Download The BoDy SyStem Summary

THE BODY SYSTEM
SUMMARY
Created by Christy Hui
Signs
Symptoms
A characteristic of an illness that can
be observed by a third party
A characteristic of an illness observed
or experienced by a patient
■ Burning sensation upon urination
■ Penile discharge
■ Penile discharge
Affected body system- genitourinary
■ In Naser’s case, the urethra is affected by the pathogens via unprotected sexual
intercourse
■ Infection may spread to other urinary and reproductive organs
■ The genitourinary system is composed of both reproductive and urinary organs
which are interconnected in males
The Urinary System
■ Composed of four major organs in both males and females: kidneys, ureter, bladder,
urethra
Kidneys
■ Maintains homeostasis of volume and fluid composition of blood in the body
■ Filter metabolic waste from blood
■ Form urine
■ Balance fluid and electrolytes
■ Balance blood pH
■ Regulate blood pressure
■ Waste filtered from the kidneys is directed to the bladder via a tube called the ureter
Bladder
■ The bladder is an expandable organ that collects urine filtered from the kidneys
■ Once expanded, epithelial lining of the bladder sends signals to the body to pass
urine via the voiding reflex
■ Subsequent innervation of the urethral sphincter regulates urine release
■ Urethra is connected to bladder and is responsible for excreting urea, waste and
excess water
■ Pathogens present in this system is also excreted via the urethra
■ Men’s urethra is longer than women’s
The Reproductive System
■ Primary purpose is for copulation and
production of the offspring
■ In males, the reproductive system is closely
tied with the urinary system
– External genitalia includes penis,
scrotum
– Internal genitalia includes testes,
epididymis, vas deferens, ductus
deferens, seminal vesicle, ejaculatory
duct, prostate gland, Cowper’s gland,
and the urethra.
■ Testes are located in the scrotum, responsible for spermatogenesis
■ Contain tightly coiled seminiferous tubules
■ Comprised of interstitial cells known as Leydig cells, responsible for producing
testosterone and other androgens
■ Epididymis is a tightly coiled tube connected to seminiferous tubules that function to
mature sperm
■ Vas deferens are connected to the seminal vesicles that cause the production of
semen
■ Cowper’s gland helps lubricate and secrete alkaline fluid to protect sperm travelling
through the urethra and vaginal environment
Disturbance to normal physiological
function due to N. gonorrhoeae
■ Can cause urethritis,
■ Linked with blindness and infertility
■ Adherence is mediated through bacterial pilli and Opa proteins
■ IgA1 protease cleaves IgA antibodies and block Fc function for destruction
■ Porin mediates penetration of host cell, allows bacteria to survive within phagocytes
■ They inhibit complement, apoptosis and oxidative burst in neutrophils
■ Lipooligosaccharide (LOS) is responsible for most Gonorrhea’s symptoms
■ Induction of an inflammatory response, activation of complement, local production
of TNF-α
– Causing pain and swelling of the urethra, leading to the burning sensation
■ Bacteria leaving the urethral cells, infected cells are shed into the urethral lumen
causing the penile discharge
Gonococcal invasion mechanism
Disturbance to normal physiological
function due to C. trachomatis
■ C. trachomatis has a cell wall structure that inhibits phagolysosome fusion, and
induces inflammatory response
■ Infection of mucosal epithelial cells can deteriorate barriers and impact immune
system
■ Bacterial cells stimulate T helper cells to release IFN-g that causes tissue damage
■ This inflammation causes painful urination
■ Bacteria may spread up along the reproductive tract
■ The symptom of discharge is caused by bacterial cell necrosis
■ If left untreated, chlamydia can cause skin lesion, epididymitis and arthritis
Secondary Sites
■ N. gonorrhoeae may disseminate into the bloodstream and infect other sites such as
skin and joints; the infection is then aptly named “disseminated gonococcal
infection”
■ It can survive within phagosomes due to Por, an outer membrane porin.
■ Serum resistant strains can evade bactericidal activity by LOS binding to sialic acid
■ Mucosal IgA blocks anti-LOS IgG bactericidal activity in serum
■ C. trachomatis may also disseminate into the blood stream and infect secondary
sites (i.e. epididymis, conjunctiva, oral cavity and joints)
■ Intracellular pathogens form reticulate bodies to survive
STI Testing
■ Imperative to get tested for STIs and HIV/AIDS when beginning a sexual relationship
with a new partner.
■ Gonorrhea and chlamydia are sometimes asymptomatic in men and women
■ Treatment should begin as soon as possible if detected
■ Untreated infections can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease (in women), ectopic
pregnancies (in women), infertility (in men and women) and chronic infections
■ Increased risk of transmission to fetus and premature birth if infection occurs during
pregnancy
– Note: treatment may differ in pregnant women to ensure the safety of the fetus