Anatomy & Physiology of Humans 3440

Chapter 15

The Urinary System

Dr. J. Rex Lee

2020
 Kidney Functions

• Filter approximately 200 liters of blood daily, excreting

toxins, metabolic wastes and excess ions from the body in
urine

• Regulate volume and chemical makeup of the blood

• Production of renin to help regulate blood pressure and

erythropoietin to stimulate RBC production in the bone
marrow
 The Nephron

• Nephrons are the structural and functional units of the

urinary system/kidneys

• Glomerulus & Bowman’s Capsule

• The Renal Tubules

 The Nephron

• The Glomerulus – Meshwork of blood capillaries

• Bowman’s Capsule (Glomerular Capsule) – Beginning

of the Renal Tubule System
 Renal Tubules

• Proximal Convoluted tubule (PCT) –

- Reabsorbs water and solutes from filtrate and secretes
substances back into the PCT

• Loop of Henle (Nephron Loop) –

- Hairpin loop with descending and ascending arms
between the PCT and the distal convoluted tubule (DCT)
 Renal Tubules

• Distal Convoluted Tubule (DCT) –

Functions more in secretion than reabsorption. and
primarily under “Hormonal Control”.

• Collecting Duct –
Receives the filtrate from numerous nephrons
 Structure of Nephrons

Distal Convoluted
Bowman’s Tubule
(Glomerular)
Capsule
Proximal
Convoluted
Tubule
Glomerulus

Collecting Duct
Loop of Henle Thin Descending Limb
(Nephron Loop) Thick Ascending Limb
 Mechanisms of Urine Formation

• Urine formation and adjustment of

blood composition

• Three Major Processes

a) Glomerular Filtration
b) Tubular Reabsorption
c) Tubular Secretion
 Mechanisms of Urine Formation

Urine formation and

adjustment of blood
composition.

a) Glomerular Filtration
b) Tubular Reabsorption
c) Tubular Secretion
 Glomerular Filtration

• Glomerular filtration is a passive process

• No metabolic energy required

• Hydrostatic pressure forces fluids and solutes through the

filtration membrane into the Bowman’s (glomerular) Capsule
- The glomerulus can withstand higher pressure than those in the
tissue capillary beds, approximately 60mmHg, and the glomerulus is
also more permeable than in systemic capillary beds.
Efferent Glomerular capsular space
Arteriole
Blood leaving
after filtration

Afferent
Arteriole
Bringing blood in Proximal
to be filtered convoluted
tubule
Parietal layer
of glomerular
capsule
Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR)

• The total amount of filtrate formed per minute by

the kidneys

• Factors governing filtration rate at the capillary

bed are:
• Total surface area available for filtration
• Filtration membrane permeability
• Net filtration pressure (= Blood Pressure)
 Regulation of Glomerular Filtration

• Changes in GFR normally result from changes in blood pressure

• If The GFR Is To High:

• Needed substances cannot be reabsorbed quickly enough and are
lost in the urine (excreted)

• If The GFR Is To Low:

• Everything is reabsorbed back into the body, including wastes that
are normally disposed of
 Mechanisms of Urine Formation

• Urine formation and

adjustment of blood
composition.

a) Glomerular filtration
b) Tubular Reabsorption
c) Tubular Secretion
 Reabsorption From The Renal Tubules
and
Collecting Ducts

• Proximal Convoluted Tubule into Peritubular Capillaries

• Site of most reabsorption

• All nutrients, such as glucose and amino acids are reabsorbed back into the body

• 65% of Na+ and water reabsorbed

• Many ions

• About half of urea (later secreted back into filtrate)

Mechanisms of Urine Formation

• Urine formation and

adjustment of blood
composition.

a) Glomerular filtration
b) Tubular reabsorption
c) Tubular Secretion
 Tubular Secretion

• Essentially reabsorption in reverse, where substances move from

peritubular capillaries into filtrate

• Tubular secretion is important for:

• Disposing of substances not already in the filtrate

• Eliminating undesirable substances such as urea and uric acid

• Ridding the body of excess potassium ions

• Controlling blood pH
 Hormone Interaction

• Distal Convoluted Tubule and Collecting Duct

• Reabsorption is hormonally regulated in these areas

• Antidiuretic hormone (ADH)

• Aldosterone
• Parathyroid Hormone (PTH)
• Atrial Natriuretic Peptide
 Diuretics

• Diuretics include things that increase urinary output

• High Glucose - First in the blood and then in the urine. Works as an
osmotic diuretic and carries water out of the body (polyuria).

• Alcohol – Inhibits the release of ADH.

• Caffeine and most Diuretic Drugs – Inhibit sodium ion

reabsorption.
 Chemical Composition of Urine

• Urine is 95% Water and 5% Solutes (Ex. excess water soluble Na+,
Ca2+, K+)

• Nitrogenous wastes: Urea, Uric Acid and Creatinine need to be

excreted or they may release toxins in the body.

• Blood, Proteins & Glucose are abnormal in the urine & may indicate
pathology.