32/33. Urinary System Flashcards
Functions of the urinary system
Storage and excretion of urine
Regulation of blood volume (directly regulator of blood pressure)
Regulation of ion levels (Ca+, Na+, K+)
Regulation of acid-base levels (H+)
Regulation of erythrocyte production (secretion of erythropoietin)
Function of erythropoietin and relation to kidney disease:
In response to a drop in tissue oxygen pressure (hypoxia), erythropoietin is produced by cells in the renal cortex
Pts with chronic kidney disease cannot filter toxins and accumulation of toxins effects availability of erythropoietin and ability to produce new red blood cells
Result is lowered oxygen availability in organ tissue and subsequent organ failure
Initial Embryonic development of urinary system
Urogenital system derives from embryonic tissue called intermediate mesoderm
As the intermediate mesoderm runs down the posterior abdominal wall of the developing embryo, it will begin to condense and form two bilateral ridges, Known as urogenital ridge
Pronephros develop from urogenital ridge and instigate mesonephros development
Urogenital system development by week 4
Mesonephros act as a temporary set of excretory organs
They are composed of multiple saclike segments
The mesonephric duct drains each mesonephros to the developing bladder
Mesonephros persist till week 10
What occurs at 5th week of urogenital system development
Metanephros develop and act as temporary set of excretory organs
They are fully functional by week 10 and take over as final excretory organ
They develop from ureteric buds and metanephric mesoderm
Ureteric buds develop into
Structures that will collect urine
Ureter, renal calyces, renal pelvis, and collecting ducts
Metanephric mesoderm develops into
Nephron components of kidney
Structures that will produce urine
Glomerular capsule, proximal convoluted tubule, nephron loop, distal convoluted tubule
Characteristics of indifferent duct system
All embryos develop an indifferent duct system
Genetics will determine which duct system is retained
Retention of mesonephric duct will result in development of penis, etc
Retention of paramesonephric duct results in develop,ent of uterus, etc
Organs of urinary system and their overall functions
Paired kidneys: filter waste from bloodstream and convert filtrate into urine
Ureters, urinary bladder, urethra: (urinary tract) transport the urine out of body
Location of kidneys and what gland is also found nearby
Superior border sits just below T12 vertebrae
Inferior border sit at about L3
Kidney is retroperitoneal
Suprarenal or adrenal gland sits atop each kidney
Right kidney sits slightly more inferior than left kidney
Kidney sits on posterior aspect of abdomen so easily accessible in surfery
How are kidneys supported?
Cushioned by two layers of fat
Characteristics and functions of fibrous capsule of kidney
Dense, irregular connective tissue
Maintains shape of kidney
Protects kidney from damage
Prevents infection from spreading
Concave medial border: hilum
Internal structure of kidney
Consists of cortex and medulla
Cortex is outer region that divides the medulla into pyramidal shaped regions called pyramids
Base of medulla forms the corticomedullary junction with the cortex
At the apex of the medulla is the papilla
Drainage of urine in medulla
Urine formed in medulla drains from papilla into minor calyx
Urine collecting in multiple minor calyces will drain into one major calyx
Components of the collecting system
Medulla produces urine
Papilla
Minor calyx
Major calyx
Renal pelvis
Ureter
Bladder
Primary function of kidney
Blood filtration
Blood supply to and from kidney
Blood carried to kidney by renal arteries which branch off the abdominal aorta
Renal veins bring deoxygenated blood back to IVC
Renal veins lie superior to arteries and are asymmetrical due to location of IVC
Left renal vein is longer than right and collects blood from left gonadal vein
Order of blood supply to the kidney
Renal artery
Segmental arteries (5 branch off)
Interlobar arteries: between pyramids
Arcuate arteries: across tops of pyramids
Cortical arteries: penetrate cortex and give off afferent arterioles
Afferent arterioles are smallest branches which create capillary balls called glomeruli
What is a nephron
Functional unit of the kidney
Components of nephron
Corpuscle: glomerulus and capsule
Proximal convoluted tubule
Nephron loop (of Henle)
Distal convoluted tubule
Collecting ducts
Nephrons form urine from three processes
Filtration, reabsorption, secretion