Chapter 26: The Urinary System Flashcards
Urinary System
Consists of 2 kidneys, 2 ureters, 1 urinary bladder and one urethra.
Nephrology
Study of anatomy, physiology and pathology of the kidneys.
Functions of Kidneys
- Regulate blood volume, compositions, blood pressure, pH and glucose levels
- Produce 2 hormones: calcitriol and erythropoietin
- Ureters transport urine from kidneys to bladder.
- Bladder stores urine and expels it into urethra.
- Urethra discharge urine from body.
- Excretes wastes in urine.
Kidneys
Reddish, kidney beans shaped organs located just above the waist between the peritoneum and the posterior wall of the abdomen.
Secretes: urea
Due to there position said to be retroperitoneal.
Has 3 layers of tissue: deep to superficial- renal capsule, adipose capsule, renal fascia.
Renal Capsule
Deep layer of kidney tissue
Smooth, transparent sheet of dense irregular CT that is continuous with the outer coat of the ureter.
Serves as barrier against trauma and helps maintain shape.
Adipose Capsule
Middle layer of kidney tissue.
Mass of fatty tissue surrounds the renal capsule.
Also protects the kidney from trauma.
Holds it firmly in place within the abdominal cavity.
Renal Fascia
Superficial layer of kidney tissue.
Thin layer of dense irregular CT that anchors the kidney to surrounding structures and to abd wall.
Renal Hilum
Found near the center of the concave border.
An indentation through which the urethra emerges from the kidneys along with blood vessels, lymphatic vessels and nerves.
Renal Cortex
One of two distinct regions of the kidney.
Superficial, light red region.
Is smooth texture red areas extending from the renal capsule to the bases of the renal pyramids.
Contains renal columns that are divided into outer and inner layer.
outer: cortical zone
inner: juxtamedullary zone
Renal Medulla
One of two district regions of the kidney.
Deep, darker reddish inner region.
Consists of several cone shaped renal pyramids.
Build up of urea can happen here due to urea recycling
Renal Pyramids
Found in renal medulla regions of kidney.
The base of each pyramid faces renal cortex.
Renal papilla is the apex of the pyramids.
Renal Columns
Portions of the renal cortex: cortical zone and juxtamedullary zone.
They extend between the renal pyramids.
Parenchyma
The renal cortex and renal pyramids of the renal medulla form this functional part of the kidney.
Contained within are function structures called nephrons that form filtered fluid called filtrate.
Nephrons
Found within the parenchyma.
These are functional units of the kidney.
Form filtrate.
About 1 million microscopic structures that filter fluid.
Papillary Ducts
Filtered fluid that is formed by the nephrons drains into these ducts.
They extend through the renal papillae of the pyramids.
Minor and Major Calyces
Cup like structures where papillary ducts drain into
Each kidney has 8-18 minor calyces or 2 to 3 major calyces.
A minor calyx recieves filtrate from papillary ducts of one renal papilla and delivers it to a major calyx.
Once the flitrate enters the calyces it becomes urine and no further reabsorption can occur.
Renal Pelvis
Single large cavity where urine drains from the major calyces.
From here the urine moves through the ureter to the urinary bladder.
Renal Sinus
Cavity within the kidney where the hilum expands into.
Contains part of the renal pelvis, the calyces and branches of the renal blood vessels and nerves.
Renal Arteries
These arteries recieve 20-25% of the resting cardiac output.
Renal Blood Flow
About 1200ml per min in adults. The blood flows through both kidneys.
Flow: interlobular arteries, arcuate arteries, glomerular capillaries, arcuate veins
Afferent Arterioles
Arteries radiate outer ward and enter the renal cortex where they branches off to form there arterioles.
Each nephron recieves one afferent arteriole.
Glomerulus
Filters blood.
Tangled ball shaped capillary network that is formed when the one afferent arteriole is received by the nephron.
These capillaries are unique because they are positioned between two arterioles rather than between an arteriole and a venule.
Efferent Arterioles
Formed when the glomerular capillaries reunite and carries blood out of the glomerulus.
Peritubular Capillaries
Form when the efferent arterioles divide.
They surround tubular parts of the nephron in the renal cortex.
Vasa Recta
Extend from efferent arterioles.
Long, loop shaped capillaries that supply tubular portions of the nephron in the renal medulla.
Renal Vein
Single veins where blood leaves the kidney.
Exits at the renal Hilum and carries venous blood to the inferior vena cava.
Renal Nerves
Orientate in the renal ganglion and pass through renal plexus into the kidneys along with the renal arteries.
Therese nerves are a part of the sympathetic division of the ANS.
Most nerves are Vasomotor nerves that regulate the flow of blood through the kidneys by causing vasodilation or vasoconstriction of renal arterioles.
Renal Corpuscle
One part of the nephron where blood plasma is filtered.
Two components: glomerulus (capillary network) and the glomerular capsule or Bowmans capsule (double walled epithelial cup that surrounds the glomerular capillaries).
Glomerular Caspule
Filters blood plasma.
Consists of:
1. visceral layer- modified simple squamous epi cells called podocytes. Foot-like projections that wrap around the single endothelial cells of the glomerular capillaries and form the inner wall of the capsule.
2. parietal layer - simple squamous epi, forms the outer wall of the capsule
Renal Tubule
One of two parts of the Nephrons.
When sunstance are excreted from these tubes that substance leaves the bloodstream.
Consist of 3 parts:
1. Proximal convoluted tubule (PCT) - part that is attached to the glomerular capsule. Reabsorbs mort of the sunstance.
2. Nephron loop or loop of henle
3. Distal convoluted tubule (DCT) - consists of principal cells. Contains peritubular capillaries for tubular secretion.
Part that is further away
Convoluted means: the tubule is tightly coiled rather than straight.
Collecting Duct (CD)
Single duct where the distal convoluted tubules empties.
These collecting ducts then unite and converge into Sertraline hundred large papillary ducts which drain into minor calyces.
Descending Limb of the Nephron
First part of the nephron loop.
Begins at the point where the proximal convoluted tubule takes its final turn downward.
Begins in the renal cortex and extends downward into the renal medulla.
Ascending Limb of the Nephron Loop
Where the nephron loop makes a hairpin turn and returns to the renal cortex where it terminated at the distal convoluted tubule.
Cortical Nephrons
About 80-85% of nephrons are cortical nephrons.
Their renal corpuscles lies in the outer portion of the renal cortex and they have a short nephron loop that lie mainly in the cortex and penetrate only into the outer region of the renal medulla.
Juxtamedullary Nephrons
The other 15-20% of nephrons.
Their renal corpuscles lie deep in the cortex close to the medulla and they have a long nephron loop that extends into the deepest region of the medulla.
Ascending limb of this nephron consists of 2 portions:
1. Thin ascending limb
2. Thick ascending limb.
The long loops enable the kidneys to excrete very dilute or very concentrated urine.
Capsular Space
Space between the two layers of the glomerular capsule.
Continuous with the lumen of the renal tubule.
Fluid from the glomerular capillaries enters this space.