526 CHAP TER 14 UR R S ST M V p U CTUR

RADIOGRAP HIC 
ANATOMY

Urinary Sys te m S upra re na l
Radiographic examinations of the urinary system are among the (a dre na l) gla nd
common contrast medium procedures performed in radiology
departments. The urinary system consists of two kidneys, two
ureters (u-re′-ter1 or yoo-ret′-er2 ), one urinary bladder, and one Le ft kidne y
urethra (u-re′-thrah 1 or yoo-re′-thra 2 ) (Fig. 14.1).
Le ft ure te r
OT : Determine which of the possible pronunciations of these terms is
(are) most common in your region.

The two kidneys and the ureters are organs that lie in the ret-
roperitoneal space. These two bean-shaped organs lie on either
side of the vertebral column in the most posterior part of the Urina ry bla dde r
abdominal cavity. The right kidney is generally slightly lower or more
inferior than the left because of the presence of the liver. Superior Ure thra
and medial to each kidney is a su rarenal (adrenal) gland. These
Rig ht Le ft
important glands of the endocrine system are located in the fatty
capsule that surrounds each kidney. Fig. 
14.1 Urinary system, anterior view.
Each kidney is connected to the single urinary bladder by its
own ureter. Waste material, in the form of urine, travels from the
kidneys to the bladder via these two narrow tubes, termed ureters.
The saclike urinary bladder serves as a reservoir that stores urine
until it can be eliminated from the body via the urethra.
The Latin designation for kidney is ren, and renal is an adjective S ple e n Live r
that is commonly used to refer to the kidney.

K S
The various organs of the urinary system and their relationship
to the bony skeleton are shown from the back in Fig. 14.2 and
from the left side in Fig. 14.3. The posteriorly placed kidneys lie in
the upper posterior abdomen on either side of the vertebral column.
The right kidney is positioned posterior to the lower portion of the
liver. The left kidney is positioned posterior to the inferior border
of the s leen (see Fig. 14.2). The lower rib cage thus forms a
protective enclosure for the kidneys.
Le ft Rig ht
UR T RS
Most of each ureter lies anterior to its respective kidney. The ureters Fig. 
14.2 Urinary system, posterior view.
follow the natural curve of the vertebral column. Each ureter initially
curves anteriorly, following the lumbar lordotic curvature, and then
curves posteriorly on entering the pelvis. After passing into the Ante rio r Po s te rio r
pelvis, each ureter follows the sacrococcygeal curve before entering Le ft kidne y
the posterolateral aspect of the bladder.

UR THR
14 The urethra connects the bladder to the exterior. The urethra exits Le ft ure te r
from the body inferior to the symphysis pubis.
The entire urinary system is posterior to or below the peritoneum.
The kidneys and ureters are retroperitoneal structures, whereas the
bladder and urethra are infraperitoneal structures.
Urina ry bla dde r

Ure thra

Fig. 
14.3 Urinary system, lateral view.