genitourinary system Flashcards
(246 cards)
1
Q
what is the region below the pelvic floor called?
A
perineum
2
Q
what structure extends from perineum?
A
- external genitalia
3
Q
what can the pelvis be divided into?
A
- greater (false) and lesser (true) pelvis based on bony pelvis
lesser = pelvic cavity
4
Q
what is the purpose of the female reproductive system?
A
- conceiving
- developing the offspring
5
Q
what does the female reproductive system consist of?
A
- vagina
- uterus
- uterine (Fallopian tubes)
- ovaries
6
Q
where do the organs of reproduction sit?
A
- lesser pelvis
7
Q
what is the purpose of the main reproductive system?
A
- introduction of male sex cell into female reproductive system
8
Q
what are the internal organs of the male reproductive system?
A
- testes
- epididymides
- ductus deferentes
- seminal vesicles
- ejaculatory ducts
- prostate
- bulbourethral glands
9
Q
where do the testes sit?
A
- outside the body in the scrotum
10
Q
where do the rest of the components sit?
A
- within lesser pelvis
11
Q
what does the urinary system consist of?
A
- paired kidneys
- ureters (left and right)
- muscular urinary bladder
- urethra
12
Q
where do these structures sit?
A
- abdomen
- pelvic cavity
- extend into perineum/external genitalia
13
Q
what is the purpose of the urinary system?
A
- excretion of urea and other toxins
- maintenance of blood volume and osmolarity
14
Q
what are the functions of the kidneys?
A
- excrete most the waste products of metabolism
- filter the blood
- remove waste
- produce urine
- control water volume, ion concentrations
- maintain acid/base balance of blood
15
Q
what is the outer layer of the kidneys?
A
- cortex
16
Q
what is the inner layer of the kidneys?
A
- medulla
17
Q
what is the function of nephrons?
A
- in cortex and medulla
- filter waste products from blood, forming urine
18
Q
what do the pyramids of the cortex drain into?
A
- minor calyces
19
Q
what do the major calyces drain into?
A
- renal pelvis
- empties through ureters towards bladder
20
Q
what is the renal pelvis?
A
- funnel formed from ureter leaving the kidney
21
Q
what is the point where structures enter/exit the kidney known as?
A
- hilum
22
Q
what structures enter/exit kidney through hilum?
A
- renal vein
- renal artery
- ureter
- lymphatics and sympathetics
23
Q
what is the nephron?
A
- functional unit of the kidney
24
Q
where does blood enter kidneys for filtration?
A
- through glomeruli
25
what are the glomeruli contained within?
- bowman capsule
26
what occurs at the bowmans capsule?
- constituents of plasma filtered out the blood
- large molecules remain in, water and waste leave
27
what molecules are absorbed?
- glucose
- ions
28
what its reabsorbed in the proximal convoluted tubule?
- glucose
- ions
- anything useful to body
29
what is absorbed in loop of Henle?
- water
30
what occurs in distal convoluted tubule?
- any waste not filtered out in capsule is secreted into lumen of nephron
31
what is reabsorbed in the collecting duct?
- water and ions
32
what does reabsorption in collecting duct control?
- volume of urine produced
33
where is antidiuretic hormone released from?
- posterior pituitary
34
what does antidiuretic hormone do?
- makes collecting duct more permeable
- allows reabsorption of water
35
what supplies the blood to the kidney?
- renal arteries
36
what are renal arteries?
- two large branches of abdominal aorta
- arise below level of L1.
37
what do renal arteries divide into?
- afferent arterioles which feed into glomeruli
38
where do efferent arterioles go?
- run from glomeruli and wrap around nephron
39
what are the arteries around the loop of Henle called?
- vasa recta
40
what do the vasa recta do?
- drain into renal veins
- which empty into inferior vena cava
41
where are the kidneys located?
- retroperitoneally (behind the peritoneum) on posterior body wall
- one either side of vertebral column
sit at level of T12 to L3 vertebrae
42
what are the kidneys partially protected by?
ribs 11 - 12
43
which kidney lays lower?
- right kidney
44
why does the right kidney lay lower?
- due to large right lobe of liver
45
what do the kidneys look like?
- red/brown in colour
- oval in shape
46
how are kidneys related to diaphragm?
- inferiorly
- allows to separate from pleural cavities and 12th ribs
47
what are both kidneys related to?
- superiorly to suprarenal or adrenal glands
48
what is the right kidney related to?
anteriorly to:
- liver
- duodenum
- ascending colon
49
what is the left kidney related to?
- stomach
- spleen
- pancreas
- jejunum
- descending colon
50
where are the adrenal glands located?
- superior aspect of each kidney
51
what do adrenal glands do?
- produce body chemical messengers (adrenaline & steroid)
52
what hormones are secreted from the adrenal cortex?
- cortisol (glucocorticoid)
- aldosterone (mineralocorticoid)
- sex hormones (gonadocorticoids)
53
what hormones are secreted from the adrenal medulla?
- adrenaline (epinephrine)
- noradrenaline (norepinephrine)
54
how are congenital abnormalities caused?
- by abnormal development of the kidneys and ureters in foetus
55
what is a bifid renal pelvis?
- duplex kidney with duplication of renal pelvis and a common ureter
56
where do bifid ureters usually join?
- along their course as separate entrances to the bladder are uncommon
57
where are the kidneys located in embryonic development?
- close together in pelvis
58
what is a horseshoe kidney?
- when inferior ends fuse
- U shaped kidney
- lies lower than normal kidneys
59
what is the medical term for kidney stones?
- renal calculi
60
what are kidney stones?
- mainly crystal aggregations that form in collecting ducts of kidneys
- may be deposited anywhere from kidney to urethra
61
what are the symptoms of stones in kidney?
- loin pain
62
what are the symptoms of stones in ureter?
- renal colic
63
what symptoms are kidney stones generally associated with?
- nausea
- vomitting
64
what are kidney stones caused from?
- dehydration
- diet
- have numerous predisposing illnesses
65
what are the ureters?
- two muscular tubes that empty urine from their respective kidneys and carry to urinary bladder
66
what do the walls of the ureters consist of?
- three layers of smooth muscle fibres
67
what do the smooth muscle fibres do?
- spiral around the tube
- aid peristaltic contractions that force urine into bladder
68
where are the ureters located?
- descend from kidneys
- behind peritoneum
- enter the pelvis
69
what happens when bladder is full or contracting?
- smooth muscle fibres act as valves and prevent urinary reflux into ureters
70
what are the three regions where the ureters narrow?
1. at junction between ureters and renal pelvis
2. where ureters cross brim of pelvic bone
3. in entrance of ureters into bladder
71
what are kidney stones?
- condensations of minerals that can occur in calices of kidneys or ureters
72
where can the calices cause blockages?
- ureters
73
what is the purpose of the bladder?
- temporary reservoir for urine
74
what are the properties of the bladder?
- can vary in size, shape, relations and position according to content and state of neighbouring viscera
75
what are the 3 layers of the bladder walls?
1. internal
2. middle
3. external
76
what do these 3 layers form?
- detrusor muscle
77
what are the alignments of the fibres in the layers?
- internal and external = longitudinal directional
- middle = roughly circular direction
78
what is the bladder musculature?
- distorted continuation of 3 layers of spiral smooth muscle that surround the ureters
79
what is the urinary system lined with?
- specialised epithelium
- transitional epithelium
- urothelium
80
what are the purposes of these cells?
- can stretch, shift over one another and flatten
- 1-2 cells thick in empty bladder, 5-6 cells thick in full
81
what are the properties of non distended urothelium?
- cuboidal basal layer
- polygonal celled middle layers
- tall columnar cells in surface layer
82
where does an empty bladder sit in adults?
- anteriorly in lesser pelvis
- inferior to peritoneum
83
where does a full bladder sit in adults?
- extends superiorly in extraperitoneal fat of anterior body wall
84
where does the bladder sit in infants?
- abdomen when full and empty
85
what is found at the junction between the bladder and the urethra?
- smooth muscle sphincter (internal urethral sphincter)
86
what is the smooth muscle sphincter controlled by?
- autonomic innervation
87
is the internal urethral sphincter found in males or females?
- males
88
what is the function of the internal urethral sphincter?
- prevents ejaculatory reflux of semen into bladder
89
what is the urethra?
- continuation of smooth muscle of the bladder
- contains skeletal muscle sphincter (external urethral sphincter)
90
what control is the external urethral sphincter under?
- voluntary control
91
what is the urethra?
- muscular walled tube through which urine is expelled from bladder during urination
92
what is the function of the urethra in males?
- transports sperm and semen
93
what other structures are present in female urethra?
- vaginal opening
- urethral opening (external urethral orifice)
94
what is the appearance of the urethra in females?
- short
- straight
95
how does this differ to structure in males?
- longer
96
what 4 parts can the male urethra be split into?
1. pre prostatic (intramural)
2. prostatic
3. membranous (intermediate)
4. penile (spongy)
97
why are urinary tract infections (UTIs) more common in females?
- female urethra length is shorter
- proximity to the anus
98
what are UTIs?
- urinary tract infections
- includes bladder, urethra or kidneys
99
what are the symptoms of UTIs?
- pain when urinating
- needing to urinate more often
- lower abdomen pain
- changes to urine (blood or cloudiness)
100
what are the potential causes of UTIs?
- sexual intercourse
- pregnancy
- blockages within urinary tract (kidney stones)
- not drinking enough fluids
- not keeping the genital region clean and dry
101
what treatment is used for UTIs?
- antibiotics
102
what are the female reproductive organs (gonads)?
- ovaries
103
what are the properties of overies?
- homologous to testes in males
- in female pelvis
- left and right
104
where do the ovaries develop?
- high in posterior abdominal wall
- descend before birth bringing vessels and nerves with them
105
where do the ovaries stop descending?
- lateral wall of pelvic cavity
- lie inferior to pelvic inlet within peritoneum
106
what is the appearance of the ovaries?
- almond shape and size
- suspended in mesovarium
107
what are the ovaries the site of?
- ovum release
- production and release of female sex hormones oestrogen and progesterone
108
how many ova are females born with?
- infinite number
109
what happens to number of ova over time?
- hae set lifespan
- undergo apoptosis or programmed cell death
- decline over time
110
what happens at around 50 years old?
- ova begin to run out
- menstrual cycle becomes erratic
- fertility declines
111
what does loss of ova cause?
- decreased amount of sex hormones
- responsible for symptoms of menopause
112
what occurs in menopause?
- sexual organs atrophy
- breast tissue atrophies
- skin becomes thinner
- hot flushes
113
what is the uterus?
- muscular
- pear shaped organ
114
where is uterus located?
- lesser pelvis
115
what is the uterus the site of?
- implantation of blastocyst
- subsequent growth of embryo
116
where is the uterus located?
- body of uterus lies on superior surface of empty urinary bladder
117
what is the location of the uterus?
- normally anteverted
- tipped anteriorly relative to vagina
- ante flexed
118
what is the structure of the uterus?
- in non pregnant = 7.5cm long, 5cm broad, 2cm thick
- enlarges during pregnancy
119
what 2 parts can the uterus be divided into?
1. body
2. the cervix
120
what is the body of the uterus?
- upper 2/3
- 2 divisions: fundus (rounded roof of uterus) and isthmus (narrow, superior to cervix)
121
what is the cervix?
- cylindrical canal that projects into vagina
122
what are the 3 layers of the wall of the body of the uterus?
1. perimetrium
2. myometrium
3. endometrium
123
what does the perimetrium consist of?
- thin layer of connective tissue
- outer layer
124
what does the myometrium consist of?
- smooth muscle
- middle layer
125
what does myometrium provide?
- contractile strength required during labour and menstruation
- contains main branches of blood vessels and nerves
126
what does the endometrium consist of?
- mucous lining of uterus proliferates and degenerates in menstrual cycle
127
what is the function of endometrium?
- provides site for implantation during pregnancy
128
what does the uterus rely on for support?
- muscles (pelvic floor etc.)
- connective tissues (uterosacral ligaments)
129
what is the purpose of the uterine tubes?
- connect uterus to the ovaries
130
where do the tubes extend?
- laterally from uterus
- end in finger-like fimbrae
131
what is the function of the finger like fimbrae?
- waft released ova into open end of tube
132
what is the function of the cilia?
- line the tubes
- aid movement of ova into uterus
133
where does fertilisation occur?
- uterine tubes
134
where does the uterus sit?
- below peritoneum
135
where do the uterine tubes pass through?
- tissue layer
- open into peritoneal cavity (small distance from ovaries)
136
where is the direct passage from the peritoneal cavity to?
- external environment at opening of vagina
137
where does fertilisation of ovum occur?
- uterine tubes
138
where does implantation occur?
- lining of uterus
139
what is an ectopic pregnancy?
- implantation occurs in other place to uterus (eg. uterine tubes)
- won't progress to term
140
what happens when implantation occurs in uterine tubes?
- erodes walls resulting in rupture
- haemorrhage into peritoneum
141
what does this give rise to?
- severe abdominal pain
- tenderness
142
where can ectopic pregnancies occur?
- ovaries
- abdomen
- cervix
143
what is the cervix?
- opening to the uterus
144
what does the cervix form?
- canal from vagina to uterus
145
what is the cervical canal found between?
- internal and external os
146
what structures does the cervical canal guide?
- sperm to egg for fertilisation
- during labour, baby moves through dilated canal from uterus
- produces cervical mucus
- during menstruation, blood and uterine tissue exits into vagina
- where contraceptive methods act
147
what is the structure of the epithelium of the canal?
- squamos at internal os
- stratified at external os
(protects from acidic environments of vagina)
148
what is this area of tissue predisposed to?
- cancerous changes
149
what happens to cervix during adolescence?
- everts slightly
- brings squamous epithelium into contact with acidic environment of vagina
150
what does the change in pH stimulate?
- transformation of epithelium into more protective stratified epithelium within transformation zone
151
what does change in cellular composition increase?
- chances of cancerous cells developing
152
what is the purpose of a smear test?
- monitor epithelium of cervix for cancerous changes
153
what is cervical intraepithelial neoplasia?
- 3 levels exist
stage 1 = mild, unlikely to develop into cancer
stage 2 = moderate, 50% risk of cancerous
stage 3 = severe and encompasses the first stages of cervical cancer
154
what is the vagina?
- musculo-membranous tube that connects the uterus to the external genitalia
155
what does the superior end of vagina surround?
- cervix
156
where does inferior end open up into?
- vestibule (depression between labia minora)
157
what is the position of the vagina?
- collapsed
- anterior and posterior walls in contact
- held apart by cervix at superior end
158
what does the vagina run through?
- lesser pelvis
159
how are the vaginal fornices formed?
- the recession around the cervix
160
what is a speculum used for?
- to dilate vaginal canal, particularly during cervical screening
161
what is the vagina related to posteriorly?
- base of bladder and urethra
162
what is the vagina related to medially?
- pelvic muscles, fascia, urethra
163
what is the vagina related to anteriorly?
- anal canal
- rectum
- rectouterine pouch
164
what is the vulva?
- external genitalia of the female
165
what is the vulva made up of?
- external part of clitoris (glans)
- labia major and minora
- various skin folds
- vestibule
166
what is the clitoris?
- female homologue of penis
167
what is the clitoris made up of?
- erectile tissue
168
what is the clitoris formed of?
- body and glans
- formed respectively from crura of clitoris and bulbs of vestibule
169
what is the glans clitoris part of?
- external genitalia of the female
170
where do the other aspects of the clitoris sit?
- deep within the perineum
171
what happens at the ventral aspect?
- labia minora bisect and envelop clitoris
- anteriorly forms the prepuce (clitoral hood)- homologue to foreskin of penis
172
what is the labia majora?
- hair lined skin folds
173
what is the labia minora?
- hairless skin folds
174
where to the labia minora sit?
- medial to the labia majora
175
what is the vestibule?
- depression between labia minora
- where vaginal and urethral openings are located
176
what are the testes?
- firm, mobile, ovoid organs
- suspended in scrotum by spermatic cord
177
what are the testes covered by?
- fibrous coat called tunica albuginea
178
what is the function of the testes?
- to produce sperm and hormones (testosterone)
179
what is each testes divided into internally?
- lobules by fibrous septa
180
what lies within the lobules?
- seminiferous tubules
181
what do the tubules open into?
- network of channels called rete testis
182
what do the efferent ductules do?
- join rete testes to epididymis
183
what is the epididymis?
- long coiled tube that lies posterior to testes
- tightly compacted so appears solid
184
where does the epithelial cell height decrease from?
- head of epididymis at superior end of testis to tail of epididymis
185
what does the length of the epididymis act as?
- storage
- maturation site for spermatozoa
186
what is the tail of the epididymis continuous with?
- ductus deferens that passes into spermatic cord
187
what is the tunica vaginalis?
- double layer of connective tissue
- closed peritoneal sac
188
what is the visceral layer closely applied to?
- testis
- epididymis
- inferior part of ductus deferens
189
what does the parietal layer extend further than?
- visceral layer
- reaches into distal spermatic cord
190
what does fluid in the cavity between layers allow?
- reduced friction
- testis to move freely
191
what is the spermatic cord?
- suspends testis in scrotum
- contains structures running to and from testis
192
what is the spermatic cord covered by?
- internal spermatic fascia
- cremasteric fascia
- external spermatic fascia
193
what are these derived from?
- layers of abdominal wall as testis passes through as descends into scrotum in early childhood
194
what does the spermatic cord consist of?
- ductus deferens (carrying sperm)
- blood vessels (supplying and draining testicular blood)
- sympathetic and somatic nerves
- lymphatic vessels
195
what is the ductus deferens?
- continuation of epididymis
196
what is the location of the ductus deferens?
- in spermatic cord into abdominal cavity
- loops over ureter and descends posterior to urinary bladder
197
what does the ductus deferens combine with?
- seminal vesicle to form ejaculatory duct
198
what are the purposes of the accessory structures of the male reproductive tract?
- producing seminal fluid
199
what is the purpose of seminal fluid?
- help sperm survive in female reproductive tract
200
what percentage of volume is sperm of seminal fluid?
- 1%
201
what are the seminal vesicles?
- obliquely placed elongated glands
- around 5cm long
202
where do the seminal vesicles lie?
- posteroinferior to bladder
- anterior to rectum
- inferior to peritoneum
203
what do the seminal vesicles produce?
- 60-70% of final volume of seminal fluid
- secrete components of seminal fluid that combine with sperm as pass into ejaculatory ducts
204
what is the acidity of the fluid produced by the seminal vesicles?
- alkaline fluid
- protects sperm from acidic nature of female reproductive tract
205
what does the fluid also contain?
- fructose (energy)
- prostaglandins
- coagulation factors
206
what is the function of prostaglandins in the fluid?
- lower female immune response to seminal fluid
- improves sperm motility to uterine tubes
207
what is the function of coagulation factors in the fluid?
- coagulate seminal fluid
- helps to deliver sperm as directly as possible to the cervix
208
what are the ejaculatory ducts?
- short tubes (2.5cm long)
- arise from combination of ductus deferens and ducts of seminal vesicles
209
where do the ejaculatory ducts rise?
- near neck of the bladder
- pass through posterior part of prostate
210
what is the prostate gland?
- 3cm long
- largest accessory gland
211
what is the base of the prostate gland closely related to?
- neck of bladder
212
what is the anterior surface deep to?
- pubic symphysis
213
what is the posterior surface closely related to?
- rectum
214
what do the prostatic ducts open into?
- prostatic urethra
215
what is the prostatic fluid?
- thin
- milky
- supplies 20-25% of volume of semen
- secretions aid sperm mobility
216
where do the bulbourethral glands lie?
- inferior to prostate gland at level of membranous urethra
217
where do the bulbourethral glands ducts open into?
- penile/spongy urethra sooner after external urethral sphincter
218
what is the composition of the secretion from the bulbourethral glands?
- transparent
- viscous
- adds volume to the semen
219
what do these glands produce?
- pre ejaculate
- flushes out the urethra and acts as lubricant
220
what is prostatic hyperplasia?
- benign process
- prostate enlargement
- usually linked to ageing and changes in cells of testicles
221
what ages is presentation expected?
- 65-85
222
where does prostatic hyperplasia occur?
- centrally
223
where does malignancy occur?
- peripheral tissue
224
what are the characteristics of growth in malignancy?
- slow
- asymptomatic
- often death of unrelated causes
225
what are the symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) due to?
- enlarged gland pressing on other structures
226
what does bladder outlet obstruction cause?
- urinary retention
- hesitancy
- poor stream
- double voiding
227
what does prostate cancer present initially as?
- back pain from bony metastases to the spine
228
what do malignant growths feel like?
- nodular
- irregular
229
what do benign growths feel like?
- smooth
230
what does the penis contain?
- erectile tissue
231
what does the human sexual response cause?
- erectile tissues to fill with blood
- results in erection
232
what occurs during sexual intercourse?
- penis inserted into female reproductive tract
233
what occurs during ejuculation?
- sperm and seminal fluid are deposited into vaginal canal of female
234
what is the penis homologous to?
- clitoris
235
what is the penis made up of?
- root
- body
- glans
236
what is the root made up of?
- bulb of penis
237
where does the root of the penis sit?
- deep with perineum
238
what is the erectile tissue found in penis?
- corpus spongiosum
- corpora cavenosa
239
what is the corpus spongiosum?
- spongy tissue
- penile/spongy urethra travels through
240
what does the sponginess of the tissue avoid?
- occlusion of urethra during erection
241
where is the majority of penis and scrotum positioned?
- perineum
- sit externally
242
what does the scrotum house?
- testes
243
what is the frenulum?
- connects the skin from body of penis to glans penis
244
what is the foreskin or prepuce?
- fold of skin that covers the glans penis and can be retracted back
245
what is the gonad the embryological precursor of?
female = ovary
male = testis
246
what is the para the embryological precursor of?
