Urinary System Flashcards
Name and Describe the two factors that determine blood flow
Two factors which determine blood flow is pressure and resistance.
Pressure is the blood flowing through the blood vessels from the heart creeping a pressure gradient.
Resistance is the constricted blood vessels will create a greater force for the flow of blood than the non-constricted blood.
What are the three filtration functions of the urinary system?
- Excretion – getting rid of waste from body
- Elimination
- Regulatory homeostasis – water this contributes to blood pressure
Function of the Kidneys
Functions of the kidneys
- Stabilising blood Ph
- Calcium- other nutrients filtrate through the blood, amino acids
Explain the three hormones that affect reabsorption and excretion of water and sodium in the collecting ducts
Aldosterone – produced in the adrenal cortex, stimulates the reabsorption of water and sodium ions in the kidney which results in increased blood pressure and volume
ADH – controls the amount of water lost in the urine, reabsorbing the water through cells into the blood
Atrial natriuretic peptide - which is produced by the heart, it opposes aldosterone -increase the amount of sodium lost, this affects the blood volume especially the water, so the blood volume will decrease because less sodium and the water will follow the sodium and more water lost
Homeostatic mechanisms do what?
regulate cardiovascular activity to ensure that the amount of blood flow through tissues (called tissue perfusion) is adequate to meet the demand for oxygen and nutrients. Homeostatic mechanisms operating at the local, regional, and systemic levels adjust blood flow through the capillaries to meet the demands of peripheral tissues. One of the homeostatic mechanisms is the baroreceptor reflex. The baroreceptor reflex is involved in the homeostatic regulation of blood pressure.
illustrate the role of the baroreceptor reflex when blood pressure is too high:
- stimulates baroreceptor
- sends information to the cardiovascular centre
- sends commands to the effectors
- heart, decrease cardiac output, and describe heart rate
- smooth muscles in the artery, vasodilation and decrease peripheral resistance
- this together forms decrease blood pressure which restores homeostasis
Major Functions of the Urinary System
Kidneys filter blood(plasma part) removing toxins, metabolic wastes, excess ions from circulation
Produces urine
Returns filtered nutrients and important ions back to blood
But what are the three main functions of the Urinary system?
- Excretion- removal of metabolic wastes from body fluids
- Elimination – discharge of these wastes from body
- Homeostatic regulation – of volume and solute concentration of blood
Homeostatic functions of urinary system
- Essential to homeostatic regulation are the following functions
1. Regulating blood volume and blood pressure - By adjusting volume of water lost in urine
- Releasing erythropoietin (control of erythropoeisesi) and renin
2. Regulating plasma ion concentrations - By controlling quantities of sodium, potassium, chloride and other ions lost in urine
- Calcium ion level controlled through synthesis of calcitriol> inhibits release of calcitonin>maintenance of calcium homeostasis/bone integrity
3. Helping to stabilise blood pH - By controlling loos of hydrogen and bicarbonate ions in urine
4. Conserving valuable nutrients - By preventing their loos (e.g glucose, amino acids) while removing metabolic wastes (e.g urea, uric acid and creatinine)
5. Assisting liver - In detoxification of positions and gluconeogenesis during prolonged fasting
Organs of the urinary system
- Kidneys
- Urinary tract
- Ureters
- Urinary bladder
- Urethra
Function and Structure of the Kidneys
Function: Produce urine
Structure: Bean shaped – 10cm long, 5.5cm wide and 3cm thick, Retroperitoneal and Protected by lower part of rib cage and three layers of supportive tissue
Function of the Ureters?
Transport urine towards the urinary system
- Part of muscular tubes
- Transport urine from kidneys to bladder by peristaltic contractions of smooth muscle in walls
Function of the Urinary Bladder
Temporarily stores urine prior to urination
- Hollow muscular organ
- Distensible due to presence of transitional cells in bladder wall can contain 400-500 mL of urine
- Starts as thick folds, expands to become pear shaped
Function of the Urethra
Conducts urine to exterior; in males, it also transports semen
- Conveys urine from body
- Longer in males 18-20cm and then females 3-5 cm
what are the three layers of supportive tissue in the kidneys?
- Renal fascia – which is a dense connective tissue – anchor kidneys to surround structures
- Perinephric fat capsule – fatty mass protects kidneys from trauma
- Fibrous capsule – transparent layer; protection from infection
Adrenal glands
Adrenal glands
- Two triangle shaped endocrine glands
- Make hormones, adrenaline, noradrenaline, cortisol and aldosterone
what are the three hormones the adrenal gland makes and their function?
Adrenaline and noradrenaline: involved in bodies stress response
Cortisol: influences metabolism, changing BGL, and slowing down immune system
Aldosterone: plays a role in controlling BP
Internal Anatomy of the kidneys include?
Renal cortex Renal medullar Renal Pelvis Nephron Renal Corpuscle
Renal cortex?
- Light coloured; outer granular region
- Contains nephrons
Renal Medullar?
- Middle region
- Contains 6-18 renal pyramids
- Empty urine into minor calyx to major calyx (which has been formed by 4-5 minor calcyes)
- Channels urine to renal pelvis