The process of urine formation occurs in the urinary tract. Through urine, waste, toxins, and excess water will be excreted through the urinary tract. If there is a problem in the process of formation of this urine, disturbances can occur in various organs of the body.
Urine is the result of filtering blood by the kidneys which is excreted by the body through the urinary tract, which is one part of the urinary system. Urine is excreted to get rid of metabolic wastes, such as urea and toxins from the body.
Organs That Play a Role in Urine Formation Process
The process of urine formation involves several organs of the body which include:
Kidney
Kidney is one of the important organs in the human body which is shaped like a red bean and is the size of a fist. Humans have two kidneys, namely the right kidney and the left kidney.
In the kidney, there are at least one million nephrons that function to filter metabolic waste in the blood and process it into urine that is ready to be excreted from the body.
Ureter
The process of urine formation also involves the ureters. Similar to the kidneys, the ureters consist of two tubular parts and function to carry urine from both kidneys to the bladder.
The muscles in the walls of the ureters will contract, then relax so that urine will descend from the kidneys to the bladder.
Bladder
The bladder is shaped like an elastic balloon and is located between the pelvic bones. This elastic shape allows the bladder to shrink when there is no urine and enlarge when filled with urine. The bladder can hold about 400–600 ml of urine.
Urethra
Like the ureters, the urethra or urinary tract is also tubular, but there is only one. In women, the urethra is about 4 cm in size with the passageway between the clitoris and the vagina. Whereas in men, the length of the urethra is about 15-25 cm with the outlet of urine at the tip of the penis.
Stages of the Urine Formation Process
The process of urine formation starts from the kidneys which consists of filtration, reabsorption, and secretion. The following is an explanation of the three processes of urine formation:
Filtration
The process of formation of urine that occurs in the kidneys begins with the process of filtration or filtering. At this stage, the kidneys will receive blood flow that brings water and metabolic waste from the body.
Furthermore, the nephrons will filter the blood that flows into the kidneys to separate toxins and waste substances from the body's metabolism.
Reabsorption
After going through the filtration stage, the second step of the urine formation process is reabsorption or re-absorption. At this stage, water and substances that are still needed by the body, such as electrolytes, salts, and proteins, will be reabsorbed into the bloodstream.
Secretion
Secretion is the final process of urine formation in the body. This process is characterized by the release of several substances, such as creatinine and hydrogen ions, through the partibular capillary network.
The secretion process will produce urine that is ready to be excreted and is the body's way of maintaining the body's pH balance and the body's acid and alkaline levels.
After going through these three stages, urine will flow into the ureters and stored in the bladder. Furthermore, urine will be expelled from the body when you urinate.
Various Complaints That Can Occur in the Urine Forming Tracte
Various organs involved in the process of urine formation can be impaired. The following are some of the disturbances that can occur:
- Kidney stones
- Kidney cancer
- Urinary tract infection
- Kidney failure
- Diabetic nephropathy
To prevent various complaints in the urinary tract, you can maintain urinary tract hygiene and lead a healthy lifestyle. The following are some tips that you can do to maintain urinary tract health:
- Sufficient fluid needs every day by drinking at least 8 glasses or the equivalent of 2 liters of water.
- Eat nutritious foods, such as vegetables and fruits.
- Clean the vagina and penis after urinating.
- Do Kegel exercises regularly
- Practice safe sex, such as using condoms and not changing sexual partners.
In addition to applying the tips above, you also need to limit salt and sugar intake, exercise regularly, get enough rest, limit alcohol consumption, and don't smoke.
It is important to maintain the health of the organs that play a role in the formation of urine so that this process runs properly. That way, the function of other body organs is also not disturbed.
If you experience complaints such as bloody urine, pain when urinating, pelvic pain, or swollen feet, consult a doctor so that the cause can be identified and appropriate treatment given.