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The organs of the urinary system and their functions.

The urinary system is the body’s primary system involved with excreting most of the body’s wastes and excess water. Also the integumentary and respiratory systems aid in excreting some of the body’s waste products. The urinary system consists of two kidneys, two ureters, a urinary bladder, and a urethra.

Generally, the kidneys are the ones responsible for filtering the blood and getting rid of wastes and excess water. The kidneys also help in controlling blood pressure, participate in forming vitamin D, and release erythropoietin—a hormone that stimulates the production of red blood cells.

These waste products and unwanted water, which comprises the urine, then pass through two tubes—one each kidney—, called ureters. The ureters act as passageway for urine to reach the urinary bladder. The urinary bladder or simply called bladder is a hollow, balloon-shaped, distensible organ, which expands as it is filled with urine and collapses when urine is emptied. The process of emptying urine is called urination or micturition. The bladder acts to store urine until it is time to empty. When urination occurs, urine is drained through the urethra—the last part of the urinary tract.

References:
National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NKUDIC), National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK).NIH Publication No. 07–3195, August 2007

Tortora, G. and Grabowski, S.: PRINCIPLES OF ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY. 10th ed. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., 2003.

Seeley, R. et al: ESSENTIALS OF ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY. 5th ed. McGraw – Hill, 2005.

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