Urinary system

Dr. Udeshika Yapa Bandara

BSc. (Hons) Human Biology (USJP), PhD (UOC)
Learning Outcomes

At the end of the session, you should be able to;

• Explain functions of the kidney

• explain the processes involved in the formation of urine
• explain how body water and electrolyte balance is
maintained
 Functions of kidneys

• Maintain homeostasis of water

and electrolyte concentration
• Filter and remove
- toxins
- waste products of metabolism
- excess ions
• Urine – Consists of urea, uric
acid and excess ions
 Formation of urine

• Three processes
- Glomerular filtration
- Tubular reabsorption
- Tubular secretion
1. Glomerular filtration
- First step of urine formation
- Non-selective process
- Blood flow through the
glomerulus is under high
pressure
- Filter water, salts & other small
molecules, except blood cells &
some large protein molecules
- GFR is about 125 mL/min
- 99% of the filtrate reabsorb
into the blood
- Daily production of urine is
about 2 L
2. Tubular reabsorption

• Proximal convoluted tubule

- Selective process & reabsorbs;
- Glucose
- Na⁺
- Cl⁻
- K⁺
- Actively/passively transport
Osmotic pressure outside the tubules
Attract water out of the tubules & into the
blood 85% of the water & other materials
return to blood
• Descending limb of the loop of Henle
Reabsorption of water
Highly concentrated filtrate at the bottom Cortex
of the loop of Henle
• Ascending limb of the loop of Henle
More Na⁺ & Cl⁻ actively transported out of
tubules by special “pumps”
Na⁺ & Cl⁻ accumulates in the extracellular
spaces of the medulla
Drawing water out of the descending limb
• Collecting ducts
Attract water out of collecting duct (when
presence of ADH) Medulla

Osmolarity of medulla
3. Tubular secretion
- Mainly occurs in the
proximal convoluted tubule
- Substances which not filtered
out of the glomerulus into
the nephron are transported
from the blood vessels
surrounding the tubules and
released into the filtrate
- Concentration of secreted
substances is higher in the
urine than in the glomerular
filtrate
- Active/ Passive process
- Eg: Penicillin, Creatinine & H⁺
 Concentration of urine
• Glomerular filtrate - about 300 milliosmoles Conserve water
• Urine - about 1200 milliosmoles Remove waste materials

• ADH (released by hypothalamus) - Determine the final concentration of urine

• Na⁺ & Cl⁻ in tissue fluid of medulla Osmotic pressure in medulla

ADH
Volume of the urine Draws water out of DL & CD
Concentration

• Body fluid Inhibition of Loss of water

levels & BP ADH Osmolality
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_h0ZXx1lFw
 Regulation of acid - base balance by the kidney
• Acidification of urine
- Maintain H+ balance in the body
- H + secreted - PT, DT & CD
- PT - H+ is secreted by 2ndry active transport
Carbonic anhydrase in
brush border of PT cells
CO₂ + H₂O H₂CO₃ H + + HCO3⁻
- Each H+ secreted one Na⁺ & one HCO3- enter to interstitial fluid
- Maximal H+ to the lumen - Urine pH of 4.5 (Limiting pH)
Micturition / Urination
Expel of urine from bladder to outside of the body

Bladder filled with urine

Stretch receptors in the walls

Micturition reflex centre (in the spinal cord)

Parasympathetic signals

Rhythmic contraction of bladder wall

Internal sphincter open

Second reflex

External sphincter open

Questions:

1.Name 3 steps of formation of urine.

2. Describe the process of formation of urine in a healthy adult.