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Urinary System Flashcards

1
Q

What components make up the urinary system?

A

The urinary system includes the kidneys, ureters, urinary bladder, and urethra.

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2
Q

Where is urine formed in the body?

A

Urine is formed in the kidneys.

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3
Q

How is urine transported from the kidneys to the urinary bladder?

A

Urine is transported by the ureters from the kidneys to the urinary bladder.

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4
Q

Where is urine stored before it is excreted from the body?

A

Urine is stored in the urinary bladder until it is excreted.

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5
Q

Through which structure is urine excreted from the body?

A

Urine is excreted from the body via the urethra.

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6
Q

Where are the kidneys located within the body?

A

The kidneys are small fist-sized organs located within the abdominal cavity on either side of the midline between the levels of T12-L3.

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7
Q

How are the kidneys protected and anchored in place within the body?

A

The kidneys are surrounded by layers of connective tissue and adipose tissue, which serve to protect and anchor them in place.

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8
Q

What percentage of the resting cardiac output do the kidneys normally receive?

A

The kidneys normally receive 20-25% of the resting cardiac output, despite their small size (<0.5% of the body’s mass).

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9
Q

Where are the kidneys situated in relation to the abdominal cavity?

A

The kidneys are in the posterior aspect of the middle of the abdominal cavity.

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10
Q

Despite their small size, why are the kidneys significant in terms of blood flow?

A

Despite their relatively small size, about a quarter of the blood ejected by the heart ends up passing through the kidneys.

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11
Q

What are the histological components of each kidney?

A

Each kidney consists of an outer renal cortex and an inner renal medulla, which is divided into sections called pyramids, separated by columns of cortex extending into the interior of the kidney.

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12
Q

What is the single-entry point on the medial surface of each kidney called?

A

The single-entry point on the medial surface of each kidney is called the hilum or hilus.

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13
Q

What structures enter and exit the kidney through the hilum?

A

Through the hilum, the ureter, renal artery, and renal vein enter and exit the kidney.

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14
Q

How are the pyramids and cortex arranged within the kidney?

A

The pyramids are sections of the renal medulla, separated by columns of cortex extending into the interior of the kidney.

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15
Q

What is the functional significance of the hilum in the kidney?

A

The hilum serves as the entry and exit point for structures essential for kidney function, including the ureter, renal artery, and renal vein.

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16
Q

Renal cortex

A

Portions extend into the renal medulla (renal columns)

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17
Q

Renal medulla

A

Consists of several cone-shaped sections (renal pyramids)

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18
Q

Renal Hilum

A

Entry/exit point for the:
Ureter
Renal blood vessels
Nerves and lymphatic vessels

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19
Q

What is the functional unit of the kidney?

A

The functional unit of the kidney is the nephron, which consists of a renal corpuscle and renal tubule.

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20
Q

how many nephrons are extending through the renal cortex and renal pyramids of each kidney?

A

~ 1,000,000 nephrons

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21
Q

what is the capillary network called?

A

glomerulus

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22
Q

what is the glomerulus (capillary network) surrounded by?

A

glomerular (Bowman’s) capsule

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23
Q

what does the glomerular (Bowman’s) capsule do?

A

The capsule filters the blood in the glomerulus and deposits the filtered fluid (“filtrate”) into the renal tubule

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24
Q

What is formed when portions of blood are filtered into the glomerular capsule?

A

When portions of blood are filtered into the glomerular capsule, they form filtrate.

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25
What are the three main components of the renal tubule?
The renal tubule consists of a proximal convoluted tubule, loop of Henle, and distal convoluted tubule.
26
What happens to the composition of filtrate as it passes through the renal tubule and distal convoluted tubules?
The composition of filtrate is adjusted, and urine is formed when neighboring nephrons dump their leftover filtrate into a collecting duct.
27
What happens to the renal artery after entering the kidney?
After entering the kidney, the renal artery branches into progressively smaller arteries and arterioles that spread throughout the renal tissue.
28
What structures enter a nephron's glomerular capsule from afferent arterioles?
Afferent arterioles give rise to a glomerulus that enters a nephron’s glomerular capsule.
29
What is the function of efferent arterioles in the kidney?
Efferent arterioles exit the glomerular capsule and branch into peritubular capillaries surrounding the tubular portion of the nephron.
30
What happens to peritubular capillaries after surrounding the renal tubule?
Peritubular capillaries eventually reunite to form venules, which form progressively larger veins that drain into the renal vein.
31
What is the role of the renal vein in the kidney?
The renal vein drains blood out of the kidney, receiving blood from progressively larger venules and veins formed by peritubular capillaries.
32
Afferent arterioles
each gives rise to a glomerulus that enters a nephron’s glomerular capsule
33
Efferent arterioles
exit the glomerular capsule and branch into peritubular capillaries that surround the tubular portion of the nephron
34
What is glomerular filtration?
Glomerular filtration is the movement of water and solutes from the glomerular capillary into the glomerular capsule.
35
What regulates the amount of filtrate formed in the kidneys?
The amount of filtrate formed, known as the glomerular filtration rate, is regulated by neural and hormonal mechanisms as well as by the kidney itself through renal autoregulation.
36
How is filtrate formation regulated?
Filtrate formation is regulated internally by the kidney and externally by the nervous and endocrine systems.
37
What is renal autoregulation?
Renal autoregulation refers to the kidney's ability to regulate its own blood flow and glomerular filtration rate independently of neural and hormonal influences, thereby maintaining stable kidney function despite changes in systemic blood pressure.
38
Tubular reabsorption
The movement of water and solutes from the tubule back into the peritubular capillaries
39
where does most tubular reabsorption occur?
in the proximal convoluted tubule, which reabsorbs all of the filtered nutrients (e.g., glucose, amino acids) and most of the filtered water and ions
40
What happens to substances within the filtrate as it moves through the tubule?
Many substances within the filtrate are reabsorbed back into the bloodstream as it moves through the tubule, including nutrients, water, and ions.
41
What is the proximal convoluted tubule (PCT)?
The proximal convoluted tubule is a twisted, highly coiled tubular structure in the nephron located immediately after the glomerular capsule. It is responsible for reabsorbing the majority of filtered water and solutes, such as glucose, amino acids, and ions, back into the bloodstream.
42
tubular secretions:
The movement of certain substances (e.g., H+, wastes, drugs) from the peritubular capillaries into the tubule and collecting duct
43
where do most tubular secretions occur?
in the proximal convoluted tubule
44
What are peritubular capillaries?
Peritubular capillaries are a network of tiny blood vessels surrounding the renal tubules in the kidney. They play a crucial role in reabsorbing substances from the renal tubules back into the bloodstream and in delivering substances for secretion into the tubules.
45
What happens to the majority of fluid and solutes that enter the renal tubule?
reabsorbed back into the bloodstream.
46
How are tubular reabsorption and secretion regulated?
by several hormonal mechanisms depending on the body's needs.
47
What role do peritubular capillaries play in renal function?
Peritubular capillaries deliver substances for secretion into the renal tubules and also reabsorb certain substances from the tubules back into the bloodstream.
48
Give examples of hormones that act on renal tubules to adjust the composition of the filtrate.
Hormones such as antidiuretic hormone, parathyroid hormone, and aldosterone act on renal tubules to adjust the relative concentrations of certain substances in the filtrate to help maintain homeostasis.
49
How does antidiuretic hormone affect renal function?
Antidiuretic hormone released from the posterior lobe of the pituitary gland increases water reabsorption in the renal tubules.
50
Parathyroid Hormone (parathyroid gland)
Increases Ca++ reabsorption
51
Aldosterone (adrenal gland)
increases sodium and water reabsorption and increases hydrogen ion secretion.
52
What are diuretics?
Diuretics are substances that lead to decreased reabsorption of water in the kidneys, resulting in increased urine production.
53
How do some diuretics like caffeine affect urine production?
Some diuretics like caffeine act directly on the kidneys by inhibiting water reabsorption, leading to increased urine production.
54
How do other diuretics, like alcohol, affect urine production?
Other diuretics, such as alcohol, act indirectly by inhibiting the release of antidiuretic hormone (ADH), which leads to decreased water reabsorption in the kidneys and increased urine production.
55
What is diuresis?
Diuresis refers to the production of urine.
56
What is the common outcome of diuretic action?
The common outcome of diuretic action is increased urine production, which helps to eliminate excess fluids from the body.
57
What is the path of urine drainage from the collecting ducts in the kidney?
Urine from the collecting ducts drains into a series of progressively larger ducts, including the papillary duct, minor calyx, and major calyx, before exiting the kidney via the renal pelvis.
58
Where does urine collected in the renal pelvis ultimately exit the kidney?
Urine collected in the renal pelvis exits the kidney through the ureter.
59
Describe the progression of urine drainage from the collecting ducts to the ureter.
Urine from the collecting ducts drains into progressively larger ducts until it reaches the renal pelvis, which then drains urine into the ureter for excretion from the kidney.
60
Ureters:
25-30 cm long tubes that transport urine from the kidneys to the urinary bladder
61
what do the ureters also serve as?
They can also serve as a route for pathogens into the kidneys (i.e., kidney infection)
62
what is important to note about pathogens such as bacteria, that commonly entered the kidneys via the blood
they can also migrate via the urethra, urinary bladder, and ureters.
63
where is the urinary bladder located?
Located in the pelvic cavity between the pubic symphysis (anteriorly) and rectum/vagina (posteriorly)
64
where does the urinary bladder lie in males Vs. females?
In males, it lies between the pubic symphysis and rectum. While in females, it lies between the pubic symphysis and vagina.
65
What is the structure of the bladder wall?
The bladder wall is highly folded to allow expansion and contains layers of smooth muscle, known as the detrusor muscle.
66
How many openings are there in the bladder wall?
There are two posterior openings and one anterior opening in the bladder wall.
67
What structures open into the bladder through the ureteral openings?
The ureters open into the bladder through the ureteral openings.
68
Where is the internal urethral orifice located?
located in the bladder wall
69
what does the urethral orifice serve as?
the opening into the urethra.
70
Uretral openings (2)
ureters
71
Internal urethral orifice
urethra
72
How many openings does the bladder wall contain for the ureters and the urethra?
The bladder wall contains three openings for the ureters and one opening for the urethra.
73
What type of muscle is present in the bladder wall, and how is it innervated?
The bladder wall contains layers of smooth muscle that are innervated by the autonomic nervous system.
74
What are the two sphincters that regulate the passage of urine into the urethra?
The internal urethral sphincter and the external urethral sphincter regulate the passage of urine into the urethra.
75
Describe the internal urethral sphincter.
The internal urethral sphincter is a smooth muscle sphincter located around the internal urethral orifice. It is under involuntary control.
76
Describe the external urethral sphincter.
The external urethral sphincter is a skeletal muscle sphincter within the muscles of the perineum. It is under voluntary control.
77
How is the passage of urine regulated by the internal and external urethral sphincters?
the internal urethral sphincter, composed of smooth muscle, is under involuntary autonomic control, while the external urethral sphincter, composed of skeletal muscle, is under voluntary somatic control.
78
Urethra
Small tube leading from the internal urethral orifice to the external environment (external urethral orifice)
79
male VS. female urethra:
Male: passes through the penis Female: passes through the vagina
80
How does the sympathetic nervous system regulate the urinary system?
causes relaxation of the smooth muscle in the bladder wall and contraction of the internal urethral sphincter, preventing urination. It also induces vasoconstriction of afferent arterioles, leading to decreased urine production.
81
What effect does the parasympathetic nervous system have on the urinary system?
The parasympathetic nervous system causes contraction of the smooth muscle in the bladder wall and relaxation of the internal urethral sphincter, resulting in urination.
82
What are the functions of the urinary system?
"Urine Regulates Blood, Repairs Ailing People" U - Urine production and waste elimination R - Regulates blood ionic composition B - Blood volume and pressure regulation R - Regulates acid-base balance A - Activates erythropoiesis (stimulate RBC production in bone marrow) P - Produces active form of vitamin D
83
What hormone do the kidneys secrete, and what is its function?
The kidneys secrete erythropoietin (EPO), which stimulates the red bone marrow to produce more red blood cells, enhancing oxygen transport in the blood.
84
What is blood doping, and why do some athletes use it?
the practice of artificially increasing the number of red blood cells in the bloodstream to enhance athletic performance. Some athletes use exogenous erythropoietin (EPO) to achieve this, as it increases oxygen-carrying capacity.
85
What are the risks associated with blood doping?
Blood doping carries major risks, including increased blood viscosity, which can lead to clotting, stroke, or heart failure. It has led to severe complications and even death.
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Anatomy (34 decks)

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