1 82 ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY FOR NURSES 



Having studied, in a previous chapter, the mechanism 

 by which the lungs relieve the blood of carbon dioxid 

 and water, it now remains for us to consider the excretory 

 mechanism of the kidneys and of the skin. The former 

 excretes the urine, while the other urinary organs, the 

 ureters, bladder, and urethra, collect the urine and effect 

 its exit from the body. The mechanism by which the 



FlG. 9 2 - Diagram of the relation of kidney to viscera, spine, and surface 

 points {American Text-Book of Surgery). 



skin excretes waste products in the form of perspiration 

 will be considered further on. 



THE KIDNEYS 



The kidneys are two tubular, secreting glands, placed 

 at the back of the abdominal cavity, one on each side of 

 the lumbar vertebrae. They are bean shaped, the con- 

 cave side being directed toward the spine, and the convex 

 side outward. Each kidney is about 4 inches long, 2 

 inches broad, i inch thick, weighs from 5 to 6 ounces, 



