9.1 Overview of the Urinary System Flashcards
List five functions of the urinary system
- Filtering blood plasma
- Conserving nutrients
- Producing hormones
- Blood pressure/volume
- Blood pH/glucose
Which kidney is superior to the other? Why?
Left is superior to right; right is pushed down by liver
Which anatomical structures protect the kidneys?
- 11th and 12th ribs
- Visceral organs
- Fat
How long are kidneys? How much do they weigh?
- 10cm
- 150g
What structures pass through the renal hilum?
- Renal nerve
- Renal vein
- Renal artery
- Ureter
What are the three protective layers of the kidney?
- Fibrous capsule (collagen)
- Perinephric fat (adipose)
- Renal fascia (dense, fibrous outer layer; anchors to surrounding structures)
What occurs in the renal cortex?
- Filtration
- Reabsorption
- Removal of waste
What is the function of the renal medulla?
- Regulate concentration of urine
What does the renal sinus contain?
- Renal pelvis
- Renal calyces
- Blood vessels
- Fat
Where are the renal pyramids located? What is their function?
- Renal medulla
- Carry urine from cortex to sinus
What is the apex of the renal medulla called? In what direction do they face?
- Renal papilla
- Faces sinus
Where are the renal columns located? What is their function?
- Adrenal medulla
- Separate renal pyramids
What do renal lobes consist of?
- Renal cortex
- Renal pyramid
- Adjacent renal columns
What is the function of renal lobes?
- Produce urine
Describe the passage of urine to the bladder
- Renal papilla
- Minor calyces (collects from single lobe)
- Major calyces (fusion of 4-5 minor calyces)
- Renal pelvis (funnel; continuous with ureter)
- Ureter drains to bladder (peristaltic wave every 30 sec)
How long are ureters, where are they relative to the peritoneum, and what are they attached to?
- 25-30cm long
- Retroperitoneal
- Attached to posterior abdominal wall
What are the two histological layers of the ureters?
- Mucosa
- Muscularis
What type of epithelium lines the mucosa of the ureters?
- Urothelium
- Stratified Transitional epithelium
- Cuboidal <-> Squamous
Describe the muscularis of the upper two thirds of the ureters
- Two layers of smooth muscle
- Inner longitudinal, outer circular
Describe the muscularis of the lower third of the ureters
- Inner longitudinal
- Middle circular
- Outer longitudinal
What is avg bladder capacity?
700-800mL
What type of epithelium lines the bladder?
- Urothelium
- Stratified Transitional (cuboidal/squamous)
What structures of the bladder allow it to stretch?
Rugae (much like the stomach)
Describe the muscularis of the bladder
- Helps expel urine
- Inner longitudinal
- Middle circular
- Outer longitudinal
What type of muscle is in the external bladder sphincter?
Skeletal
Length of urethra in males/females (+ transport disparities)
- Male: 20-25cm
- Female: 4cm
- Males: also transports semen
Describe the mucosal epithelium of the urethra
[All stratified]
Proximal: Transitional
Middle: Columnar
Distal: Squamous (like skin)
Describe the muscularis of the urethra
Proximal: two layers of smooth muscle (inner: longitudinal, outer: circular)
Distal: Some skeletal for voluntary control
List three ions that the urinary system regulates the conc of
- Na+
- Cl-
- K+
List two hormones that the urinary system produces
- Erythropoetin (EPO)
- Calcitriol (CA2+ absorption in GIT)
