2. Step One: Kidneys The kidneys remove liquid waste from the blood to make urine. They balance levels of salt and other substances in the blood. With the production of a hormone called erythropoietin, red blood cells are created. Nephrons in the kidneys remove urea from the blood which together with other substances creates urine.
3. Step Two: Ureters Ureters are narrow tubes that transport urine to the bladder from the kidneys. In the ureter walls, muscles force urine in the downward direction by tightening and relaxing continuously. Small amounts of urine drip into the bladder from the ureters, about every 10 to 15 seconds.
4. Step Three: Bladder The bladder is a pouch in the abdomen held in place by ligaments and pelvic bones. The walls of the bladder relax and expand when storing urine. When the bladder walls contract and flatten, urine is sent through the urethra. Two cups of urine can be held in the bladder for two to five hours in healthy adults.
5. Step Four: Sphincter Muscles and Urethra There are two rubber band-like muscles at the exit of the bladder called sphincter muscles. Sphincter muscles keep urine from leaking out of the body at unusual times. (We wouldn’t want any accidents!) The last place the urine travels to is the urethra; here, through a small tube, urine can finally be passed to outside the body.
6. Disease One: Hematuria Hematuria is when urine contains red blood cells obtained when the kidneys filter blood; this usually means urine is red or the color of cola. The cause of hematuria is often not serious, but sometimes can be the result of a tumor or other serious problem. Only lab testing can validate a diagnosis of hematuria. DO NOT SELF DIAGNOSE. To treat hematuria, often one must simply exercise. (Treatment differs based on age, health, medical history, and cause of the disease).
7. Disease Two: Vesicoureteral Reflux Vesicoureteral reflux, or VUR, occurs when urine in the bladder rewinds into the ureters and then the kidneys, which over time can cause kidney infection and scarring or damage to the kidneys. The cause of VUR is sometimes genetic; children born with neural tube defects also are prone to have VUR; it is more common in boys and Caucasians. Symptoms of VUR include, but are not limited to, urinary tract infectinon, urination troubles (urgency, dribbling, and wetting pants), an abdominal mass, trouble gaining weights, and high blood pressure. VUR can only be diagnosed through hospital testing. If not severe, VUR can resolve itself over time; in more serious cases, surgical intervention or removal of the kidney or ureter may be necessary.
