Introduction To The Urinary System Flashcards
Describe the structure of the urinary system on diagram
On anki
The urinary system consists of….
Functions of each
– Paired Kidneys
• Filter blood plasma and form urine (absorption, secretion and concentration)
• Endocrine function eg erythropoietin hormone responsible for maturation of blood cells in BM
– Paired Ureters
• Act as conduits
– Urinary Bladder
• Storage of urine
– Urethra
• Urine passed to exterior
How many litres blood pass through kidneys?
how many of this is filtered by kidneys?
How much urine produced per day?
1000-2000
200-300
1-2
Describe the Location of urinary system
-kidneys
-ureters
-bladder
-urethra
Kidneys lie ventral to lumbar vertebrae, asymmetrically placed in some animals (L1-3, L2-4 in dogs) and L5 in
feline
• Retroperitoneal (sit outwith peritoneum), often embedded in fat
• Change position with respect to respiration
• Ureters leave renal hilus and penetrate the neck of the bladder just cranial to the
pelvic inlet
• Bladder is anchored in the pelvic inlet
• Urethra – associated with reproductive
• tracts hence called the urogenital system.
Describe mobility of left kidney compared to right -what about in feline?
Right kidney more mobile
-bot relatively mobile in feline
Urogenital System: The relationship between the female reproductive organs and the urinary organs Bitch and Dog
-describe placement of each structure on diagram
On anki*
Describe the right kidney topography in the bitch
-dorsal surface of kidney
-cranial pole
-medial surface
-lateral
-ventral surface
DIAGRAM ON ANKI*
Dorsal surface: L1-L3
Cranial pole: adrenal gland; liver (fossa)
Caudal pole: ovary
Medial surface: Cd Vena cava,
Lateral: last Rib (kidney partially tucked under the rib)
Ventral surface: Desc. Duodenum, R. Lobe Pancreas, Asc. colon, Ceacum,
Describe the topographical relationships on the eft kidney in the male dog
-dorsal surface
-cranial pole
-medial surface
-lateral
-ventral surface
DIAGRAM ON ANKI*
Dorsal surface: L2-L4(5)
Cranial pole: adrenal gland; spleen
Medial surface: Aorta
Lateral: abdominal wall
Ventral surface: Descending colon, SI
Clinical Definitions relating to the Urinary System
-azotaemia
increase in nitrogenous waste in the blood (urea and creatinine)
Uraemia
clinical syndrome resulting from severe loss of kidney function
Eg vomiting, anorexia
Anuria
complete lack of urine production (clinical emergency!)
Polyruria
abnormally large volume of urine production (/day)
Haematuria
presence of blood in the urine (can be gross or microscopic)
Pigmenturia
presence of pigment in the urine (other than blood, i.e. haemoglobin)
Proteinuria
presence of an abnormal amount of protein in the urine
Pollakiuria
Dysuria
Stranguria
(These could come up together)
-abnormally frequent passage of small volumes of urine
-difficult and/or painful passage of urine
– slow and painful passage of urine
Urinary incontinence
uncontrolled urination (difficult to distinguish between polyuria)
uncontrolled urination
urination in inappropriate locations
Signs animal has chronic kidney/ Renal disease-i.e presentations of renal disease
Polyuria/polydispasia
Inappetence
Weight loss
Ascites/subcutaneous oedema
-Protein losing nephropathy (PLN) (nephrotic syndrome)
Haematuria
-Urolithiasis (stones), tumours, trauma
Pain
-Pyelonephritis (kidney infection)
Abdominal mass
- Tumours
Presentation of lower urinary tract disease
Dysuria/ pollakiuria/ stranguria
-Bacterial cystitis, Feline idiopathic cystitis (FIC)
Haematuria
-Cystitis, tumours
Urinary retention
-Urolithiasis (stones) causing blocking of passage of urine, tumours causing compression of urine tract
Urinary incontinence
- Urethral sphincter mechanism incompetence (USMI), ectopic ureters
Diagnostic Tests for Investigating Urinary Disease
-blood tests
- Urea, creatinine, PCV,TS, albumin,
electrolytes, cholesterol - SDMA
Diagnostic Tests for Investigating Urinary Disease
-urine tests (easiest)
- Urine dipstick – biochemistry (survey test to see what might be abnormal in urine)
- Urine specific gravity (USG)
- Urine sediment analysis (looking for presence of any RBCs/WBCs/Bacteria for inflammation)
- Culture & sensitivity (presence of infection)
Diagnostic Tests for Investigating Urinary Disease
-diagnostic imaging
plain and contrast-enhanced radiographs -looking for presence of any e.g stones, ultrasound, cystoscopy
Methods for collecting a urine sample and features of each
•
Free flow / free catch sample
– Normal micturition/manual expression
– Non-invasive but time-consuming, sample contaminated
(Make sue to tell owner to use a clean dish)
• Urethral catheterisation
- Difficult in females, may require sedation, can introduce
infection, sample may be contaminated
• Cystocentesis
- “Blind” or ultrasound-guided
- Adequate restraint needed, more invasive - Bacterial contamination less likely
Pros and cons of free flow sample collecting of urine
Pros; way to collet without any intervention
Cons; not very good for checking for any infection, a dirty tub could give wrong results,could be difficult f owner to collect
Pros and cons of cystocentesis collecting urine sample method
Pro; cleanest way of collecting
Con; most invasive
Urine concentration: Vets are interested in…
concentration of urine relative to plasma
2 types of measure of solute conc
Osmolarity
– i.e. number of particles in a solution
– Expensive equipment required for measurement
Specific gravity is used instead
– increases with the size & number of particles in the solution
What is the specific gravity of plasma?
1.008 to 1.012
Specific gravity of each type of urine
(High conc, medium and low concentration urine)
➢ Hyposthenuria: 1.000 to 1.007
➢ Isosthenuria: 1.008 to 1.012
➢ Hypersthenuria: 1.013 to 1.055
Are any urine concentration (i.e high or low) normal or usually means abnormal urine?
Can be normal, depends on circumstance!
