Module 12: Urinary System Flashcards
Kidneys Location; Gross structure: external anatomy
Location:
- under the muscles of the back and behind the parietal peritoneum: protected somewhat by the lower rib cage
Gross structure: external anatomy:
- shape and size
- hilum
- capsule
Kidneys Gross structure: internal anatomy
Renal cortex:
- outer (superficial) layer of the kidney
Renal medulla
- inner (Deep) portion of the kidney
Renal Pyramids
- triangular divisions of the medulla; renal columns
Renal papilla (papillae)
- innermost end of the renal pyramid
Renal pelvis
- expansion of the upper end of the ureter
Calyx (calyces)
- divisions of the renal pelvis (minor and major)
Kidneys microscopic structure: Nephrons
Nephrons are the functional units of the kidneys
- components - renal corpuscle and renal tubule
- types - cortical and juxtamedullary nephrons
Renal corpuscle
- glomerular capsule (bowman’s capsule)
- cup-shaped top of a nephron that surrounds the glomerulus
- glomerulus
- network of blood capillaries located within bowman’s capsule
- afferent and efferent arterioles
Kidneys microscopic structure cont
Renal tubule
- proximal convoluted tubule (PCT) - first segment of a renal tubule
- nephron loop (henle loop) - extension of proximal tubule into renal medulla; consists of straight descending limb, hairpin turn, and straight ascending limb
- distal convoluted tubule (DCT) - extension of the ascending limb of the nephron loop
- collecting duct (CD) - straight extension of distal tubule
Overview of kidney funciton
- Excretes toxins and nitrogenous wastes
- regulates levels of many chemicals in blood
- maintains water balance
- helps regulate blood pressure and blood volume through secretion of renin
- regulates RBC production - erythropoietin (EPO)
Overview of urine formation
filtration
- of water and dissolved substances out of the blood in the glomeruli into the glomerular capsule
Reabsorption
- of water and dissolved substances out of the kidney tubules back into to the blood
Secretion
- of hydrogen ions, potassium ions, and some drugs from the blood into the kidney tubules
Control of urine volume
Antidiuretic hormone (ADH)
Aldosterone
Atrial natriuretic hormone (ANH)
Abnormalities of urine volume
- anuria
- oliguria
- polyuria
Elimination of Urine Structures: Ureters
Ureters
Structure
- narrow, long tubes with expanded upper end (renal pelvis) and a thick, muscular wall
-located inside kidney and lined with mucous membrane
Function
- drains urine from renal pelvis to urinary bladder
Elimination of Urine structures: urinary bladder
Urinary bladder
Structure
- elastic, muscular organ able to expand to hold varying amounts of urine and then contracting to empty itself
- rugae (folds of mucosa) allow for expansion of the urinary bladder as it fills
- trigone
Functions
- storage of urine before micturition
- micturition (voiding, urination)
Elimination of urine Structures: urethra
structure
- narrow tube from the urinary bladder to the exterior - urinary meatus
- continuous sheet of mucous membrane that lines each renal pelvis, the ureters, and the urinary bladder, extends down into the urethra
Functions
-terminal portion of the urinary tract in males and females
- passage of male reproductive fluid (semen)
Micturition
Regulatory Sphincters
- internal urethral sphincter (involuntary)
- external urethral sphincter (voluntary)
Emptying reflex
- initiated by stretch reflex in bladder wall > bladder wall contracts > internal sphincter relaxes > external sphincter relaxes and urination occurs
Abnormalities of urine output
- urinary retention; urinary suppression
- urinary incontinence
- neurogenic bladder
Glossary: Aldosterone
Hormone that stimulates the kidney to retain sodium ions and water
Glossary: Antidiuretic hormone (ADH)
Hormone produced in the posterior pituitary gland to regulate the balance of water in the body by accelerating the reabsorption of water
Glossary: Anuria
absence of urine
Glossary: atrial natriuretic hormone (ANH)
Hormone secreted by the heart cells that regulates fluid and electrolyte homeostasis
Glossary: Bowman’s capsule
the cup-shaped top of a nephron that surrounds the glomerulus; also called glomerular capsule
Glossary: Calyx
cup-shaped division of the renal pelvis
Glossary: Collecting duct (CD)
a straight part of the renal tubule formed by distal tubules of several nephrons joining together
Glossary: Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD)
An alternative form of treatment for renal failure rather than the more complex and expensive hemodialysis
Glossary: Cortical nephron
Nephron located in the renal cortex
Glossary: Countercurrent mechanism
System in which renal tubule filtrate flows in opposite directions; maintains a hyperosmotic medulla and thereby facilitates concentration of urine excreted from kidney
Glossary: Cystitis
Inflammation of the urinary bladder
Glossary: Distal convoluted tubule (DCT)
the part of the tubule distal to the ascending limb of the nephron loop in the kidney
Glossary: Diuretic drug
a substance that promotes or stimulates the production of urine; diuretic drugs are among the most commonly used drugs in medicine
Glossary: Emptying reflex
the reflex that causes contraction of the bladder wall and relaxation of the internal sphincter to allow urine to enter the urethra, which is followed by urination if the external sphincter is voluntarily relaxed
Glossary: Enuresis
involuntary voiding of urine
Glossary: Epidemiologist
Scientist engaged in the study, prevention, and treatment of the occurrence, distribution, and transmission of diseases in human populations
Glossary: Erythropoietin (EPO)
Hormone secreted to increase RBC production in response to oxygen deficency
Glossary: Filtration
Movement of water and solutes through a membrane by a higher hydrostatic pressure on one side
Glossary: Glomerular capsule
The cup-shaped top of a nephron that surrounds the glomerulus
Glossary: Glomerular filtrate
Water and dissolved substances forced out of the blood in the glomerular capillaries and into glomerular capsule
Glossary: Glomerular-capsular membrane
Membrane made up of glomerular endothelium, basement membrane, and visceral layer of the glomerular (bowman) capsule; its function is filtration
Glossary: Glomerulus
compact cluster; for example, capillaries in the kidneys
Glossary: Glycosuria
Glucose in the urine; a sign of diabetes mellitus