Disorders Of The Excretory System- Organs, Anatomy, Function, Conditions

Disorders Of The Excretory System: Organs, Anatomy, Function, Conditions

Edited By Irshad Anwar | Updated on Nov 28, 2024 06:24 PM IST

Disorders of the excretory system are commonly related to the kidneys, which have a crucial role in the filtering process of waste products, balancing fluids, and maintaining general homeostasis. Diseases affecting the kidneys include inflammation, infections, chronic conditions, and structural abnormalities. Such disorders of the excretory system can lead to disturbances in the sensitive filtration process, such as toxin buildup, electrolyte imbalances, and impairment of urine production. This is one of the topics from Excretory Products and Their Elimination in Biology.

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This Story also Contains

The Excretory System
Overview of Excretory System
Common Disorders of Excretory System
Kidney Diseases
Recommended video on Disorders Of The Excretory System

Disorders Of The Excretory System: Organs, Anatomy, Function, Conditions

The Excretory System

The excretory system is very important in removing waste products from the body. The main organs that excrete nitrogenous waste products are the liver, kidneys, skin, and sweat glands. If these organs malfunction, then nitrogenous wastes accumulate in the body, causing various diseases of the excretory system. An understanding of such disorders in the excretory system can help to maintain overall health while facing future complications.

Overview of Excretory System

This excretory system is a well-driven system in which all the organs work together to keep the body free of waste products. The primary organs are kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra. The kidneys filter blood to produce the urine that travels through the ureters to the bladder where it goes for storage until excretion through the urethra.

Overview of Excretory System

Common Disorders of Excretory System

Diseases of the excretory system are infections and diseases that affect the kidneys, urinary tract, and other related organs. Most of these diseases occur with different symptoms and therefore require different types of treatments. Some of the common diseases of the excretory system are listed below:

Kidney Diseases

Some of the major kidney diseases are discussed below:

Nephritis: Nephritis is a condition where the kidneys become inflamed. It can be either acute or chronic. There are symptoms such as swelling, high blood pressure, and blood or protein in the urine. Medication is used to reduce the inflammation and alleviate symptoms.
Glomerulonephritis: Glomerulonephritis is a form of nephritis that affects the glomeruli, which are the filtering units of the kidney. It can be caused by infections, autoimmune diseases, or hypertension. Treatment involves medications and dietary changes to manage symptoms and prevent further complications.
Kidney Stones (Renal Calculi): Kidney stones are hard deposits of minerals and salts within the kidneys. Symptoms may include severe pain, blood in the urine, and nausea. Treatments range from increased fluid intake and medications to surgical interventions in severe cases.
Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD): CKD is a progressive excretory system disease, where there's a gradual loss of the kidney's function over time due to conditions like diabetes, hypertension, or glomerulonephritis. Management includes treatment for the underlying cause, life modification, and drugs which can help in slowing disease progression.
Acute Kidney Injury (AKI): AKI refers to the sudden loss of kidney function, usually as a result of severe dehydration, infection, or exposure to toxins. Treatment will depend on the underlying cause and supportive therapy to reverse kidney function.
Urinary Tract Infections: UTIs are infections affecting any part of the urinary tract, which includes the bladder, urethra, and kidneys. Its symptoms include a sudden urgency to urinate, pain during urination, and cloudy urine. Treatment often involves antimicrobial therapy and increased fluid intake to flush out the infection.
Renal Failure: This has two types which are :
Acute Renal Failure: Acute renal failure also referred to as acute kidney injury, comes on suddenly, and its aggregation is due to critical illness, injury, or toxins. The symptoms are a decrease in urine output, swelling, and tiredness. Treatment involves treating the cause and rendering supportive care.
Chronic Renal Failure: Chronic renal failure, or chronic kidney disease, is a gradual process and occurs mainly due to chronic conditions such as diabetes and hypertension. It can be treated by treating the underlying causes of the disorder by changes in one's lifestyle and the administration of medications, dialysis, or even kidney transplantation.
Uremia: Uremia is an ailment in which there are waste products, mainly urea, in the blood due to kidney diseases. Symptoms include fatigue, confusion, nausea, and cramps in the muscles. Treatment usually involves dialysis to remove waste and disease management of the kidney disorder.