LABORATORY 5: ANATOMY OF THE REPRODUCTIVE & URINARY SYSTEMS

LEARNING OUTCOMES: By the end of this laboratory, you should be able to:

1. Describe the external structure of the kidney, including its location, support structures and
covering.
2. Identify and describe the structure and location of the ureters, urinary bladder and urethra.
3. Compare and contrast the anatomically/biologically female and male urethras.
4. Identify the major internal divisions and structures of the renal tissue.
5. Identify the major structures and subdivisions of the renal corpuscles, renal tubules and
renal capillaries.
6. Trace the path of filtrate/urine from the renal corpuscle to the urethral opening.
7. List the three major processes in urine formation and where each occurs in the nephron
and collecting system.
8. Describe the function of the ureters, urinary bladder and urethra.
9. Relate the anatomy and histology of the bladder to its function.
10. Identify and describe the anatomy of the anatomically male and female reproductive
system, including the gonads, ducts, accessory glands, associated support structures,
and external genitalia.
11. Identify and describe the organs involved in semen production.
12. Describe the ovarian cycle and relate the events of the ovarian cycle to oogenesis.
13. Analyze graphs depicting the ovarian and menstrual cycles and correlate ovarian activity,
hormonal changes, and uterine events.
14. Provide examples of how birth control methods relate to normal reproductive function.

Prelab Preparatory Activities:

Access Anatomy and Physiology Revealed. Remember to enter the code for the ANAT 103 list of
structures: Yfu3p and access the “My course content” tab. As you prepare for you lab, review all
of the structures you will be asked to identify.

From the dropdown list, choose each topic, and examine all the structures that appear in that list.
Remember that you are only responsible for the structures in this lab handout. You can also
use your APR image set for reference. Note that in the “layers” toggles, you can gradually dissect
deeper and deeper, which allows you to see the relationships of the organs from superficial to
deep!

Study these structures in multiple images. For this lab, the comparisons between the
anatomically male and female urinary and reproductive systems, and the relationship with
the rectum, are particularly important to compare. Pay close attention to the box that includes
the description, location and function, so that you can connect the anatomy to the physiology of
the area.

Do not forget, you have a quizzing tool in APR! Do these quizzes multiple times, until you feel very
confident in your answers. This means you will be less likely to doubt yourself on your lab
assessment!

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When you are done examining APR images, proceed to the activity on the next page.

The Ovarian and Menstrual Cycles

Examine the following diagrams. Then, answer the questions that follow.

What is ovulation? Why does it occur at day 14 of the ovarian cycle?

Now, compare the levels of estrogen at day 12-13 with the levels of FSH and LH. What is the
relationship between them? How do they explain your answer to question 1?

Next, examine the cycle of the ovary, and compare this to the diagrams above. Why does
progesterone rise after ovulation? Why is FSH and LH the lowest when progesterone is the highest?

Finally, how does the level of progesterone relate to the lining of the endometrium?

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 NEPHRON ANATOMY

Trace the path of filtrate correctly through the nephron.

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 Instructions: Identify these structures using APRevealed and Lab Slides and answer the
accompanying questions using your textbook and lecture slides

A. Reproductive System

1) Scrotum – what does this contain?

The scrotum contains the testicles
2) Spermatic cord – what is the function of this structure?
The spermatic cord are a pair of tubular structures that support the
testes in the scrotum.
3) Testes
a. What cells, essential for fertilization, are produced by the
testes? Leydig cells
b. What is the name of this process?
c. What hormone is produced by the testes at puberty?
They produce testosterone
4) Epididymis – what is the function of this structure? Hint: define
capacitation.
To transport sperm from the rete testes to the vas deferens.

5) Ductus (vas) deferens – what is the function of this structure?

What is its role in reproduction? Note the length of this structure
and its course on the sagittal images.
They serve to transport sperm cells from the reproductive
epididymis to the ipsilateral ejaculatory duct.

6) Prostate – where is this structure located in relation to the urinary

bladder? What implication might this have?
The prostate is located just below the bladder and in front of the
rectum.

7) Seminal vesicle – what is the function of this structure?

It is important for semen coagulation, sperm motility, and stability
of sperm chromatin.

8) Urethra
a. Prostatic urethra
b. Membranous urethra
c. Penile urethra
i. What is the difference between all of these
structures?
The female urethra is shorter than the male urethra.

9) Penis
a. Crus of penis
b. glans penis – this is an extension of which structure?
It extends through the body of the penis to the tip

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 c. corpus spongiosum – what does this contain?
Blood vessels that are filled with blood
d. corpus cavernosum – how does this compare to the
spongiosum? The corpus caverson lie close together in the
dorsal part of the penis, where the spongiosum is a single
body

Clinical Connection:
A vasectomy is a procedure done to prevent pregnancy. Explain how the cutting of
the vas deferens prevents pregnancy.

10) Ovaries – what do these contain?

a. ovarian ligament – what is the role of this structure?
They connect each ovary to the lateral side of the uterus
and do not contain blood vessels
11) Uterine tubes – what is the role of these structures? What is
their relationship with the uterus and ovaries? Does fertilization
of an ovum occur here?
To transport sperm towards the egg, fertilization occurs in the
uterus.
12) Fimbriae - what is the role of these structures in ovulation?
To help collection of the ovum after ovulation
13) Uterus – Note the size and shape of the uterus.
The uterus is pear-shaped around 7.6 cm

a. Endometrium – what is the functional significance of this

layer? What type of epithelial tissue lines the lumen?
It is the most inner lining of the uterus and functions to prevent
adhesions between opposed walls, during pregnancy the gland
increase in size and number
b. Myometrium – what is the functional significance of this
layer?
The middle layer of the uterine wall, serves to hold up the uterus
14) Broad ligament – what is the role of this structure?
Serves as a mesentery for the uterus, helps maintain uterus
position
15) Round ligament – what is the role of this structure?
Helps maintain the anteversion position of the uterus during
pregnancy
16) Ovarian ligament - what is the role of this structure?
Attaches each ovary to the pelvic sidewall
17) Cervix – Where is this located in relationship to the uterus and
vagina?
The cylinder-shaped neck of tissue that connects the vagina and
uterus

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 18) Vagina – What type of epithelial tissue lines the vagina? Why is
this so? Vaginal epithelial

19) Clitoris
20) Labia majora and minora

Clinical Connection:
The uterine tubes can be ligated, “tied” to prevent pregnancy. How would ligation
of the uterine tubes prevent pregnancy?

B. Urinary System

1) Right and left kidneys - note their difference in position in the

cadaver.
Left kidney is at the vertebral level and right is slowly lower
2) Renal artery and vein – what major vessels do these arise
from/connect to?
They connect to the abdominal aorta
3) Right and left ureters – where in the kidney do these collect urine
from? Where is the urine delivered to?
From the renal pelvis, and they move urine into the bladder
4) Bladder - note the position of the bladder in the pelvic cavity.

a. What type of epithelial tissue lines the bladder? How does

this relate to its function?
Specialized stratified epithelium

C. Kidneys

1) Hilus – Where else in the body did you find a hilus? What is the
significance of this structure? List the structures that emerge
from/enter the hilus.
You can find a hilus in the kidney
2) Capsule of the kidney – What is the purpose of this structure?
What type of tissues is it composed of?
It helps support the kidney mass and protects the vital tissue from
injury. It is composed of fibrous protein tissue
3) Medulla and cortex of the kidneys – Which is the innermost layer?
What is the functional significance of the nephrons in the kidney
medulla?
The nephron actively filters blood and generates urine
a. Renal pyramids
b. Renal columns

5) Renal pelvis – what structures does this collect filtrate from?

From the medulla.

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 6) Major and minor calyces
7) Renal papilla
D. Nephron of the Kidney

Use the nephron image (from above) and your textbook and lecture slides to
discuss the function of the kidney. Describe where filtration, reabsorption and
secretion of water, minerals and other substances would occur.

1) Glomerulus - what is the role of this structure?

To filter plasma in order to produce glomerular filtrate which
passes down the length of the nephron
2) Proximal convoluted tubule – describe the activities that occur in
this region. How much water is reabsorbed in this area of the
nephron?
Segment of the nephron in the kidneys which begins from the
renal pole of the Bowman’s capsule
3) Nephron loop
a. Descending limb

b. Ascending limb

i. Which limb is impermeable to water? Why is this

important?
The ascending limb
ii. What is the role of the nephron loop in the ability of
the kidney to
reabsorb water?
Its main function is to reabsorb water and sodium
chloride from the filtrate

4) Collecting duct – what is the function of this area?

Questions for Review:

1. Describe the position of the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and reproductive

organs in the abdominal cavity. Are they intraperitoneal, or retroperitoneal?
The kidneys lie retroperitoneally in the abdomen, the ureters are attached to
each kidney, the upper half is located in the abdomen and the lower half is
located in the pelvic area.
2. Which organs are contained within the true pelvis?
The pelvic cavity predominantly contains the urinary bladder, the colon, and
the internal reproductive organs.
3. What role does the kidneys play in regulating blood pressure? How does this
represent several systems of the body working together?
Kidneys help keep blood pressure in a healthy range.
4. Can you write out the correct order of filtrate/urine from the renal corpuscle
to the bladder? Try to do so in order to connect the internal microanatomy of

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 the kidney with the grossly visible internal and external structures. As you go
along, think about what is happening at each location in order to create urine.
The process is called secretion, the secreted ions combine with the remaining
filtrate and become urine, the urine flows out of the nephron tubule into a
collecting duct, which passes out of the kidney through the renal pelvis, into
the ureter, and down to the bladder.
5. Look back on the diagrams of the reproductive cycle. Why does hormonal
birth control, which contains progesterone (and sometimes, estrogen),
prevent pregnancy?
The progestin in the pills has several effects in the body that help prevent
pregnancy, the mucus in the cervix thickens making it difficult for sperm to
enter the uterus and fertilize an egg.
On Sex, Gender, Sexuality and Identity: Additional Information and Resources:

● Sex, gender and identity are all considered spectrums. Western society has
traditionally treated these categories as binaries (i.e. sex is male or female;
gender is man or woman), however many people do not identify with one
term or the other. https://www.genderspectrum.org/quick-
links/understanding-gender/
● Gender is one’s identity as man, woman, both or neither man nor woman.
Gender refers to socially and culturally constructed roles, behaviors and
attributes considered appropriate for males and females in a given society
and is often based on one’s assigned sex at birth.
● People are assigned a sex at birth based on their chromosomal profile and
genitalia, but may not identify with that label throughout their lives.
● As many as 1.7% of people are born intersex, with non-binary external,
internal, hormonal and/or chromosomal variation.
● “Normalizing” genital surgeries and hormone therapy are often conducted on
intersex infants and children: http://www.isna.org/faq/what_is_intersex

For more information:

www.genderbread.org
www.isna.org
www.genderspectrum.org
https://www.nature.com/news/sex-redefined-1.16943#/spectrum