Module 10 Genito-Urinary System

MAIN FUNCTION OF THE GENITO-URINARY SYSTEM

Main homeostasis and remove waste products from body
And to maintain constant body fluid volume and composition

Urinary and genital system considered together because they share many organs

1 Components – Urinary System

 Kidney
 Ureters
 Bladder
 Urethra

1.1 Kidney
 Kidney bean shape
 Lies on posterior abdominal wall
o Behind peritoneum
 Located either side of vertebrae
 Right kidney lower than left
 Renal capsule surrounds kidney
 Kidney divided into
o Outer cortex
o Inner medulla
 Medulla consists of renal pyramids
 Renal pyramids extend into cortex
 Papilla is inner most end of pyramid
 Calyx extends to renal pelvis

1.1.1 Nephron
 Nephrons are tiny filtering units that are found within kidneys
 Made up of blood vessels (glomeruli) and tubules
 A nephron refers to the basic structural and functional unit of the kidney

 Nephrons consists
o Renal corpuscle (Bowman’s capsule & glomerulus)
o Proximal convoluted tubule
o Loop of Henle
o And distal convoluted tubule
 Distal convoluted tubule empties into collecting duct
o Carries urine from cortex to calyces
o Terminal end of nephron is enlarged
o Called bowman’s capsule
o Occupies network of capillaries
 Known as Glomerulus

[Link] The main function of the nephron

 Regulate water concentration and soluble substance by
o Filtering the blood
o Reabsorbing what is needed
o And excreting what is not needed as urine.

1.2 Ureters
 Extends from renal pelvis to urinary bladder
 Transports urine from kidney to bladder

1/8
Module 10 Genito-Urinary System

1.3 Urinary Bladder

 Hollow – muscular organ
 Lies in pelvic cavity
 Posterior to pubic symphysis

1.4 Sphincter
 Junction of urethra with urinary bladder
o Smooth muscle of bladder forms internal sphincter
 External urinary sphincter surrounds urethra as urethra extends through pelvic floor
 They control flow of urine through urethra

1.5 Urethra
Means how urine leaves the body
Normal adult form 1.5L-2L of urine a day
 Male
o Urethra passes from anterior base of bladder through penis
 Female
o Urethra opens at front of vagina
o Open into vestibule anterior to vaginal opening

2 Genital System
 Genital system controls reproductive process by which life is created
 Male and female reproductive organs have certain similarities and basic differences
 They allow production of sperm and egg cells and appropriate hormones
 Used in the act of sexual intercourse and reproduction

2/8
Module 10 Genito-Urinary System

2.1 Female Genitalia

 Female reproductive organs consists of:
o Ovaries
o Fallopian tubes
o Uterus
o Cervix
o Vagina
 Ovaries produce sex hormones and specialized cells for reproduction (ovum)
 Female sex hormones are absorbed directly into blood stream
 Specialized ovum (egg cell) produced regularly during adult female reproductive years
 Ovaries release mature ovum +- every 28 days
 Ovum (egg cell) travels through fallopian tubes to uterus
 Fallopian tubes connect with uterus and carry ovum (egg cell) into cavity of uterus
 Uterus – pear shaped, hollow organ with muscular walls
 Narrow opening from uterus to vagina – called cervix
 Vagina (birth canal) is muscular distensible tube – connects to uterus with vulva
o Vulva – external female genitalia
 Vagina receives penis during sexual intercourse – when semen deposited in it
 Sperm in semen may pass into uterus
o And fertilize an ovum (egg cell) – causing pregnancy
 If completion of pregnancy
o 9 months – baby will pass through vagina and be born
o Vagina also channels menstrual flow out of body

2.2 Male Genitalia

 Male reproductive system consists of:
o Testes (Orchi)
o Vasa differentia (ducts)
o Seminal vesicles
o Prostate gland
o Urethra
o Penis
 Male genitalia lie outside pelvic cavity
o Except for prostate gland and seminal vesicles

3/8
Module 10 Genito-Urinary System

 Each testicle contains:

o Specialized cells
o Ducts
o Some produce hormones
o Some produce sperm

 Hormones absorbed directly into blood stream from testicles

 Vasa differentia are ducts
o Travel from testicles up beneath skin of abdominal wall for short distance
o Then passes through opening into abdominal cavity and into prostate gland
o To connect with urethra
o Vasa differentia carry sperm from testicles to urethra
 Seminal vesicles – small storage sacs for sperm and seminal fluid
o Vesicles also empty into urethra – at prostate
 Semen (seminal fluid) contains perms cells
o Carried up each vas from each testicle
o To be mixed with fluid from seminal vesicles and prostate gland
 Prostate gland surrounds urethra – where it emerges from urinary bladder
o Fluid from prostate gland & seminal vesicles mix during sexual intercourse
o During intercourse: Special mechanisms in nervous system prevent passage of urine into urethra
o Only seminal fluid, prostate fluid and sperm pass from penis into vagina – during ejaculation

 Penis contains special tissue:

o Erectile tissue
o Tissue is largely vascular and when filled with blood – causes penis to distend
 Causing state of erection
o As vessels fill under press from circulatory system
 Penis becomes a large – rigid organ that can enter a vagina
 Certain Spinal injuries / some diseases cause painful continuous erection
o Called Priaprism

4/8
Module 10 Genito-Urinary System

3 Genito-urinary Clinical conditions / disorders

 UTI (urinary tract infection) / Cystitis / Bladder Infection
 Bladder Stones
 Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
 Dysmenorrhea
 Ectopic pregnancy
 Testicular torsion

3.1 UTI (urinary tract infection) / Cystitis / Bladder Infection

 Infection that happens anywhere along urinary tract / kidneys / ureters / bladder / urethra

3.1.1 UTI causes, incidence and risk factors

 Bacteria enters urethra and bladder from anus
 More common in woman - shorter urethra
 Pregnancy / menopause
 Sexual intercourse
 Not drinking enough fluids
 Kidney stones
 Prostate inflammation / enlargement
 Immobility
 Bowel incontinence
 Catheterization

3.1.2 UTI Signs and Symptoms

 Pain / burning with urination
 Frequent / urge to urinate
 Need to urinate at night
 Cloudy urine or Blood in urine
 Foul / strong urine odour
 Flank (side) pain and or Pressure in pelvis
 Fever / chills (kidney involvement)
 Vomiting

3.1.3 UTI Treatment

 Antibiotics
 Anatomical abnormalities: surgical repair

3.2 Bladder Stones

 Also urinary tract stones / bladder calculi
 Bladder stones hard build-ups of mineral that form in urinary bladder

3.2.1 Bladder stones causes

 UTI
 Enlarged prostate (male)
 95% cases reported in men

3.2.2 Bladder stones signs and symptoms

 Frequent urge to urinate
 Interruption in urine stream
 Difficulty in urinating
 Blood in urine
 Abdominal pain/pressure
 Abnormal coloured/dark coloured urine
 incontinence

5/8
Module 10 Genito-Urinary System

3.3 Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)

 Also Salpingitis
 PID general term for infection of lining of uterus, fallopian tubes or ovaries

3.3.1 PID causes

 STD’s (sexually transmitted disease) – bacteria
 IUD (intra urinary device) insertion
 Childbirth
 Spontaneous abortion
 Elective abortion

3.3.2 PID risk factors

 Sexually active during adolescence
 Multiple sexual partners
 Past history of PID
 Past history of STD
 Use of non-barrier types contraceptives
 Irregular menstrual bleeding (spotting)
 Increased menstrual cramping
 Amenorrhea (Abnormal absence of menstruation)
 Chills
 Low-back pain
 Fatigue
 Nausea with/without vomiting

3.3.3 PID signs and symptoms

 Frequent urination
 Pain with urination
 Point tenderness

3.3.4 PID treatment

 Antibiotics (IV)
 Surgery – complicated cases – refractory to antibiotics
 Complications of PID: increase risk of ectopic pregnancy and infertility

3.4 Dysmenorrhea
 Painful menses
6/8
Module 10 Genito-Urinary System

 More common in woman who have not had children

3.4.1 Dysmenorrhea signs and symptoms

 Headache
 Faintness
 Dizziness
 Nausea
 Diarrhoea
 Backache
 Leg pain

3.5 Ectopic pregnancy

 Pregnancy that develops outside uterus
 Commonly in fallopian tubes
 May implant in ovary
 Rarely in abdominal cavity / cervix
 Mostly discovered before 2 months GA

3.5.1 Ectopic pregnancy signs and symptoms

 Severe abdominal pain
 Vaginal spotting
 Rupture
 Internal haemorrhage
 Sepsis
 Shock

3.5.2 Ectopic pregnancy treatment

 Pre-hospital
o Oxygenation / ventilation as required
o Intravenous therapy: large bore IV access if pt. hypothesize (shock)
o Calm and reassure
o Transport to hospital
 In-hospital
o Surgical removal of fetus / placenta

3.6 Testicular torsion

 Testicles twist on spermatic cord

7/8
Module 10 Genito-Urinary System

o Disrupting own blood flow and supply

 May result from blunt force trauma to scrotal area (strenuous exercise, athletic event)
 Often occurs spontaneously
 Common age group:
o 1 year of life
o puberty

3.6.1 Testicular torsion signs and symptoms

 Tender epididymis
 Painful swelling of scrotal sac
 Sudden onset pain
 Pain is severe, unrelieved by rest / or scrotal elevation
 Nausea / vomiting

3.6.2 Testicular torsion treatment

 Pre-hospital
o Application of ice pack to scrotum
o Transport to hospital asap
 In-hospital
o Surgical repair within 4-6 hours of onset of torsion

8/8