I have wondered many times how a human would fare if the kidneys dumped urine into the start of the large intestines somewhere about the appendix instead of into a bladder to be sprayed out. I’m assuming water would be reabsorbed and slower to process out, primarily through sweat and evaporation from the lungs, and maybe diarrhea, though it may be that other waste products, such as salts or ureas may be absorbed into the large intestines instead of being ejected, though I have no idea if it would, or if it would be ejected as intended. Do we have any biologists here that could give insight on if combining both waste paths into one would be advisable?

  • readyno@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    Am doctor, you are essentially asking about a fistula (abnormal communication) that would allow urine and bowel to mix. This would allow for communication of gut bacteria to then invade the urinary system which would then easily cause a kidney infection which would then seed the blood resulting in bacteremia. Bacteremia is bad, like you die from infection unless you are on IV antibiotics and get the source under control bad. As an example, colovesicular fistula is a communication between the colon and bladder which often results in bad infections and needs to be surgically repaired. Hope this helps.

    • Delphia@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      Ok but why cant I have a secondary urethra grafted in that runs in my leg down to a nice discreet exit on my ankle so I can take a sneaky wee when Im out and about.

    • Thurkeau@lemmy.worldOP
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      1 year ago

      I can totally see that, though what if the body was able to adapt to the new configuration and keep the gut bacteria in its place, but the urine still flowed into the bowels for reprocessing? What else would the large intestines pick up aside from water and maybe salt?

      • Rin@lemm.ee
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        1 year ago

        There’s not much in urine except water, maybe a little bit of sugar if you’re diabetic. I don’t think this would be a beneficial adaptation. I’m pretty sure that if this was advantageous, it would have been adapted way earlier in our evolution.

        • Delphia@lemmy.world
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          1 year ago

          Also girls should pee after sex to flush out the pipes. I can imagine that the works might get clogged up if dudes didnt pee out of the same tube they ejaculate out of.

          • Shou@lemmy.world
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            1 year ago

            Not a problem for men to worry about. It is however true for rats. They can get penis plugs because their sperm acts like glue.