First-Year Medicine
Block 8: Urinary System
The major objective of the MS1 Urinary System Block is to describe how
certain aspects of the extracellular fluid (ECF) are maintained constant;
specifically, the concentrations of the major electrolytes (Na+,
K+,
Cl-, HCO3-), the pH, and the total ECF osmolarity and volume.
We will learn how the kidneys work to excrete the proper amounts of water
and the various electrolytes, and about the hormones and other factors
that regulate these processes. We will also begin learning how to use
serum and urine lab results to diagnose problems of serum osmolarity,
electrolyte imbalance, and pH imbalance.
