Download This Sample
This sample is exclusively for KidsKonnect members!
To download this worksheet, click the button below to signup for free (it only takes a minute) and you'll be brought right back to this page to start the download!
Sign Me Up
Table of Contents
The urinary system constitutes the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra. This system cleans your blood by screening out waste and extra water, and this waste degrades into pee. Bladder infections and urinary tract infections are the most frequent urinary problems (UTIs).
See the fact file below for more information on the urinary system, or you can download our 22-page Urinary System worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.
Key Facts & Information
Overview
- The urinary system serves as a filter, eliminating toxins and wastes from the body via urine, and it transports waste through a web of ducts and tubes.
- These tubes are conjoined to your blood vessels and digestive system, and the urinary system aids in the normal functioning of the rest of your body.
Functions
- The urinary system cleanses your blood to remove waste from your body. It removes excess water, salt, poisons, and other waste items. The urinary system’s many components carry out activities such as:
- Blood filtering
- You are separating the toxins from the nutrition you require.
- Urine storage and removal from the body.
Cleaning the Blood
- The kidneys play an essential role in blood filtration. The urinary system functions as follows.
- Each kidney receives blood via a network of small arteries.
- Toxins are separated from nutrients by your kidneys when they filter your blood.
- Vitamins, minerals, nutrients, and proteins are reabsorbed into circulation.
- Waste and urine pass via your ureters and your bladder, and urine is kept in your bladder until you use the toilet.
- Urine exits the body via the urethra.
Anatomy
- The urinary system comprises the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra. They all collaborate to filter, store and eliminate wastewater from your body. Each organ performs the following functions:
Kidneys
- These organs are constantly in use; they screen your blood and produce urine, which your body expels.
- We have two kidneys on each side of your back, right below your rib cage, and each kidney is likely the size of your fist.
Ureters
- According to the NIH, muscles in the ureter walls constantly contract and release to drive urine away from the kidneys.
- A urine backlog can cause a kidney infection. The ureters empty little volumes of urine into the bladder every 10 to 15 seconds.
Bladder
- The urinary bladder is a balloon-shaped organ and hollow in the pelvic region. Ligaments linked to other organs and the pelvic bones keep them in place.
- The bladder holds pee until the brain tells the individual is ready to empty it. A normal, healthy bladder can comfortably store up to 16 ounces (nearly half a liter) of pee for two to five hours.
Urethra
- Sphincters are circular muscles that wrap firmly around the bladder entrance further into the urethra, the tube that permits urine to travel outside the body to prevent leakage.
- The length of the urethra is the sole variation between the female and male urinary systems. The urethra is typically 1.5 to 2 inches (3.8 to 5.1 cm) in length in females and rests between the clitoral hood and the vaginal.
- It is around 8 inches (20 cm) long in men, runs the size of the penis, and fans at the end of the penis. During ejaculation, the male urethra is utilized to remove both urine and sperm.
Conditions and Disorders
- Many disorders can cause ureters, kidneys, bladder, and urethra problems. Infections, illnesses, and other issues might arise at birth or develop as you age. The following are some examples of common urinary disorders:
Infections: Urinary Tract Infections (UTI) and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)
- It can cause renal, urethral, or bladder problems Infections in the urinary system arise when viruses or bacteria enter the urethra. To treat an infection, your doctor may prescribe medicine.
Structural Problems
- Sometimes newborns are born with birth abnormalities that impact the development of their urinary system. These anomalies can cause urine to back up in the kidneys, resulting in infection.
- Bladder prolapse can occur later in life, such as after pregnancy or as women age. A prolapsed bladder falls into or hangs from the vaginal orifice. Surgery is sometimes required to fix structural abnormalities.
Kidney Stones
- When waste materials in urine clump together, these aggregates develop. Kidney stones, also known as ureteral stones (kidney stones that travel to the ureter), can cause significant discomfort and obstruct urine flow. Ultrasound (sound waves) may be used to shatter the stones into little fragments, making them easier to pass.
Urination Problems
- Urine leakage is caused by a loss of bladder control, also known as urinary incontinence (leakage). Urinary incontinence is more common in women, mainly the following pregnancy or later in life.
- Coughing, laughing, sneezing, or jumping might make it worse. Overactive bladder appears when you have a strong need to urinate often, and it can treat these disorders with medications.
Urinary Tract Obstruction
- Growths or malignant tumors in the abdomen might impair urine flow. An enlarged prostate (also known as benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH) in males can obstruct the ureter, making it difficult to urinate.
- Medication or surgery can be used to treat BPH. Pregnancy and gastrointestinal (GI) disorders such as Crohn’s disease are two more reasons for ureteral blockage.
Kidney Disease / Chronic Renal Disease
- High blood pressure and diabetes are the numerous prevalent causes of chronic renal disease. Controlling your blood pressure and blood sugar levels is critical for reducing your risk of renal disease.
Polycystic Kidney Disease
- Polycystic kidney disease is hereditary and causes fluid-filled cysts to grow inside the kidneys.
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen can cause kidney damage. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) does not harm your kidneys at the regular prescribed dose.
- Consult your doctor to determine whether over-the-counter pain relievers are appropriate for you. Overdoses of practically all prescription and over-the-counter medications can cause your kidneys to work too hard while filtering waste, leading to kidney failure, which may require dialysis or a kidney transplant if you have renal failure.
Interstitial Cystitis
- PBS, or painful bladder syndrome, is a chronic bladder ailment that primarily affects women and produces varying degrees of bladder pressure and pelvic pain.
- It can potentially promote bladder scarring and make it less elastic. While the etiology is unknown, many patients with the illness have a deficiency in their epithelium, the bladder’s protective layer.
Prostatitis
- Since prostatitis is an enlargement of the prostate gland, it can only develop in males. Old age symptoms include urinary urgency and frequency, pelvic discomfort, and pain during urination.
Bladder Cancer
- The symptoms include back or pelvic discomfort, difficulty urinating, and urgent or frequent urination, similar to other urinary system illnesses or disorders.
Other Common Conditions and Disorders
- Bladder infections and urinary tract infections are the most frequent urinary problems (UTIs). Women are more likely than males to have UTIs, and more than 60% of women will get a UTI at some point.
- Approximately half of women over 65 have urine incontinence, mainly caused by strained muscles during pregnancy and delivery. Kidney stones are also persistent, affecting roughly one out of every ten persons.
Health Care Tips
- We cannot avoid most urinary tract issues; however, you may strive to maintain your urinary system healthy by practicing good hygiene and leading a healthy lifestyle. You may assist your urinary system in performing correctly by doing the following:
- Drink plenty of water: hydrating can help clean your system and prevent kidney stones and UTIs. To prevent a UTI, consider drinking cranberry juice, as cranberry compounds may inhibit the growth of microorganisms.
- Eat a healthy diet: foods high in calcium and low in sodium may help avoid kidney stones.
- Wipe correctly: After using the toilet, women should always wipe front to back; good wiping minimizes the danger of germs entering the vagina and developing a UTI.
- After sex, empty your bladder: If you’re a woman, you should visit the restroom. Peeing often can prevent germs from flourishing.
- Pelvic floor exercises, generally known as Kegel exercises, can lower your risk of urine leakage by strengthening the muscles in your pelvic floor.
Urinary System Worksheets
This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about the urinary system across 22 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Urinary System worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about the kidneys, bladder, ureters, and urethra which make up the urinary system. It is also known as the urinary tract or the renal system. Its functions are to excrete waste from the body and work with other organs such as the lungs and intestines to regulate chemicals in the body.
Complete List Of Included Worksheets
- Urinary System Facts
- Tract Sketch
- What’s In It?
- Name That Organ
- The Right Flow
- True or Flush
- Word Search
- Fully Functional
- Doctor, I’m Sick!
- Correct Treatment
- Restroom Posters
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the urinary system?
The urinary system serves as a filter, eliminating toxins and wastes from the body via urine, and it transports waste through a web of ducts and tubes. These tubes are conjoined to your blood vessels and digestive system, and the urinary system aids in the normal functioning of the rest of your body.
What is the primary function of the urinary system?
This system cleans your blood by screening out waste and extra water, and this waste degrades into pee.
What are the significant parts of the urinary system?
The urinary system constitutes the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra.
What are the most common conditions and disorders of the urinary system?
Bladder infections and urinary tract infections are the most frequent urinary problems (UTIs). Women are more likely than males to have UTIs, and more than 60% of women will get a UTI at some point.
How does the urinary system clean the blood?
The kidneys play an essential role in blood filtration. The urinary system functions as follows. (1) Each kidney receives blood via a network of small arteries; (2) Toxins are separated from nutrients by your kidneys when they filter your blood; (3) Vitamins, minerals, nutrients, and proteins are reabsorbed into circulation; (4) Waste and urine pass via your ureters and your bladder, and urine is kept in your bladder until you use the toilet; (5)Urine exits the body via the urethra.
Link/cite this page
If you reference any of the content on this page on your own website, please use the code below to cite this page as the original source.
Link will appear as Urinary System Worksheets & Facts: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, January 7, 2019
Use With Any Curriculum
These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.