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The urinary system consists of two kidneys, each having a ureter connecting it to the bladder. The bladder is then connected to the urethra (longer in men and shorter in women), and the urethra ultimately leads to an opening out of the body. The function of the urinary system is to produce and remove a waste product called urine, and to regulate the amount, alkalinity or acidity, and consistency of body fluids.

Kidneys filter blood. Every minute, one-fourth of the blood in the body enters the kidneys, which are composed of about 2 million microscopic filters called nephrons. Nephrons are responsible for absorbing nutrients, and eliminating toxins and other waste materials from the blood. In addition, the kidneys help regulate other bodily functions by secreting the hormones renin, erythropoietin and prostaglandin. Renin helps control blood pressure, while erythropoietin helps stimulte the body to produce more red blood cells.

Prostaglandin is not limited to the kidneys. In other tissues and situations, it causes smooth muscles to contract or relax, is involved in abnormal fluid collection in the body, is responsible for some types of fever and pain, and is heavily involved in the process of inflammation. But in the kidneys, prostaglandin causes dilation of the veins and helps with the urine-making process.

The bladder is a saclike organ located in the pelvis. Its function is to store urine until it is excreted. It is made up of three layers of involuntary muscles that provide it with the ability to expand and contract. When empty, the bladder shrivels up to the shape of a small prune, but it swells and stretches as needed to hold urine. Most peoples's bladders can hold about a pint of urine. Then, when the bladder is full, the walls expand and send impluses to the brain telling it to urinate.

Urine is 96 percent water. The other 4 percent includes a mix of urea, salt, sugar, proteins, fat, vitamins and coloring from bile pigments. Its color is usually clear or yellow, though this depends upon the diet and health of the individual. Urine has a distinct, ammonia-like smell that is primarily due to the nitrogenous wastes it contains.

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15y ago

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