Urinary System - Module 3

Question 1

What is the primary function of the Urinary System? What are the components of urine?

Answer 1

• To** filter the blood** and remove metabolic waste(s)
• Urine consists of 95% water, with remaining chemical compounds being urea, creatinine, uric acid and salts, sodium, potassium, calcium, ammonia, and magnesium

Question 2

What are the kidneys? How are kidneys divided? What is hilum?

Answer 2

• Two, bean shaped organs located on either side of the vertebral column
• Upper part of abdominal cavity
• Divided into the cortex (outer layer) and medulla (inner section)
• Contains hilum - passageway for nerves and vessels to enter/leave the kidney

Question 3

What are Nephrons?

Answer 3

Tiny structures within kidneys which filter blood and form urine

Question 4

What do the glomerulus, bowman’s capsule, convoluted tubes, and collecting tubules do?

Answer 4

• Glomerulus - recieves blood to kidney through renal artery
• Bowman’s Capsule - structure that picks up filtered material to transfer to convoluted tubes
• Convoluted Tubes - re-absorbant tubules that pick up bloodstream nutrients
• Collecting Tubules - re-absorbant tubules that collect urine within convoluted tubes

Question 5

What are ureters?

Answer 5

• Attached to both ends of kidneys
• Muscular tubes which move urine to bladder (through peristalsis)

Question 6

What is the bladder?

Answer 6

Hollow, muscular sac which receives/stores urine from ureter until ready to be emptied

Question 7

How long is the urethra in male and females?

(what is the exterior opening?)

Answer 7

• Males - 8 inches (i wish)
• Females - 1.5 inches (sounds about right)

(exterior opening called urinary meatus)

Question 8

What is Renal Failure? What is it caused by?

Answer 8

Disease where the kidneys become unable to filter waste products from blood

Caused by hormone insufficiency (endocrine system)

Question 9

What are the steps of urine formation?

Answer 9

1. Glomerlus filters materials in blood
2. Filtered materials are picked up by Bowman’s Capsule
3. Materials are passed to Convoluted Tube
4. Substances needed are re-absorbed into the bloodstream through Renal Vein
5. Water/excess wastes become urine, passed through the Collecting Tubules