Final answer:
diuretics ,urine volume
The most commonly used drugs for influencing urinary tract function are diuretics, which increase urine volume by inhibiting the reabsorption of Na+ and Cl- ions in various parts of the nephron.
Step-by-step explanation:
The most commonly used drugs influencing the functioning of the urinary tract are the diuretics which increase urine volume. Diuretics work by affecting different parts of the nephron, often leading to increased excretion of sodium (Na+) and chloride (Cl-) ions, which subsequently increases urine output. A side effect of loop diuretics, for instance, is that they inhibit the reabsorption of Na+ and Cl- ions by the ascending limb of the loop of Henle. This inhibition results in increased urination due to the osmotic pressure gradient that pulls water back into the renal tubule, increasing urine volume. In terms of clinical application, hydrochlorothiazide is a frequently prescribed anti-hypertensive diuretic that works by inhibiting the Na+/Cl- symporter in the distal convoluted tubule (DCT) and collecting duct, resulting in a loss of Na+ with water following passively by osmosis and thereby reducing blood volume and pressure.