Overview of kidney and urinary tract birth defects

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Birth defects are more common in the kidney and urinary system (urinary tract) than in any other system of the body. Defects can develop in the

Kidneys (the two organs that filter waste from the blood to make urine)
Ureters (the tubes that transport urine from the kidneys to the bladder)
Bladder (the expandable, muscular sac that holds urine)
Urethra (the tube that drains urine from the bladder out of the body)

Each kidney continuously produces urine, which then drains through the ureter into the bladder at a low pressure. From the bladder, urine drains through the urethra to exit the body. In males, the urethra is located in the penis. In females, the urethra ends in the vulvar area (the area of the external female genital organs). Usually, urine is free of bacteria and other infectious organisms.