Urinary System Renal sinus:
This is the major excretory system of the body. Contains renal pelvis, blood vessels, fat
Some organs in the other systems also eliminate wastes Renal cortex:
but they are not able to compensate in the case of kidney
Outer portion
failure.
Renal medulla:
Inner portion
Organs:
Renal pyramid:
1. (2) Kidneys
2. (2) Ureters Junction between cortex and medulla
3. Urinary bladder
4. Urethra Calyx:
Tip of pyramids
Functions of the Urinary System
1. Excretion Renal pelvis:
2. Regulation of blood volume and blood pressure Where calyces join
3. Regulation of blood solute concentrations Narrows to form ureter
4. Regulation of red blood cell synthesis
5. Regulation of extracellular fluid pH
6. Regulation of Vitamin D synthesis Nephron
The functional unit of the kidney.
Kidneys Each kidney has 1-1.5 million nephrons.
Two types of nephrons:
Characteristics: Bilateral retroperitoneal organs 1. Juxtamedullary
Shape and size: Bean shaped 2. Cortical
Weighs: 5 ounces (bar of soap or size of fist)
The nephron includes the renal corpuscle, proximal
Location: Between 12th thoracic and 3rd lumbar convoluted tubule, loop of Henle, distal convoluted
vertebra tubule and collecting duct.
Kidneys Structures Nephron Components
Renal capsule: Renal corpuscle:
• Connective tissue around each kidney Structure that contains a Bowman's capsule and
• Protects and acts as barrier glomerulus.
Hilum:
Bowman's capsule:
• Indentation
Enlarged end of nephron
• Contains renal artery, veins, nerves and ureter
Opens into proximal tubule
Contains podocytes (specialized cells around
glomerular capillaries)
Glomerulus: Blood flow through kidney:
Contains capillaries wrapped around it 1. Renal artery
2. Interlobar artery
3. Arcuate artery
Proximal tubule: 4. Interlobar artery
5. Afferent arteriole
Where filtrate passes first 6. Glomerulus
7. Efferent arteriole
8. Peritubular capillaries
Loop of Henle 9. Vasa recta
Contains descending and ascending loops of 10. Interlobar vein
henle 11. Arcuate vein
Water and solutes pass through thin walls by 12. Interlobar vein
diffusion
Distal tubule:
Structure between Loop of Henle and collecting
duct
Collecting duct:
Empties into calyces
Carry fluid from cortex through medulla
Urine Concentration and Volume Regulation
Three major hormonal mechanisms are involved:
Flow of Filtrate through Nephron
1. Renin-Angiotensin- Aldosterone
1. Renal corpuscle 2. ADH
2. Proximal tubule 3. Atrial natriuretic hormone
3. Descending Loop of Henle
4. Ascending Loop of Henle
5. Distal tubule
6. Collecting duct
Urine Formation
Urine formation involves three processes:
[Link]: occurs in the renal corpuscle
[Link]: it involves removing substances from
the filtrate and placing back into the blood
3. Secretion: it involves taking substances from the blood
at a nephron area other than the renal corpuscle and
putting back into the nephron tubule
ADH and Atrial Natriuretic Hormone Disorders Associated with the Urinary System
1. ADH is secreted by what? Bladder infection (Cystitis)
2. ADH acts of kidneys, causing them to absorb
Very common type of urinary tract infection in
more water ( decrease urine volume)
which the urinary bladder becomes infected by
3. Result is to maintain a normal blood volume and
bacteria.
blood pressure.
Urinary incontinence
1. ANH is secreted from cardiac muscle in the right
atrium of the heart when blood pressure Chronic problem of uncontrolled leakage of urine.
increases. Sign of another health problem such as diabetes
2. ANH acts on kidneys to decrease Na reabsorption. or obesity.
3. Sodium ions remain in nephron to become urine. In older males, this is due to enlarged prostate
4. Increased loss of sodium and water reduced
blood volume and blood pressure.
Kidney Stones:
Ureters and Urinary Bladder Also known as renal calculus Solid crystal that
forms in a kidney from minerals in urine.
Ureters:
Small tubes that carry urine from renal pelvis of
kidney to bladder. Diabetic nephropathy
Progressive kidney disease caused by damage to
the capillaries in the glomeruli of the kidneys due
Urinary bladder: to long standing diabetes mellitus.
In pelvic cavity
Stores urine
Can hold a few mL to a max of 1000mL Polycystic Kidney Disease
A genetic disorder in which multiple abnormal
cysts develop and grow in the kidneys
Urethra
Tube that exits bladder
Carries urine from urinary bladder to outside of Kidney Failure
the body Both diabetic nephropathy and PKD may lead to
kidney/renal failure.
End stage kidney disease.
Micturation Reflex Kidneys are no longer able to adequately filter
metabolic wastes from the blood.
Activated by stretch of urinary bladder wall.
Hemodialysis is a medical procedure in which
Action potentials are conducted from bladder to
blood is filtered externally through a machine.
spinal cord through pelvic nerves.
Parasympathetic action potentials cause bladder
to contract.
Stretching of bladder stimulates sensory neurons
to inform brain that the person needs to urinate.
Trichimonas vaginalis