Ureters, Urinary Bladder, Urethra Flashcards
What are the general functions of the urinary system?
Regulate water and electrolyte balance
Excretion of nitrogenous wastes and some extra water and electrolytes
Excretion of other materials like drugs
Secrete renin
What are the organs of the urinary system?
2 kidneys
2 ureters
1 urinary bladder
1 urethra
What is the function of the ureter?
Transport urine to urinary bladder
What is the surface epithelium of the mucosa of the luminal wall of the ureter?
Urothelium
What are the three layers of the mucosa in the ureter?
Bottom basal layer, intermediate cell layer, top layer of large umbrella cells
What is the shape of the intermediate cells of the ureter mucosa?
More columnar-like and taller
What is a unique aspect of the structure of the umbrella cells in the ureter mucosa?
Can be bi-nucleate
What is the purpose of the free-edge plasma membrane of the superficial layer of the ureter mucosa?
Can fold at thinner areas
What is the function of the plaque seen in the superficial layer of the ureter mucosa?
Protect cells and tissue beneath
Block water passage
In what location are placque and umbrella cells more developed?
Urinary bladder
What makes up the lamina propria of the ureter?
Rather dense irregular connective tissue
What makes up the muscularis externa of the ureter?
Smooth muscle mixed with connective tissue
What is the muscular pattern of the muscularis externa of the ureter?
Reversed pattern: inner longitudinal layer and outer circular layer
How do the muscles layers of the ureter change at the distal end?
3 total layers: inner and outer longitudinal layers and middle circular layer
What action helps move the urine in the muscularis externa of the urine?
Peristaltic contraction
What makes up the adventitia of the ureter?
Adipose, blood vessels, and nerves
Why does the ureter connect the urinary bladder at an angle?
To form a valve
When do the entrances to the ureters close?
As bladder fills
What is the function of the valve in the ureter?
Prevents backflow to stop spread of infection to kidneys
What is the function of the urinary bladder?
Storage of urine
What is the epithelium seen in the mucosa of the bladder?
Transitional epithelium
What is the function of the mucosa of the bladder?
Stretch and protect from hypertonic and toxic urine
Why is plaque well developed in the mucosa of the bladder?
Enables folding at thinner areas when bladder collapses
What makes up the lamina propria of the bladder?
Rather dense irregular connective tissue
What is the specific name for the muscularis externa of the bladder?
Detrusor muscle
What is the muscle layout of the muscularis externa of the bladder?
Inner and outer longitudinal layers and middle circular layer
What is the circle of muscle around the urethral opening into the urinary bladder?
Internal urethral sphincter
What type of muscle is the internal urethral sphincter?
Involuntary smooth muscle
What supplies the blood vessels of the urinary bladder?
Sympathetics
What supplies the muscularis externa and adventitia of the urinary bladder?
Parasympathetics from S2-S4 splanchnic nerves
Where is the sensory nerve supply seen involving the bladder
Seen from the urinary bladder to the sacral spinal cord
What is the function of the parasympathetic and sensory innervation of the urinary bladder?
Afferent fibers for the micturition reflex
What kind of tube is the urethra?
Fibromuscular
What are the three sections of the male urethra?
Prostatic, membranous, and spongy urethra
What is the surface epithelium of the prostatic urethra in males?
Urothelium
The male urethra is a structure in what two body systems?
Urinary and reproductive
The membranous urethra passes through what structure?
External urethral sphincter
What makes up the external urethral sphincter?
Voluntary striated muscle
The prostatic urethra passes through what structure?
Prostate
What is the surface epithelium of the membranous urethra?
Stratified columnar and pseudostratified columnar epithelium
What is another name for the spongy urethra?
Penile urethra
What surrounds the spongy urethra?
Erectile tissue (corpus spongiosum)
What is the surface epithelium of the spongy urethra?
Stratified columnar and pseudostratified columnar and then stratified squamous distally
The female urethra is a structure in which body systems?
ONLY urinary system
Which gender has a shorter urethra?
Females
What is the surface epithelium of the female urethra?
Urothelium, stratified columnar/pseudostratified columnar (middle), and stratified squamous distally
What surrounds the middle portion of the female urethra?
External urethral sphincter
What are the females glands within the urethral wall?
Proximal urethral glands, paraurethral glands
Which females glands in the urethra lead to the lumen and are small and numerous?
Proximal urethral glands
What is the function of the paraurethral glands of the female urethra?
Secrete alkaline fluid to paraurethral ducts into the sides of external urethral orifice
