Week 3 urinary system

Question 1

what are the ureters?

Answer 1

they are narrow tubes with thick muscular walls that convey urine from the kidneys to the bladder (around 1,200 ml a day) the upper half resides in the abdomen whereas the lower half sits in the pelvis

Question 2

Where do the ureters lie?

Answer 2

the ureters lie in the retroperitoneal areolar tissue and adhere to the peritoneum

cross down psoas
pass down on psoas
cross genitofemoral nerve
leave psoas at bifurcation of the common iliac joint
pass over SIJ
enter pelvis
terminate at the posterior lateral aspect of the bladder

Question 3

How is urine propelled?

Answer 3

urine is propelled by peristaltic contractions of muscle as well as filtration pressure of the glomeruli

Question 4

what is the arterial supply to the ureters?

Answer 4

Upper part:
Uteric branch of the renal artery
Middle part:
Branches from the abdominal aorta 
gonadal artery
common iliac artery
internal iliac artery
Lower part:
Branches from the superior and inferior vesicle arteries and uterine arteries

Question 5

What is the nerve supply to the ureters?

Answer 5

Sympathetics:
(T10-L1) via coeliac and hypogastric plexuses

Parasymptathetics:
Parasympathetic pelvic splanchnics (S2-S4)

Question 6

what Is the structure of the ureters?

Answer 6

smooth muscle lined by mucous membrane
they have an inner and longitudinal layer of muscle
have a middle circular layer
are lined by transitional epithelium

Question 7

why is transitional epithelium labelled the way it is?

Answer 7

It is named this way as it has some features which are transitional between stratified cuboidal and stratified squamous epithelium
In a relaxed state the epithelia appears 4 to 5 cell layers thick

Question 8

What is the bladder?

Answer 8

Hollow organ with strong muscular walls
temporary store for urine
varies in size and shape in regards to other organs
when empty, sits in pelvic cavity
when full, can stretch into abdominal cavity

Question 9

What are the surfaces of the bladder?

Answer 9

inferior/ posterior surface = base
Inferior/lateral surface
superior surface

Question 10

what structures are found in the empty bladder?

Answer 10

Apex
Body
Neck
Uvula

Question 11

how is the bladder separated from the pubic bones?

Answer 11

By a potentilal retropubic space

Question 12

What is the body of the bladder?

Answer 12

The body is the part of the bladder between the apex and the fundus

Question 13

How is the base (or fundus) of the bladder formed?

Answer 13

The base or fundus is formed by the posterior wall of the bladder and is convex

Question 14

how is the neck of the bladder formed?

Answer 14

It is formed where the fundus, base and inferloateral surfaces of the bladder meet

Question 15

What pierces the bladder?

Answer 15

The urethra at the internal urethral orifice

Question 16

What is the trigone of the bladder?

Answer 16

a triangular region at the base of the bladder
lies between the two urethral orifices and the internal urethral orifice
it is smooth unlike the rest of the bladder and remains fixed

Question 17

What is the uvula of the bladder?

Answer 17

the uvula of the bladder is a slight projection of the trigone of the bladder
formed by the convergence of muscle fibres terminating in the urethra
the bladder is usually more prominent in males due to pushing down from the prostate

Question 18

what is the bladder surrounded in?

Answer 18

fascia known as vesicle fascie

Question 19

what separates the bladder from the uterus in females?

Answer 19

the uterovesicle pouch

Question 20

What is the blood supply to the bladder?

Answer 20

Branches of the internal iliac artery:
superior vesicle
inferior vesicle (M)
vaginal (F)

Question 21

What is the nerve supply to the bladder?

Answer 21

Parasympathetics:
pelvic splanchnic nerves (S2-4)
Sympathetics:
(T11-L2)

Question 22

What is the structure of the bladder?

Answer 22

Contain three layers of smooth muscle:
inner layer
outer layer
middle layer
lined with transitional epithelium

Question 23

What is the male urinary/ reproductive function?

Answer 23

longer than the female urethra
approx. 20 cm long
extends from the bladder neck to the tip of the penis
passes through the prostate and the entire corpus spongiosum

Question 24

What are the parts of the male urethra

Answer 24

preprostatic
prostatic
intermediate
spongy

Question 25

What is the prostatic urethra?

Answer 25

the part of the urethra that runs closer to the anterior surface of the gland.
receives openings of the ejaculatory ducts (union of the vas deferens)

Question 26

What is the intermediate urethra?

Answer 26

shortest section of the urethra (1-2cm)

begins at the apex of the prostate and ends at the bulb of the penis

Question 27

What is the spongy urethra

Answer 27

The longest region of the urethra
passes through the bulb and corpus spongiosum of the penis
starts at the end of the intermediate part of the urethra and ends at the external urethral orifice

Question 28

What is the external urethral sphincter?

Answer 28

an external sphincter that is composed of striated muscle and is under voluntary control. Contains mainly slow twitch fibres. it maintains constant muscular tone and only relaxes during micturition