CHAPTER VI 

 DISEASES OF THE URINARY ORGANS 



General Discussion. — The urinary apparatus is composed 

 of two glands, the kidneys and an excretory apparatus that 

 carries the excretion of the kidneys to the outside. 



The kidneys are situated in the superior region of the 

 abdominal cavity (sublumbar) above the peritoneum, and to 

 the right and left of the median line. They are highly vascular 

 glands, somewhat bean-shaped and of a deep red color. These 

 glands are capable of removing from the blood a fluid that is 

 essentially difi^erent in composition and which, if retained in 

 the blood, would be harmful or poisonous to the body tissues. 



The kidney excretions are carried from the pelvis of the 

 kidneys by the right and left ureters. These canals terminate 

 in the bladder, an oval-shaped reservoir for the urine. This 

 organ is situated in the posterior portion of the abdominal 

 cavity and at the entrance to the pelvic cavity. Posteriorly, it 

 forms a constricted portion or neck. It is here that the urethra 

 originates. This canal represents the last division of the excre- 

 tory apparatus. In the female, the urethra is short and termi- 

 nates in the vulva. In the male it is long and is supported by 

 the penis. 



The urine secreted by the kidneys is a body excretion, 

 and consists of water, organic matter and salts. The nitrog- 

 enous end-products, aromatic compounds, coloring matter, and 

 mucin form the organic matter. The nitrogenous end-products 

 and aromatic compounds are urea, uric and hippuric acids, ben- 

 zoic acid and ethereal sulfates of phenol and cresol. The salts 

 are sulfates, i)hosphates and chlorides of sodium, potassium, 

 calcium and magnesium. The organic and inorganic matter 

 varies with the ration. 



The quantity of urine secreted within a given time varies 

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