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Urinary System > Intro to Urinary System > Flashcards

Intro to Urinary System Flashcards

1
Q

What four structures are part of the urinary system?

A
  • Kidneys
  • Ureters
  • Urinary bladder
  • Urethra
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2
Q

Why is the urinary system important?

A
  • Removes metabolic waste via filtration and excretion
  • Regulates plasma electrolytes and blood pressure
  • Stabilises the pH
  • Resorption of small molecules - AA, Glc
  • Produces erythropoietin (stimulant of RBC production)
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3
Q

How are the kidneys peritonised?

A

Retroperitonised, but partially because organs lie across it

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4
Q

What are the important structures within the kidney?

A

Interior arranged into outer cortex layer and inner medulla.

  • Medulla
  • Pyramid
  • Papilla
  • Minor calyx
  • Major calyx
  • Pelvis
  • Ureter
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5
Q

What are the different constrictions of the ureter?

A
  • Ureter passes over inferior renal pole (abdominal)
  • Ureter cross over external iliac vessels (pelvic)
  • Ureter traverses the bladder wall (intramural)
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6
Q

How are vessels arranged at the hilum of the kidneys?

A

Front to back:

Vein -> artery -> renal pelvis

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7
Q

How do you renal arteries branch after they enter the hilum of the kidneys?

A
  • Segmental branches (x5)
  • Interlobar
  • Arcuate branches pass around the circumference
  • Intralobular branches which ultimately supply each nephron
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8
Q

What is the lymphatic drainage of the kidneys?

A

Lateral aortic lymph nodes

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9
Q

What is the nerve supply to the kidneys?

A

Renal plexus:
o Sympathetic: T10-L1 and coeliac plexus
o Sensory afferent: T11-L2

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10
Q

What is the epithelium of the bladder?

A

Transitional epithelium

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11
Q

What is the peritonisation of bladder?

A

Only superior surface is covered

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12
Q

What is the epithelium of the urethra?

A

Stratified columnar epithelium

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13
Q

What is the nerve supply of the urethra?

A
  • Somatic supply to pelvic organs – pudenal nerve (S2, 3, 4)
  • Sympathetic nerves control neck of bladder to allow urine flow – hypogastric nerve (T12-L2)
  • Pelvis splanchnic nerve (S2, 3, 4 ) to the muscle around bladder, contracts to squeeze urine out
  • Bladder full -> sympathetic neck and parasympathetic contracts
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14
Q

As the urethra is also an exit route for semen in males, how does it not end up mixing with urine?

A

Parasympathetic nerves constrict internal sphincter

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15
Q

What are the four parts of the male urethra?

A
  • Pre-prostatic (intramural) - internal urethral orifice
  • Prostatic - passes through prostate gland + contains opening of vas deferens
  • Membranous
  • Spongy
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16
Q

What is the widest part of the male urethra?

A

Prosthatic part

17
Q

What is the narrowest part of the male urethra?

A

Membranous part

18
Q

What is the longest part of the male urethra?

A

Spongy part of urethra

19
Q

What vessels supply the urinary bladder?

A
  • Branches of the internal iliac artery

* Drains into the internal iliac veins

20
Q

What is the lymphatic drainage of the urinary bladder?

A
  • External iliac lymph nodes: suprapubic part

* Internal iliac lymph nodes: infrapubic part

21
Q

What is the nerve supply of the urinary bladder?

A
  • Sympathetic T11-L2 – constricts internal urethral sphincter
  • Parasympathetic S2-4 – motor to detrusor muscle and also to internal urethral sphincter
  • Afferent/sensory: pain/distention of bladder goes via parasympathetic fibres
  • Somatic: pudendal nerve (external urethral sphincter) – voluntary control
22
Q

What is the nephron?

A

Renal corpuscles + renal tubules

23
Q

What is the renal corpuscle?

A

Glomerulus + bowmen’s capsule

24
Q

Describe the histology of the cortex

A
  • Renal corpuscles
  • Prox and distal convoluted tubules
  • Collecting tubule
25
Q

Describe the histology of the medulla

A
  • Prox and distal convoluted tubules
  • Loop of Henle (thin, squamous epithelium)
  • Collecting tubule
26
Q

Describe the histology of the ureter

A
  • Transitional epithelium
  • Star shaped lumen
  • Inner longitudinal smooth muscle
  • Outer circular SM
27
Q

Describe the histology of the bladder

A
  • Transitional epithelium
  • Inner longitudinal SM
  • Middle circular SM
  • Outer longitudinal SM
28
Q

What are five pathologies of the urinary system

A
  • Urinary tract infection (UTI)
  • Glomerulonephritis
  • Kidney stone/renal calculi
  • Kidney failure and dialysis
  • Urinary incontinence (common after child birth, old age and in females)
29
Q

What are the important markers of kidney disease?

A
  • High protein (albumin) level in the urine – proteinuria
  • Glomerular filtration rate (GFR)
  • Increased level of serum creatinine/urea in the blood

Urinary System (31 decks)

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