Although the distal portion of the urethra often contains pathogens, the urine formed in the kidney and found in the bladder is sterile because of the:

Question

A) Alkaline urine
B) Glomerular filtering
C) Warm temperature
D) Washout phenomenon

Answer 1

Ans: D
Feedback:
Although the distal portion of the urethra often contains pathogens, the urine formed in the kidneys and found in the bladder normally is sterile or free of bacteria. This is because of the washout phenomenon, in which urine from the bladder normally washes bacteria out of the urethra during voiding. Because most urinary tract infection (UTI) bacteria ascend through the urethra, glomerular filtration cannot remove it. Pathogens are less likely to survive in acidic conditions; struvite calculi form secondary to bacterial infections causing alkaline urine. The core body temperature is not high enough to destroy bacterial microorganisms in the urine.