Urological Trauma
Urotrauma is a word used for an injury to the urinary tract or reproductive organs. It could be from any traumatic event or impact. It could be from a fall, car or bicycle accident, chemical or weapon. Organs that may be affected by urotrauma include: the kidneys, ureters, bladder, urethra, and genitals.
Urotrauma may affect a person's sexual function, ability to reproduce or ability to urinate. Treatment is crucial.
How Does the Urinary Tract Normally Work?
The urinary tract is a system of organs that work together to make, store, and remove urine from the body. Urine is a waste product from blood. The kidneys clean the blood to create urine, which travels from the kidneys, down the ureters, to the bladder. From the bladder, urine moves down through the urethra, and out of the body.
The kidneys do more than just clean the blood. They also balance the acidity and chemicals in our bodies (sodium, potassium, calcium, phosphorous and others). They help control blood pressure, boost red blood cell production, and help make strong bones.
The bladder stores the urine made in the kidneys. It can hold urine for many hours and control its removal. The bladder connects to the urethra. This is the tube that connects the bladder to the genitals. The opening of the urethra is at the end of the penis in male, and in front of the vagina in females.
The male reproductive system includes the penis, scrotum, and testicles (testes). They produce and maintain sperm and male hormones for the male reproductive cycle.
