Genitourinary System

•Monitors and regulates fluids (plasma, tissue fluid, lymph)• Filters substances from plasma• Excretes harmful substances as urine•Returns useful products to blood

Genitourinary System

• Macroscopic• Kidneys• Renal Artery• Renal Vein• Renal Pelvis• Ureter• Urethra• Urinary Meatus

Genitourinary System• Kidney: fist sized, kidney shaped organs that filter

tissue fluids and reabsorb useful nutrients for the body• Renal Artery: carries blood containing waste to kidney• Renal Vein: carries “cleaned” blood out of kidney• Renal Pelvis: waste material in the form of urine stored

here during filtering process• Ureter: extends from renal pelvis and carries urine to

bladder• Bladder: temporary reservoir for urine• Urethra: tube at base of bladder that releases urine• Urinary Meatus: urine expelled; in females, located

above the vagina

Structural overview

The Urinary System

• The most common disorder of the urinary system• UTI is a broad diagnosis covering any infection of

the urinary tract including the urethra, ureters, bladder and kidneys.

• May be caused by virus or fungus; most common infection is caused by bacteria

Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)

• Dysuria – painful urination• Proteinuria – protein in the urine• Hematuria – blood in the urine• Pyuria – pus in the urine• Oliguria – absence of urine production• Frequency, urgency• Flank/back pain, fever, nausea, vomiting

Urinary System disorders: s/s of UTI

• Cystitis is the medical term for inflammation of the bladder which is the most common area of infection

• Diagnostics: U/A – urinalysis, C&S – culture and sensitivity, blood tests (BUN, CBC, Electrolytes), IVP – intravenous pyelogram, Cystoscopy, Biopsy

• Treatments: based on cause. Antibiotics, catheterization, surgery, dialysis, lithotripsy, anti-hypertensive medications

Disorders of the Urinary System