2.9.3 The Urinary System Flashcards
Name two key functions of the urinary system
1. To filter waste products from the blood and expel it from the body as urine
The urinary system consists of, what?
two kidneys (found at the back of the abdomen) joined to the bladder by two tubes called the ureters
Another tube, the urethra, carries, what?
carries urine from the bladder to outside the body
Each kidney is also connected to:
The renal artery which comes from the aorta and delivers oxygenated blood to the kidney
The renal vein which delivers the deoxygenated blood from the kidney to the vena cava
Exam Tip
Note the difference between the ‘ureter’ and the ‘urethra’.
These two names are commonly confused by students so take care to learn them and know which tube is which – they are NOT interchangeable
Describe the Kidney
Two bean-shaped organs that filter the blood
Describe the ureter
Tube connecting the kidney to the bladder
Describe the bladder
Organ that stores urine (excess water, salts and urea) as it is produced by the kidney
Describe the Urethra
Tube that connects the bladder to the exterior; where urine is released