Knowledge of UTI's Must Include Knowledge of the Urinary Tract System

The urinary system consists of the

• kidneys,
• ureters,
• bladder, and
• urethra.

The key elements in the system are the kidneys, a pair of purplish-brown organs located below the ribs toward the middle of the back.

The kidneys have several functions, they:

• remove excess liquid and wastes from the blood in the form of urine,
• keep a stable balance of salts and other substances in the blood, and
• produce a hormone that aids the formation of red blood cells.

Narrow tubes called ureters carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder, a sack-like organ in the lower abdomen. Urine is stored in the bladder and emptied through the urethra.

The average adult passes about a quart and a half of urine each day. The amount of urine varies, depending on the fluids and foods a person consumes. The volume formed at night is about half that formed in the daytime.