What Does the Urinary Tract Do?
The human urinary system consists of the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra. The key parts of the urinary system are the kidneys, located below the ribs and toward the middle of the back. The kidneys remove excess liquid and wastes from the blood in the form of urine. They also work to keep a stable balance of salts and other substances in the blood, and produce a hormone that aids the formation of red blood cells. The Ureters (narrow tubes) carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder, a sack-like organ in the lower abdomen. Urine is stored in the bladder and emptied through the urethra. The average adult passes about a quart and a half of urine each day. The amount of urine varies, depending on the fluids and foods a person consumes and the volume formed at night is about half that formed in the daytime.
