Urinary System Flashcards
List the organs that make up the Urinary system
Kidney
Ureters
Urinary Bladder
Urethra
How large is an average sized kidney
11cm long
6cm wide
3cm thick
Where are the kidneys located in the body
Posterior to (behind) abdominal wall Inferior to (below) diaphragm
What is the Hillum?
Site of the kidney where renal arteries enter and veins and ureters leave
Which border is the Hillum of the kidney located?
Medial
What is the function of the Ureters?
Carry urine from Kidney to Bladder
How long are the Ureters?
25-30cm long
Which ureter is longer and why?
The right ureter because the right kidney is positioned higher than the left.
What movement occurs in the ureter and how often?
Peristalsis
4-5 times per minute
Describe the structure of a ureter.
Thick walled, narrow tube - 3mm diameter
What is the function of the Urinary bladder?
Storage of urine
How much urine can the bladder hold
Normally 230-300ml
Up to 500ml but this is painful
How many layers of tissue does the bladder have and what are they known as?
3 layers
Serous
Muscular
Inner mucous coat
What is the function of the uretha?
Pass urine to exterior
How long is the urethra in men and women?
Men - 18-20cm long
Women - 4cm long
How does the male and female urethra differ in function?
In women it serves the urinary system only
In men it is a common canal for reproductive and urinary system
List the functions of the Kidney
Body fluid Volume and osmolality Regulation
Electrolyte balance
Formation of urine through which metabolic waste products and toxins are released
Acid-base balance
Production of hormones and enzymes
What is Osmolality?
The concentration of solutes in the body fluid
What is the functional unit of the kidney known as?
Nephron