Urinary System Pt. 1 Flashcards
What are the four urinary organs?
Kidneys, Ureters, Urinary Bladder, Urethra
What is the primary function of the kidneys?
To produce urine
What is the function of the ureters?
To transport urine toward the urinary bladder from the kidneys
What is the purpose of the urinary bladder?
To store urine prior to urination
What is the role of the urethra in the urinary system?
To conduct urine to the exterior
Define urination or micturition.
The process of urine being eliminated from the body
What is excretion in the context of the urinary system?
The removal of metabolic wastes from body fluids
What is elimination in the context of the urinary system?
The discharge of metabolic wastes out of the body
What is homeostatic regulation with respect to the urinary system?
The regulation of the volume and solute concentration of the blood
List some essential aspects of homeostatic regulation by the urinary system.
Regulation of blood volume and pressure
Regulation of plasma concentrations of ions (e.g., sodium, potassium)
Stabilizing blood pH
Conserving valuable nutrients
Assisting the liver in detoxifying poisons
Where are the kidneys located in the body?
In the abdominal cavity
How does the left kidney position compare to the right kidney?
The left kidney lies slightly superior to the right kidney
What is the role of the adrenal glands in relation to the kidneys?
Adrenal glands are located at the top of each kidney
How are the kidneys held in position within the abdominal cavity?
Overlying peritoneum, contact with adjacent organs, and supporting connective tissues
What are the three layers of connective tissue that protect and stabilize each kidney?
Fibrous capsule, peripheral fat, and renal fascia
Describe the typical size of an adult kidney.
Bean-shaped, around 10cm long, 5.5cm wide, and 3cm thick
What is the hilum of the kidney, and what structures enter and exit through it?
The hilum is the point of entry for the renal artery and renal nerves and the point of exit for the renal vein
What is the renal sinus in the kidney?
The internal cavity within the kidney
What is the function of the fibrous capsule in the kidney?
It covers the outer surface of the kidney
What is the renal cortex in the kidney?
The superficial region of the kidney in contact with the outer capsule
What is the renal medulla, and how deep are the renal pyramids within it?
The renal medulla contains 6-18 renal pyramids, which are deep to the renal cortex
What is the renal papilla, and where does it project?
The renal papilla is the innermost point of a renal pyramid in the kidney, where urine is ultimately collected and funneled into the renal pelvis. It projects into the minor calyx, which is a small cavity that serves as a reservoir for urine before it flows into the major calyx and eventually into the renal pelvis.
What are renal columns in the kidney, and what do they separate?
Renal columns are bands of cortical tissue that extend into the medulla and separate renal pyramids
What is a kidney lobe composed of?
A renal pyramid, the overlying area of renal cortex, and adjacent tissues of the renal columns
What are minor calyces in the kidney, and what do they drain?
Minor calyces are cup-shaped structures that receive urine from the renal papilla
How do major calyces differ from minor calyces?
Major calyces are formed by the merging of multiple minor calyces
What does the renal pelvis result from?
The combination of multiple major calyces
Where does urine production begin within the kidney, at the microscopic level?
In the nephrons
What are cortical nephrons in the kidney?
Nephrons located in the renal cortex
What are juxtamedullary nephrons in the kidney?
Nephrons that extend into the renal medulla
