Urinary System

The kidneys, urinary bladder, ureters and urethra are the parts of your body that make up the urinary system. Without the kidneys and other organ systems in your body that are also involved in the elimination of waste products, toxic substances would build up that would eventually cause your demise. These metabolic wastes include carbon dioxide, heat, salts, ammonia, urea, and uric acid to name a few. The kidneys help maintain homeostasis by eliminating metabolic waste in the form of urine, called excretion. Excretion should not be confused with the term defecation which only refers to the elimination of solid fecal material thorough the intestines as a function of the digestive system. The metabolic waste products eliminated through the kidneys were once chemicals called metabolites in your body. Excretion is the term given to any process that filters waste products from the blood. Diuretics are any foods or drugs that increase urine production. They help reduce edema (swelling) in your body and are often prescribed for those who have high blood pressure, congestive heart failure, glaucoma, and certain types of kidney and liver problems.

Urinalysis can reveal the presence of urinary tract infections, kidney stones, and diseases such as diabetes mellitus or various forms of glomerulonephritis.