Urinary system

Definition

The urinary system consists of organs responsible for producing, storing, and eliminating urine. It includes the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The kidneys filter blood to remove waste products and produce urine.
2. Ureters are tubes that transport urine from the kidneys to the bladder.
3. The bladder is a muscular sac that stores urine until it is ready to be excreted.
4. The normal microbiota of the urinary tract primarily consists of non-pathogenic bacteria in the distal urethra.
5. Infections in the urinary system can ascend from the urethra to the bladder (cystitis) or further up to the kidneys (pyelonephritis).

Review Questions

• What are the main components of the urinary system?
• How do infections typically spread within the urinary system?
• What role does normal microbiota play in the urinary tract?

Related terms

Kidneys: Organs that filter blood to produce urine.

Bladder: A muscular sac that stores urine before excretion.

Urethra: A tube that carries urine from the bladder out of the body.