Section 3

Question 1

What does the urinary tract function to do?

Answer 1

Transfers and stores urine produced by the kidneys until it is ready for excretion

Question 2

What are the three parts of the urinary tract?

Answer 2

1. the ureters
2. the bladder
3. the urethra

Question 3

What are the ureters?

Answer 3

The ureters are two long, thin, muscular tubes connecting the kidneys with the bladder.

They begin as a continuation of the renal pelvis and extend towards the pelvic cavity where they penetrate the posterior wall of the bladder.

Question 4

What is the ureter made up of histologically?

Answer 4

Three layers:
1. Mucosa (innermost layer lined with transitional epithelium)
2. Muscularis (smooth muscle layer in the middle)
3. Adventitia (outermost layer)

Question 5

What is the urinary bladder?

Answer 5

• a muscular, expandable, sac-like pelvic organ that functions to temporarily store urine

Question 6

What is the trigone?

Answer 6

• A smooth triangular area of the urinary bladder
• overlies the base of the internal aspect of the urinary bladder
• enclosed by the two ureteric openings superiorly, and the internal urethral opening inferiorly
• acts as a funnel that directs urine into the urethra
• has a high density of afferent neurons that transmit the urge to void

Question 7

What is the neck of the urinary bladder?

Answer 7

• the constricted portion that is connected to the urethra inferiorly
• surrounded by an internal urethral sphincter that is made up of smooth muscle and is under involuntary control

Question 8

Does the interior of the bladder contain rugae?

Answer 8

Yes

Question 9

Does the trigone of the bladder contain rugae?

Answer 9

No

Question 10

What is the function of rugae in the interior of the bladder?

Answer 10

To allow the bladder to expand in size to accommodate changes in volume, without any damage to the mucosa.

Question 11

Where is the bladder located in females?

Answer 11

• in the pelvic cavity posterior to the pubic bone
• posterior to the pubic symphysis
• inferior to the uterus
• anterior to vagina

Question 12

Where is the bladder located in males?

Answer 12

• in the pelvic cavity posterior to the pubic bone
• posterior to the pubic symphysis
• anterior to rectum

Question 13

What is the mucosa of the bladder composed of?

Answer 13

Transitional epithelium

Question 14

What is the muscularis of the bladder made up of?

Answer 14

Three layers of muscle that are collectively called the detrusor muscle.

Detrusor from latin means “to push down” or “to dislodge”

Question 15

What is the urethra?

Answer 15

A muscular tube connecting the neck of the bladder with the outside word at an opening called the urethral meatus.

Differs in length and position in males and females.

Question 16

Describe the change in epithelial lining in the urethra.

Answer 16

In both male and females, the epithelial lining of the urethrae starts out as transitional, gradually becoming stratified toward the external opening.

Question 17

Describe the features of the male urethra.

Answer 17

Divided into three regions named after the structures it passes through.

1. prostatic urethra (3-4 cm passing through the prostate gland)
2. membranous urethra (2 cm from the prostate to the beginning of the penis. the voluntary urethral sphincter surrounds this area, far from the meatus)
3. penile (spongy) urethra (15 cm long through the penis)

Question 18

Describe the flow of urine (the order of structures)

Answer 18

Produced in kidneys then goes through:
1. glomerulus
2. Bowman’s capsule
3. proximal convoluted tubule
4. loop of Henle
5. distal convoluted tubule
6. collecting duct
7. renal papilla
8. minor calyx
9. major calyx
10. renal pelvis
11. ureter
12. bladder
13. urethra
14. external urethral meatus

Question 19

What is micturition?

Answer 19

The act of urination
- as the urinary bladder contracts, the external urinary sphincter relaxes to expel urine from the bladder into the urethra, and then outside the body

Question 20

What is incontinence?

Answer 20

The inability to voluntarily control the expulsion of urine
- leads to patients urinating accidentally
- can be a symptom of many underlying causes, including neurological disorders

Question 21

A patient is experiencing urinary incontinence. What sphincter might be involved in urinary incontinence and what aspect of the nervous system would innervate that sphincter?

Answer 21

External urethral sphincter, somatic motor