THE URINARY SYSTEM

 Responsible for the elimination of the waste products which is continuously being formed by the cells. (These
waste products have to be removed in order to maintain a state of equilibrium).
 Part of excretory system

Organs of Excretory System: Functions of Urinary System:

1. Lungs – eliminates CO2, heat and water
2. Kidneys – major excretory organ; eliminates water,
soluble salts, and heat
3. GIT – eliminates solid, secretions, water and heat
4. skin – eliminates heat, water, salts, and CO2.
1. Regulation of blood volume and composition
2. Regulation of blood pH
3. Regulation of blood pressure
4. Contributions to metabolism

Organs of Urinary System:

1. Kidneys (2)
2. Ureter (2)
3. Urinary Bladder (1)
4. Urethra (1)

A. The Kidneys (Renes)

 are reddish brown paired bean shaped retroperitoneal organ about 4-5in. long
 Located above the waist, between the peritoneum and posterior abdominal wall, between the 12 th thoracic
and 3rd lumbar vertebrae and partly covered by the 11th and 12th ribs.
 The right kidney is slightly lower than the left, because the liver occupies a large area on the right side
superior to the kidney.

Layers of tissue surround each kidney:

1. Renal capsule – innermost layer,

 Serve as a barrier against trauma and helps
maintain the shape of each kidney.

2. Adipose (peri-renal) capsule – intermediate layer,

 Also serves to protect the kidney from
trauma and hold the kidney in place within
the abdominal cavity
.
3. Renal fascia (Gerota’s fascia) – outermost layer,
 Serve as a supporting layer that anchors the
kidney to the abdominal wall.

Regions of the Kidney:

 limited externally by the true capsule
1. Renal Cortex – filtering layer of the kidney
 Outer portion, reddish area and contains the “nephron”
2. Renal Medulla – collecting layer of the kidney
 Inner portion, deep reddish brown area
 Consists of 8-18 cone shaped structure called the “renal pyramids”, with a base and apex (renal papillae)
that contains the minor and major calyces.
 Between the renal pyramids are found portions of the renal cortex known as renal columns (column of
bertin).

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Note: the renal cortex and renal medulla constitute the functional portion or “parenchyma of the kidney”.
3. Renal Pelvis – a funnel shaped structure found at the center of the kidney, and formed by the union of major
calyces.
 It collects urine from the calyces and transports it to ureter.

Nephron
 forms the anatomical and functional unit of the kidney

Functions of the nephron

1. Filtration (Glomerular)
2. Secretion
3. Reabsorption

Parts of the nephron:

1. Renal corpuscles (Malphigean Body)
 where plasma is filtered
 consists of 2 components
a. Glomerulus – a capillary network or
cluster of capillaries
b. Glomerular Capsule (Bowman’s capsule)
– a double walled epithelial cup that forms
the dilated portion of the kidney, surrounds
the Glomerulus.
2. Renal tubules (uriniferous tubules)
 into which the filtered fluid (filtrate) passes
 consists of the following parts:
a. Proximal Convulated Tubule
b. Loop of Henle – a U-shaped tube that
produces urine
c. Distal Convulated Tubule
d. Straight Collecting Tubule

B. The Ureter
 Are two musculo-membranous and retro-peritoneal tube which conduct urine from the kidney to the bladder,
10-12 inches long.
 The orifice of the ureter in the bladder is not guarded by any valve; backflow is prevented by the pressure of
the bladder muscles as it becomes distended.

Layers of the ureter wall:

1. Mucous membrane – inner layer
2. Muscular coat – capable of peristaltic contraction
3. Fibrous coat

C. Urinary Bladder
 A hollow, pear shaped musculo-membranous sac found in the anterior portion of the pelvis behind the pubic
bone and in front of the rectum in male, or uterus in female.
 The function is to act as a reservoir for urine and to eliminate or expel intermittently the accumulated urine by
a process of micturition (urination).

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  The interior when empty is thrown into folds or “rugae”, except the triangular area called the urinary trigone
found at the floor of the bladder from which the three angles are marked by 3 openings – 2 openings of the
ureter and 1 opening of urethra.

Structure of the bladder:

1. Fundus/ base – partly covered by peritoneum

2. Neck – constricted and continuous with the urethra

3. Superior surface – free

4. Anterior surface – with a direct relation to abdominal

wall

D. The Urethra
 is a canal extending from the neck of the bladder to the urinary meatus
 it serves to convey urine from the urinary bladder to the outside

Male urethra
 An S-shaped and much longer than that of female urethra, about 6-8inches long.
 Divided into 3 portions:
a. prostatic urethra – widest and most dilatable
b. membranous urethra – shortest portion
c. penile urethra – longest portion

Female urethra
 lies directly posterior to symphysis pubis, very short and straight about 1-1.5in long
 it is embedded in the anterior wall of vagina, the external opening is found anterior to the vaginal opening
about an inch behind the glans of clitoris; on each side of the opening are found the “skeenes gland”.

Definition of terms:

1. Micturition – the act of expelling urine from the urinary bladder, also known as urination.
2. Urine – a clear and transparent fluid with an amber yellow color
3. Residual urine – the amount of urine remaining in the bladder after urination.
4. Enuresis (bed wetting) – involuntary voiding at night after the 3 rd year of life
5. Polyuria – an increase in the volume of urine excreted
6. Oliguria – a decrease in the volume of urine output
7. Anuria – complete suppression of urinary output
8. Nocturia – an increase in the volume of night urine
9. Incontinence – a lack of voluntary control over micturition
10. Diuretics – a substance which increases the flow of urine, ex. Water, caffeine, alcohol
11. Diuresis – increased urine produced
12. Retention – a failure to completely or normally void urine.

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