urinary system (anatomy) Flashcards
structures of the urinary system?
kidneys, bladder, ureters, urethra
functions of the urinary system?
- filter blood (to produce urine)
- excretion of metabolic waste products and water soluble toxins
- maintains fluid balance (regulates BP and blood volume)
- maintains blood pH
what are the kidneys?
paired and about the size of a soap bar, retroperitoneal (T12-L3 on dorsal surface)
kidneys are surrounded by? (3 layers)
- fibrous capsule (collagen on surface)
- adipose capsule (cushions surface)
- renal fascia (dense c.t, anchors kidney to muscle and dorsal wall of abdominopelvic cavity)
3 regions of the kidney?
cortex, medulla, sinus
urine drainage flow?
collecting ducts, minor calyx, major calyx, renal pelvis, ureter, urinary bladder, urethra
microscopic anatomy of the kidney?
functional unit= nephrons
- around 1.25 million in the kidneys
- glomerulus (capillaries) and capsule
functions of the nephron (3)
- filtration (filtrate of blood pushed across glomerulus to glomerular capsule)
- reabsorption (movement of useful molecules from tubules back- so not lost in urine)
3 secretion (transport of undesirable molecules-so they can be excreted in urine, from blood into tubules)
materials are exchanged between nephron loops/tubules and a system of?
capillaries- peritubular capillaries (around PCT and DCT) and vasa recta (around loops of nephron)
what are the ureters?
convey urine from kidneys to the bladder
-lined in transitional epithelium and layer of smooth muscle
urinary bladder function?
store urine (500mL)
3 layers of the urinary bladder?
- mucosa= transitional epithelium forms rugae and stretches
- submucosa (connective c.t)
- muscularis (circular and longitudinal layers of smooth muscle form powerful detrusor muscle- expels urine)
urethra function?
drains bladder (shorter in females than males) -controls micturation (urination)
2 urethral sphincters?
- internal (smooth muscle prevents leakage)
2. external (skeletal muscle voluntary control)
micturition reflex.. explain
bladder fills, stretch receptors, sacral nerves— reflexive contraction of detrusor muscle— relaxation of internal urethral sphincter
cycles of contraction become more frequent as?
bladder reaches its capacity
centers in the ____ can promote micturition or storage?
PONS
voiding or urine occurs with conscious relaxation of?
the external urethral sphincter