ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY

OF THE RENAL SYSTEM

Functions of the Renal System
1. Excretion
2. Regulates blood volume and pressure
3. Regulates solute concentration in the blood
4. Regulates ECF pH
5. Regulates RBC synthesis
6. Regulates Vitamin D synthesis

Structures of the Renal System

KIDNEYS
• Paired
• Retroperitoneal
• Partially protected by the 11th and 12th ribs
• Right side is slightly lower due to liver
• Surrounded by renal capsule
• Adipose capsule
• Helium – medial side of each kidney; renal artery and nerves enter and where the renal
vein, ureter and lymphatic vessels exit the kidney
• Divided into Cortex – outer; medulla – inner
• Renal pyramids – located at the boundary between the cortex and the medulla
• Calyces – funnel-shaped structure; surrounds the tip of each renal pyramid; joins
together forming a larger funnel called renal pelvis, then narrows to form a small tube
called the ureter
 Hilum is located on the
medial surface
•Hilum (hilus) - medial side of each kidney; renal artery and nerves
enter and where the renal vein, ureter and lymphatic vessels exit the
kidney
• Renal artery and vein
• Cortex - outer
• Medulla - inner
• Renal pyramids and renal papillae
• Major and minor calyces - funnel-shaped structure surrounds the tip of
each renal pyramid
• Renal Pelvis – larger funnel joined by major and minor calyces then
narrows forming a small tube called Ureter

NEPHRON
• Functional unit of the kidney
• Functions
• Control blood concentration and volume
• Regulate blood pH
• Remove toxins from blood
• Stimulate red blood cell
production
• Renal corpuscle:
• Glomerulus – capillaries
• Glomerular or Bowman’s
capsule
• Bowman’s capsule
• Receives filtrate
• Proximal convoluted tubule
 • Reabsorption of water and solutes
• Nephron loop or Loop of Henle
• Regulates concentration of urine
• Distal convoluted tubule and Collecting duct
• Reabsorption of water and electrolytes, ADH, aldosterone, ANP
• Tubular secretion

Glomerular Filtration Rate

• Volume of plasma filtered / unit time
• Approx. 180 L /day
• Urine output is about 1- 2 L /day
• About 99% of filtrate is reabsorbed

URETERS
• Extensions of the renal pelvis
• Connect to urinary bladder
• Function: transport urine to urinary bladder
• Urine movement
• Peristalsis, gravity, hydrostatic pressure
• 25-30 cm in length

URINARY BLADDER
• Urinary bladder held in position by
peritoneum
• Trigon: region between openings of
ureters and urethra
• Detrusor muscle: three-layered smooth
muscle
• Internal urinary sphincter: involuntary
control
• Micturition: expulsion of urine from bladder
• External urinary sphincter: voluntary control
• Bladder capacity
• 700-800 mL
• 200-400 mL: conscious of need to urinate
• Stretch receptors initiate micturition reflex
• During urination
• Detrusor muscle contracts
 • Muscles of pelvic floor and abdominal wall contract
• External urinary sphincter relaxes and urine moves from
bladder to the outside

URETHRA
- Urethra: connects bladder to the outside
Females
- Lies directly posterior to pubic symphysis
- Located in wall of vagina
3.8 cm long
Between clitoris and vaginal opening
• Males
• 20 cm long
• Passes through prostate gland and penis
• Opens at tip of penis
• Transports urine and semen

FORMATION OF URINE
 1. Glomerular filtration
2. Tubular reabsorption
3. Tubular secretion
4. Water conservation

Blood is under a high pressure in

the glomerulus; thus, plasma
moves into the glomerular capsule
or the bowman’s capsule. This fluid
is called filtrate. As the filtrate
moves along the tubules it is
referred to as tubular fluid. Most of
the water and many other
molecules are reabsorbed into the
blood while some substances are
secreted into the tubular fluid. Once
the fluid moves into the collecting
duct, is it called urine, while in the
collecting duct, additional water is
removed from the urine,
concentrating the wastes.