Chapter 23, Lesson 1: Functions of the Urinary System

Flashcards from Chapter 23, Lesson 1 of McGraw Hill Anatomy and Physiology, Tenth Edition, by Kenneth S. Saladin.

Urinary system organs

• Two kidneys

• Two ureters

• Urinary bladder

• Urethera

Kidney functions

• Metabolic wastes, hormone filtration from blood

• Blood volume, pressure, osmolarity regulation

• Electrolyte, acid-base balance

• Erythropoietin for red blood cell production

• Calcium regulation

• Free radical detoxification

• Glucose synthesization in starvation

Waste

Any substance useless to or present in excess in the body

Metabolic waste

Waste substance produced by the body

Nitrogenous waste

Type of metabolic waste that contains nitrogen

• Urea

• Uric acid

• Creatinine

Urea

Type of nitrogenous waste from protein catabolism

Uric acid

Type of nitrogenous waste that is a product of nucleic acid catabolism

Creatinine

Type of nitrogenous waste that is a product of creatine phosphate catabolism

Blood urea nitrogen (BUN)

The level of nitrogenous waste in the blood; normally around 10 to 20 mg/dL

Excretion

The separation of wastes from body fluids for elimination, carried out by the respiratory, integumentary, digestive, and urinary systems