The Excretory/ Urinary

System

Lecture By:
Marri Jmelou M. Roldan, MSc.
Overview
Excretion is the removal of metabolic wastes from
the body.
The skin, lungs, liver, and kidneys remove metabolic
wastes.
Organs of the Excretory System

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Nitrogenous Wastes
• Ammonia
• Produced from the breakdown of amino acids.
• Converted by the liver to urea, a less toxic waste.
• Urea
• Most common nitrogenous waste
• Uric acid
• Formed from the breakdown of nucleic acids
• Creatinine
• Formed from the breakdown of creatine phosphate
 Blood volume
Role of kidney Excretion
control

• Excretion Ion
concentration pH regulation
• Regulation of blood volume regulation

• Delivery of urine from the body Red blood

cell
Vitamin D
synthesis
concentration
• Control of urine production
Kidneys function in multiple systems
• Vitamin D synthesis = skeletal system
• Renin and erythropoietin = cardiovascular
system and endocrine system
• Elimination of wastes = excretory systems
Components of the Urinary System
• 2 kidneys
• 2 ureters
• 1 urinary bladder
• 1 urethra
The Anatomy of the Kidney
The kidneys are retroperitoneal.
• Renal capsule—to protect kidney
• Perirenal fat capsule—also protects kidney
Renal fascia anchors the kidney to the posterior muscle
wall of the body’s abdomen.
 Upper Urinary Tract

Kidneys Ureters

Bladder
Perirenal fat
 The Anatomy of the Kidney
Each kidney has three layers: the renal
capsule, the renal cortex, and the renal
medulla.
• Pyramids are located in the renal
medulla.
Calyces collect urine from the pyramids
and deliver it to the renal pelvis.
The renal sinus is the space occupied
by the renal artery, renal vein, and renal
pelvis.
 Kidney Renal
Hilum
artery

Renal Renal
pelvis vein

Renal
Ureter
capsule
 Kidney Anatomy

Cortex Medulla Pyramids Papilla

Minor calyxes Major calyxes Pelvis Ureters

 Kidney Anatomy
Cortex Medulla

Pyramids Columns
 Papilla Sinuses Minor Major
calyces calyces

Ureter Renal
pelvis

Kidney
Anatomy
Anatomy of a Nephron
• functional unit of kidneys
• A nephron has two basic parts: the renal corpuscle and the
renal tubule.
• The renal corpuscle is composed of the glomerulus and the
glomerular capsule.
• The renal tubule is composed of the proximal convoluted
tubule, the nephron loop, and the distal convoluted tubule.
• The renal corpuscle and convoluted tubules are located in the
renal cortex.
Components of Nephron
Renal corpuscle:
structure that contains a Bowman’s capsule and glomerulus
Bowman’s capsule:
- enlarged end of nephron
- opens into proximal tubule
- contains podocytes
Glomerulus:
contains capillaries wrapped around it
Components of Nephron
Filtration membrane:
- in renal corpuscle
- includes glomerular capillaries, podocytes,
basement membrane

Filtrate:
fluid that passes across filtration membrane

Proximal tubule:
where filtrate passes first
Components of Nephron
Loop of Henle:
- contains descending and ascending loops
- water and solutes pass through thin walls
by diffusion

Distal tubule:
structure between Loop of Henle and collecting duct

Collecting duct:
- empties into calyces
- carry fluid from cortex through medulla
Jump to long description
Anatomy of a Nephron
• The nephron loop and collecting duct are located in the
pyramid.
• The juxtaglomerular apparatus is located between the
afferent arteriole, efferent arteriole, and distal convoluted
tubule.
Nephron

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Flow of Urine Components through a Nephron
• The components of urine flow:
1. Renal corpuscle
2. Proximal tubule
3. Descending loop of Henle
4. Ascending loop of Henle
5. Distal tubule
6. Collecting duct
7. Calyx
8. Renal pelvis
9. Ureter
The Renal Nephron and Associated Blood Vessels

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Blood Flow to a Nephron
Renal artery

Smaller arteries

Afferent arteriole

Glomerulus

Efferent arteriole

Peritubular capillaries

Venules

Larger veins

Renal veins
Anatomy of Ureters, Urinary Bladder, and Male and
Female Urethras
Ureters
• The ureters are retroperitoneal.
• The ureters deliver urine from the renal
pelvis to the urinary bladder.
• The ureters go posterior to the bladder
and enter the bladder at its base.
Anatomy of Ureters, Urinary Bladder, and Male and
Female Urethras
Urinary Bladder
• The urinary bladder is a storage sac with
smooth muscle in its walls.
• The trigone is a triangular area of the bladder
floor and is defined by the openings to the
ureters and the urethra.
• At the base of the urinary bladder, the
detrusor muscle thickens to form the
internal urinary sphincter.
The Urinary Bladder and Urethra (Female)
The Urinary Bladder and Urethra (Male)
Anatomy of Ureters, Urinary Bladder, and Male and
Female Urethras
Urethra
• The urethra delivers urine from the urinary bladder to
the outside.
• The urethra of a male is longer than that of a female.
• The urethra is surrounded by the external urinary
sphincter as it passes through the pelvic floor.
• The male urethra can be divided into three sections: the
prostatic urethra, the membranous urethra, and the penile
urethra.