Depiction of the kidneys, adrenal glands with their vessels (branches of the abdominal aorta and tributaries of the inferior vena cava). The right kidney is opened, showing the renal papillae, cortex, medulla, pelvis, and urinary tract (ureter). The heart with its vessels is depicted as well. The cut-out shows a renal corpuscule (glomerulus), where the primary urine (ca. 160l) is produced, transported via vessels, while the surplus water is reabsorbed, so that 1,5l of final urine remain. Generally, a urinary tract infection is caused when germs infect the urinary tract. Due to their significantly shorter urethra, women are affected much more often than men. Urinary tract infections are the most common nosocomial infections and are typically ascending. The germs (usually bacteria) get to the external urethral orifice due to a smear infection and ascend through the urethra up to the bladder, where they cause a cystitis. In extreme cases, this infection can cause a sepsis, if the pathogene bacteria spread out into the blood and lymph circulation, where they cause a general sepsis. The germs can originate from the body`s own intestinal flora or they are transmitted from a partner during intercourse. Their infiltration can be made easier by insufficient intimate hygiene.
