Urinary Tract

Question 1

urinary tract consists of

Answer 1

ureters, urinary bladder, urethra

Question 2

ureters

Answer 2

• originate at renal pelvis at the hilum of the kidney
• enter base of urinary bladder at its posterolateral wall

Question 3

urinary bladder

Answer 3

• store urine
• detrusor muscle (muscularis) wall of urinary bladder

Question 4

urethra

Answer 4

fibromuscular tube originating at urinary bladder that conducts urine to the exterior of the body, smooth muscle helps propel urine

Question 5

two sphincters help control release of urine

Answer 5

• internal urethral sphincter: base of bladder, smooth muscle, involuntary
• external urethral sphincter: skeletal muscle, voluntary

Question 6

external urethral orifice

Answer 6

opening of urethra

Question 7

sex differences of urethra

Answer 7

• female: urethra transports only urine
• male: urethra has urinary and reproductive functions

Question 8

3 segments of male urethra

Answer 8

• prostatic urethra: surrounded by prostate gland
• membranous urethra: short segment through urogential diaphragm
• spongy urethra: long segment through erectile tissue of penis

Question 9

micturition

Answer 9

expulsion of urine from the bladder

Question 10

process of emptying bladder

Answer 10

• extension of bladder excites its stretch receptors which signal spinal cord’s reflex center
• parasympathetic signals are sent to internal urethral sphincter (to relax it) and detrusor muscle (to excite it)
• voluntary relaxation of external urethral sphincter required
• abdominal muscle contraction also helps empty bladder

Question 11

urinalysis

Answer 11

analyzes the composition of urine to aid in determining health status of the body

Question 12

normal urine

Answer 12

• pH: 4.6-8.0
• 95% water
• 5% solutes, including:
• electrolytes
• nitrogenous waste
• urochromes - pigments that give urine its yellow color
• hormones: present if levels are high in the blood

Question 13

abnormal urine findings

Answer 13

• blood in urine or damaged kidney or lining
• glucose: too high of levels in blood
• albumin: damaged glomerulus
• bacteria: urinary tract infection

Question 14

kidney stones

Answer 14

hard objects formed in kidneys

Question 15

calcium stones

Answer 15

most common, most due to insufficient fluid intake

Question 16

kidney stones can..

Answer 16

block urine flow out of kidney or can become lodged in ureter

Question 17

treatment for kidney stones

Answer 17

• wait for stone to pass
• lithotripsy: laser, break down stone
• surgery

Question 18

urinary incontinence

Answer 18

inability to prevent discharge of urine

Question 19

causes of urinary incontinence

Answer 19

• mechanical stress: increased pressure causes leakages
• urgency/overactive bladder: uncontrolled contractions of detrusor muscle cause urge to urinate and urine leakage