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Urinary system
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{{about|the human urinary system|urinary systems of other vertebrates|Urinary systems of birds|and|urinary systems of reptiles|and|urinary systems of amphibians}} {{short description|Anatomical system consisting of the kidneys, ureters, urinary bladder, and the urethra}} {{pp-pc1}} {{Infobox anatomy | Name = Urinary system | Latin = systema urinarium | Image = Urinary system.svg | Caption = 1. ''Human urinary system:'' 2. [[Kidney]], 3. [[Renal pelvis]], 4. [[Ureter]], 5. [[Urinary bladder]], 6. [[Urethra]]. (Left side with [[Frontal plane#Planes|frontal section]])<br />7. [[Adrenal gland]]<br />''Vessels:'' 8. [[Renal artery]] and [[Renal vein|vein]], 9. [[Inferior vena cava]], 10. [[Abdominal aorta]], 11. [[Common iliac artery]] and [[Common iliac vein|vein]]<br />''Translucent:'' 12. [[Liver]], 13. [[Large intestine]], 14. [[Pelvis]] | Width = <!-- only required for images under 200px and don't use "px" --> | Image2 = Urinary System (Male).png | Caption2 = Urinary system in the male. Urine flows from the [[kidney]]s via the [[ureters]] into the [[Urinary bladder|bladder]] where it is stored until it exits the body through the [[urethra]] (longer in males, shorter in females) during urination | Precursor = | System = | Artery = | Vein = | Nerve = | Lymph = }} The human '''urinary system''', also known as the '''urinary tract''' or '''renal system''', consists of the [[kidneys]], [[ureters]], [[urinary bladder|bladder]], and the [[urethra]]. The purpose of the urinary system is to eliminate waste from the body, regulate blood volume and blood pressure, control levels of [[Electrolyte|electrolytes]] and [[Metabolite|metabolites]], and regulate [[Acid–base homeostasis|blood pH]]. The urinary tract is the body's drainage system for the eventual removal of [[urine]].<ref name="NIH">{{cite web|title=The Urinary Tract & How It Works {{!}} NIDDK|url=https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/urologic-diseases/urinary-tract-how-it-works|website=National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases}}</ref> The kidneys have an extensive blood supply via the [[Renal artery|renal arteries]] which leave the kidneys via the [[renal vein]]. Each kidney consists of functional units called [[nephrons]]. Following [[filtration]] of blood and further processing, waste (in the form of [[urine]]) exits the kidney via the ureters, tubes made of [[smooth muscle]] fibres that propel urine towards the urinary bladder, where it is stored and subsequently expelled through the [[urethra]] during [[urination]]. The female and male urinary system are very similar, differing only in the length of the urethra.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |url=https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/imagepages/1122.htm |title=Female urinary tract |encyclopedia=MedLine Plus Medical Encyclopedia |date=16 September 2011 |first=David |last=C. Dugdale}}</ref> 800{{ndash}}2,000 milliliters (mL) of urine are normally produced every day in a healthy human. This amount varies according to fluid intake and kidney function.
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