Download Integration of the Urinary System

Integration of the Urinary System
Integration of Systems
The urinary system is responsible for only a part of our body’s ability to
exchange material with the environment. It is not the only excretory
system in the body. Several other organs, tissues, and processes are also
involved in excretion. These structures temporarily store wastes,
transport them for removal, or excrete the wastes and excess materials
from the body.
Excretory Organs
Organ System
Organ
Major Excretory Function
Digestive
Large intestine
Defecation removes solid waste and some water
Integumentary
Skin/sweat glands
Remove water, salts, other wastes
Respiratory
Lungs
Remove carbon dioxide
Urinary
Kidneys
Remove wastes and excess substances from blood
The digestive system participates in waste removal in two ways. First,
the liver detoxifies some substances. One example is the conversion of
ammonia into urea. The large intestine is also considered an excretory
organ. It eliminates a number of substances through defecation,
including undigested food, water, carbon dioxide, water, salts,
cholesterol and heat. The respiratory system may seem like an unlikely
waste remover, but when we exhale, the lungs excrete carbon dioxide
and also rid the body of heat and some water vapor. Finally, the sweat
glands in the skin are important excretory structures. They help dispose
of excess water, heat, and carbon dioxide, as well as small amounts of
salts and urea.
Integrations of Body Systems
The kidneys are critical organs because they regulate blood volume and
blood pressure. These organs perform this regulatory role by altering the
amount of water that is eliminated in urine, as well as by releasing the
chemicals renin and erythropoietin. When blood pressure drops, the
kidneys secrete renin, which is both a hormone and an enzyme. Renin
activates a hormonal pathway that increases blood pressure. When
oxygen levels in body tissues decrease, the kidneys secrete the
hormone erythropoietin. Erythropoietin stimulates the bone marrow
to increase production of red blood cells.
The kidneys regulate ion concentrations in blood plasma by returning
some ions to the bloodstream and by excreting excess ions in urine.
They control blood pH by adjusting the amount of hydrogen ions and
bicarbonate ions that are reabsorbed or secreted in urine. The kidneys
also reclaim valuable nutrients from the filtrate and return them to the
systemic circulation.
The urinary system also affects all other body systems, whether directly
or indirectly.
Interactions Between the Urinary System and Other Body
Systems
Body System
Urinary
Interaction
System Effects
All Systems
Eliminates metabolic wastes· Controls volume, pH,
Maintains fluid, electrolyte, and composition of
and acid-base balances
body
fluids·
Homeostasis
Cardiovascular
Kidneys
increase/decrease
reabsorption of water filtered
from blood· Cells in kidneys
release renin when blood
pressure decreases
Digestive
Kidneys
help Calcitrol is necessary
synthesize calcitriol,
the for the absorption of
active form of vitamin D dietary calcium
synthesized in the liver
Helps regulate blood
volume and blood
pressure·
Reninangiotensinaldosterone
systemincreases blood
pressure
Endocrine
Kidneys
help
synthesize Calcitriol
is
an
calcitriol· Kidneys release endocrine
hormone
erythropoietin
that promotes bone
reabsorption·
Erythropoietin
stimulates red blood
cell production
Integumentary
(skin)
Kidneys work with skin to Calcitriol is necessary
synthesize calcitriol· Kidneys for the absorption of
maintain fluid balance
dietary calcium· Fluid
balance necessary for
perspiration
Lymphatic/
immune
Kidneys
increase/decrease Helps regulate volume
reabsorption of water filtered of
lymph
and
from blood
interstitial fluid
Muscular
Kidneys
help
regulate Calcium
and
calcium and phosphate levels phosphate
balance
in blood
important
for
muscular contractions
Nervous
Kidneys
are
responsible Glucose is necessary
forgluconeogenesis
for the production of
adenosine
triphosphate
in
neurons
Reproductive
Urethra is dual passageway
in males· In pregnant
women,
urinary
system
eliminates wastes for mother
and fetus
Respiratory
Kidneys work with lungs to Prevent
abnormal
adjust pH of body fluids
function of enzymatic
Allows passage and
direction of sperm·
Eliminates metabolic
wastes of fetus
pathways
Skeletal
Kidneys
help
regulate Calcium
calcium and phosphate levels phosphates
in blood
essential
for
deposition
and
are
bone