Urinary System

Ang, Lorraine belle v.

STEM 12-E6
Urinary System
• Consists of the kidneys, ureters,
bladder, and urethra
• The purpose of the urinary
system is to:
• eliminate waste from the body
• regulate blood volume and blood
pressure
• control levels of electrolytes and
metabolites
• regulate blood pH
Trace the flow of blood
through the arteries,
nephrons, and veins.
What are the 3 steps or
processes in urine formation,
where do they occur, and what
materials are reabsorbed or
secreted into the urine?

• Glomerular Filtration
• Tubular Reabsorption
• Tubular Secretion
Glomerular Filtration
• Occurs in the glomerulus
• The plasma is filtered through the
filtration surface of the capillaries
and Bowman's capsule
• The glomerular filtrate contains
water, glucose, salts, and urea
• Does not contain proteins and
blood cells
Tubular Reabsorption
• Occurs in the proximal tubular, loop
of Henle, and distal tubule
• Substances are transported out of
the tubules and back into the blood
of the peritubular capillaries
 Tubular Secretion
• Substances move from the plasma in
the peritubular capillaries back into
the filtrate of the renal tubules
• The proximal tubules secretes
creatinine and histamine
• The distal tubule and collecting duct
secrete potassium into the filtrate
• All the tubules actively secrete
hydrogen ions to regulate the pH of
the body fluids
• The filtrate is now urine
What are the three mechanisms that our bodies use in
maintaining blood pH? What structures are involved
and how do they work?
• Buffering Systems
• Respiratory Compensation
• Renal Compensation
Buffering Systems
• Carbonic Acid : Bicarbonate Buffer System
• CO2 + H2O <===> H2CO3 <===> H+ + HCO3–
• If CO2 increases = H2CO3 increases = increase in H+ leads to a decrease in pH (blood becomes more acidic)
• If CO2 decreases = HCO3– binds the free H+ ions to produce carbonic acid and convert it into CO2 (blood becomes more alkaline)

• Protein Buffer System

• Amino acids contain positively charged amino groups and negatively charged carboxyl groups.
• The charged regions can bind to hydrogen and hydroxyl ions and thus function as buffers
• Hemoglobin Buffer System
• During the conversion of CO2 into bicarbonate, hydrogen ions liberated in reaction are buffered by
hemoglobin
• Phosphate Buffer System
• When a weak base phosphate (Na2HPO42-) comes into contact with a strong acid (HCl), it forms a weak
acid + salt
• When a weak acid phosphate (Na2H2PO4−) comes into contact with a strong base (NaOH), it forms a weak
base + water
Respiratory Compensation
• Respiration rate:
• If blood is too acidic, it increases to lower
blood CO2 (blood becomes more alkaline)
• If blood is too basic, it decreases to raise
blood CO2 (blood becomes more acidic)
Renal Compensation
• When blood is too acidic:
• excreting hydrogen ions into the
urine
• reabsorbing bicarbonate from the
urine
What are the implications of acidosis and alkalosis?

ACIDOSIS 
• occurs when blood pH falls below 7.35. It can be due to increased acid or
decreased base:
• Increased acid production within the body
• Consumption of substances that are metabolized to acids
• Decreased acid excretion
• Increased excretion of base
• may also cause an increased rate and depth of breathing, confusion, and
headaches, and it can lead to seizures, coma, and in some cases death.
What are the implications of acidosis and alkalosis?

ALKALOSIS 
• occurs when blood pH rises above 7.45. It can be due to decreased acid or
increased base:
• Electrolyte disturbances caused by, for example, prolonged vomiting or severe
dehydration
• Administration or consumption of base
• Hyperventilation (with increased excretion of acid in the form of CO2)
• often due to associated potassium (K+) loss and may include irritability,
weakness, and muscle cramping.