanced salt and the osmotic saturation of the medullary interstitial fluid is the causal attributes of the salt migrating into the lowering branch of the Henle loop while causing the water to evacuate. The increased salt and osmotic saturation have the function of enhancing the osmotic saturation of the tubular fluid.  As a consequence, the minute horizontal gradient is multipo0lied in a longitudinal manner as a result of the counter current flow system (Saladin Chapter 23).

What are polyuria, oliguria and anuria?

Polyuria is when the person passes more than three liters of urine a day. Oliguria is when the patient passes less than 400 ml. Anuria is when the patient experiences a twelve-hour period with no urine or a 24-hour period with urine outputs of 50 – 100 ml (Saladin Chapter 23).

How does the Valsalva maneuver aid in urination?

The Valsalva maneuver ids applied with any compelled expiratory endeavor against an airway which is closed. This occurs when the patient attempts to hold their respiration while contracting the chest muscles in a strenuous and concerted effort. This also occurs when individuals attempt to defecate, urinate or move a heavy item. There is a hazard of cardio vascular trauma as the patient is holding their respiration. The Valsalva maneuver is applied for patients who cannot control their bladder (i.e., in the case of patients afflicted with multiple sclerosis) (Saladin Chapter 23).

What is a loop diuretic? How does it work?

Loop diuretics are also designated as water tablets. In the dense rising branch of the Henle loop, the reabsorption of NaCL is administrated by a cotransport systems of sodium, chlorine and potassium which is manifested in the luminal membrane of the nephron section. The loop diuretics which include bumetanide, piretanide, furosemide and torasemide connect in a reversible manner to the protein that is a carrier having the effect of decreasing the absorption of sodium and chlorine (Saladin Chapter 23).

The consequence is diminished water absorption. The loop diuretics have an effect on the calcium and magnesium reabsorption in the dense rising branch of the Henle loop. Furthermore, the loop diuretics also increase the production of potassium in the urine by increasing the distal tubular potassium emission in the Henle loop. The cells in the Henle loop are left less susceptible to kidney failure (Saladin Chapter 23).

If you were to suddenly develop a kidney stone, what symptoms would you have, and what should you do? What treatment can you expect? How long will you be in the hospital (if at all?)

When a kidney stone emerges, the symptoms erupt without any previous warning. An acute pain is produced in the back beneath the rib cage. The pain will have the tendency of migrating downward toward the area of the groin. The stones which are almost passed may be accompanied with the need to urinate. The treatment that would be required is to consult with a urologist and receive treatment against urinary tract infection (Saladin Chapter 23).

Alpha blockers may be prescribed in order to cause a relaxation of the ureter walls. The conventional treatment for the kidney stones is shock wave intervention. Elevated energy levels of extracorporeal shock waves are applied in order to fragment the kidney stones. Ureterostomy is also applied when the kidney stone has exited the kidney. Ureterostomy involves a thin conduit being passed into the urinary tract to trap and fragment the kidney stone. The amount of time spent in the hospital is minimal, usually a few days (Saladin Chapter 23).

What are the common causes of renal failure?

Renal failure is caused by stage kidney dysfunction, diabetes and elevated blood pressure. Glomerulonephritis is another leading cause in which the filtering capacity of the kidneys are damaged. Glomerulonephritis may be catalyzed by an infection of passed through heredity. Kidney stones, infections and polycystic kidney disease are other causes of renal failure. The last category is the end phase kidney disease that occurs when 90% of the renal functioning capacity has been lost (Longenbaker 13).

A family member needs to go on dialysis. Her doctor has offered either hemodialysis or CAPD. Which do you recommend?

In comparing the hemodialysis to CAPD the questions regarding lifestyle choices will require answers. In hemodialysis, the blood must be put through a man- made filtering device called a dialyzer. The dialyzer is connected by tubes in the body which increases the risk of infection. In CAPD, a catheter is connected to the patient’s belly. The lining of the belly which is designated as the peritoneal membrane is applied in order to cleanse the blood from wastes. The process is designated as an exchange, there will be the requisite of having between four and six exchanges performed on a daily basis (Longenbaker 13).

Hemodialysis is a process where the patient must be admitted into a clean place in order to filter the blood through the dialyzer. In CAPD, the patient can administer the procedure at home or while they are traveling. Hemodialysis increases the peril of bloodstream infections. CAPD increases the hazards of peritonitis (Longenbaker 13).

Works Cited

Longenbaker, Susannah. Mader’s Understanding Human Anatomy & Physiology. Eighth Edition. New York, NY: 2014. Print.

Saladin, Kenneth. Outlines, Highlights and Practice Quizzes: Essentials of Anatomy and Physiology. First edition. New York, NY: Cram 101 Textbook Reviews, 2013. Print.

Saladin, Kenneth and Robin McFarland. Essentials of Anatomy and Physiology. New York, NY: McGraw Hill Higher Education, 2013. Print.