The function of the urinary system Flashcards
What does the urinary system consist of?
- kidneys
- bladder
- urethra
- ureter
Describe the function of the bladder?
- organ that collects urine from the kidneys before urination
How does the urine enter and leave the bladder?
- enters bladder thru ureter
- leaves thru urethra
What are the 2 blood vessels attached to the kidney?
- renal artery
- renal vein
What is the function of the renal artery?
- deliver oxygen rich blood supply to cells in each kidney
What is the function of the renal vein?
- once blood has been processed it leaves kidney via renal veins + transported via vena cava back to heart
What are the 2 functions of the kidney?
- excretion
- osmoregulation
Define excretion
- removal of toxic waste products made in cells during during metabolism
Define osmoregulation
- regulation of conc of solutes in body fluids
- regulates salt and water
What does osmoregulation prevent?
- ensures cells dont burst or shrink
- which would affect cell metbabolism
Where are the 2 kidneys located?
At the back of the abdominal cavity, either side of the spine
Describe the kidneys in the urinary system
- kidneys receive blood from renal artery
- kidneys contain millions of tiny filtration units called nephrons
- blood comes into kidneys under high pressure to make filtration efficient
- blood then leaves thru renal veins
- filtered waste products are excreted by kidney as urine
- urine goes thru ureter, tube connecting kidneys to bladder
- the bladder is a muscular sac which stores urine
What is the function of the renal artery?
Supplies blood to kidney
What is the function of the ureter?
Carries urine from kidneys to bladder
What is the function of the bladder?
Muscular sac that stores urine before it leaves thru urethra
What is the function of the renal vein?
Carries blood from kidneys
What are the millions of tiny filtration units that kidneys contain?
Nephrons
Why does blood come into kidneys under high pressure?
To make filtration efficient
What are the products in urine excreted by kidney?
Filtered waste products
What is the function of the ureter?
Urine goes from kidneys through ureter to bladder
What is the function of the kidneys?
Performs excretion and osmoregulation
What are the 2 main regions of the kidney?
Outer cortex and medulla
What are the smaller blood vessels that arteries in the kidney divide into?
Arterioles
