THE URINARY SYSTEM

The human’s urinary system consists of two kidneys, two ureters, a urinary bladder and a urethra.
Its function is to secrete and excrete the urine, and it is connected with the renal tract.

Urinary Disorders

The section of medicine that deals with the urinary disorders is called urology.

A term used to describe the elimination of urine from the blood is the urinary output. Any change
in amount or type of output can indicate a disorder of the urinary system as:

a) Anuria-no urine is produced,

b) Uraemia - suppressed urine production, waste products remain in circulating blood,

c) Polyuria - excessive secretion of urine,

d) Nocturia - elimination of urine several times during the night,

e) Incontinence - inability to control urination,

f) Retention of urine - failure to eliminate urine from the bladder.

Urinary disorders can be diagnosed by tests on urine, blood chemistry, radiological examinations,
e.g. cystoscopy, (which is an insertion of a light scope into the urethra and bladder to allow
direct visualisation under a local or general anaesthetic and is used to identify stones, tumours
or strictures) or a renal biopsy (removal of renal tissue for microscopic study, a surgical
procedure done by a nephrologist), ultrasound and tomography.

Cystitis is an inflammation of the bladder lining caused by bacteria or by injury. Bacteria can
enter the bladder through the urethra and pathogens grow in urine that is retained in the bladder
for a long period. Cystitis is more common in females than in males because their urethra is
shorter and pathogens from the vulva and anus can gain entrance more easily. The symptoms are the
frequent desire to void and elimination of a small amount of urine, a burning sensation that
accompanies urination and blood-tinged urine. Bacteria in the bladder can travel upward in the
tract and cause the infection of the ureter (ureteritis) or the kidney. Also the recurrence rate of
cystitis is common so it must be treated long and carefully with antibacterial medications of the
sulphonamide group or urinary antiseptics.