Lecture 49 – Urinary System

Question 1

Understand the overall basic functions of the urinary system

Answer 1

o Major functions
 Filter blood  urine production
 Transport, storage and expulsions of urine (micturition)

Question 2

Identify the kidneys and describe their location with reference to adjacent structures

Answer 2

o Kidneys location
 Vertebrae T12-L3
 Kidneys are wedged lateral to these vertebrae in the paravertebral gutter
 Have fat all around them to keep in position

Question 3

Identify external and internal kidney landmarks and describe their basic function relating to filtration

Answer 3

o External
 Inferior and superior pole
 Renal artery and vein
 Ureter
 Renal pelvis
 Hilum
o Internal
 Solid tissues = renal cortex, renal medulla
 Tubular system = minor calyx, major calyx, renal pelvis

Question 4

Describe the kidney blood supply and structures travelling through the hilum of the kidney

Answer 4

o Arterial supply enters via hilum (→) and progressively divides (via the renal columns)
o Further division into tiny glomeruli (2) located in the renal cortex. Filtration begins here
o After nephrotic filtration, the collecting tubule drains urine from the renal pyramid (3) into the
o → Minor calyx → Major Calyx →Renal Pelvis → Ureter
o Filtered blood returns to the rest of the body vein the renal vein decrease

Question 5

Understand the overall basic functions of the urinary system

Answer 5

o Filtration if blood
o Production of urine
o Regulation of blood pressure
o Electrolyte balance
o Acid-base balance
o Excretion of waste products
o Water balance
o Blood filtration rate

Question 6

function of ureters

Answer 6

Carry urine produced by the kidneys to the urinary bladder for temporary storage. Also, prevent backflow of urine from the bladder into the kidneys.

Question 7

origin of ureters

Answer 7

Originates at the renal pelvis, which collects urine from the kidney’s nephrons.

Question 8

termination of ureters

Answer 8

The ureters terminate at the urinary bladder. Each ureter enters the bladder wall at an oblique angle and passes through the bladder wall for a short distance.

Question 9

Common constrictions of the ureters

Answer 9

o Origin of ureter
o Entering pelvis
o Entering urinary bladder

Question 10

Identify the bladder and describe the internal surface, shape and micturition

Answer 10

o Ureters enter the Urinary Bladder superiorly on the posterior surface
o Urine will exit inferiorly via the internal urethral orifice into the urethra
o Trigone – Smooth triangular section. Corners of the triangle are the 2x ureter entry points and the internal urethral orifice
o Rugae – Bumpy surface of Urinary Bladder musculature
o Hollow viscus
o Highly distensible to accommodate storage if urine (rugae)

Question 11

Identify the urethra and contrast male and female features

Answer 11

o Females is shorter
o Females pathway is straight thus catherization is easier
o Male pathway curved as it moves through prostate and penis
o Males has a merge of reproductive and urinary systems
o UTI more common in females
o External orifice is between labia minora and anterior to vagina