Ch. 12-Urinary System Flashcards
3 other names for urinary system
Excretory system, genitourinary system (GU), urogenital system (UG)
Urinary system is composed of:
Two kidneys, two ureters, one bladder, one urethra
Function of the urinary system
Produces, stores, and eliminates urine
Kidneys
Produce urine and help regulate and control body fluids
Ureters
Transport urine from the kidneys to the bladder, and the walls consist of an inner mucous membrane, a middle smooth muscle, and outer fibrous tissue
Urinary bladder
Serves as a reservoir for urine and consists of the neck (continuous with urethra) and the apex (connected with umbilicus)
Urethra
Passageway of urine to the outside of the body; male’s conveys urine and semen
Kidney location
Behind abdominal cavity on either side of T12 and lumbar region
3 Capsules that protect the kidney
True capsule
Perirenal fat
Renal fascia
True capsule
Innermost kidney capsule, smooth fibrous connective membrane
Perirenal fat
Middle kidney capsule, made of adipose
Renal fascia
Outermost capsule, anchors kidney to surrounding structure
Hilum
Notch in concave border of kidney
Renal pelvis
Saclike collecting portion of kidney, located in the concave border
Cortex of kidney
Outer layer, consists of arteries, veins, convicted tubules, and glomerular capsules
Medulla of kidney
Inner portion, consists of renal pyramids
Renal pyramids
Cone like masses with papillae projecting into calices of pelvis
Nephrons
Structural and functional unit of kidneys where urine production begins
Regulates, controls, and removes waste products of metabolism from blood plasma and regulates reabsorption of water
Renal corpuscle
Inside a nephron, consists of a glomerulus surrounded by the Bowman capsule
Tubule
Extends from each bowman capsule in the nephrons and consists of proximal and distal convoluted portions and the loop of Henle
Trigone
Small triangular area near the base of the bladder
Four Layers of Bladder Wall
Inner layer of epithelium
Coat of smooth muscle
Outer layer of longitudinal muscle
Fibrous layer
Urinary meatus
External urinary opening of urethra
Male urethra
20 cm long and conveys urine and semen, divided into prostatic, membranous, and penile sections
Female urethra
3 cm long, only conveys urine, urinary meatus is between clitoris and vaginal opening
How is urine formed?
Process of filtration and reabsorption in the nephron
Components of urine
95% water and 5% solid substances
When does an adult usually feel the need to void bladder?
When it contains 300-350 mL of urine
How much urine is voided daily?
1000-1500 mL
Normal urine is:
Clear, or yellow to amber in color, faintly aromatic and slightly acidic
Older adults have what urinary system changes?
Muscle tone loss in ureters, bladder, and urethra; reduced bladder capacity by half; frequent bathroom trips; and urge incontinence
Urinalysis
UA
Lab test that evaluates the different properties of urine, fresh specimen is more accurate
Cystitis
Inflammation of bladder that usually occurs secondary to UTI, frequently affects sexually active women but can also affect young girls and older adults
cyst bladder
-itis inflammation
Interstitial cystitis
IC
Painful inflammation of the bladder wall, affects mostly women. Unknown cause and doesn’t respond well to antibiotics
Blood urea nitrogen
BUN
Blood test, determines amt of urea excreted by kidneys