URINARY SYSTEM
KIDENEY
Kidney is the bean-shaped organ located retroperitoneally, on the either side of
the vertebrae column between T12 and L3 with the left kidney higher than the
right.
Regions of the Kidney
1. Renal Cortex
2. Renal Medulla
3. Renal Pelvis
RENAL MEDULLA
This contains the
-Renal pyramid
- Interlobar Arteries and veins located between the Renal pyramids
Arcuate Arteries/ veins found along the boundary between the based of the
pyramids and the cortex.
- Interlobular Arteries/Veins branch off the arcuate vessels into the cortex
BLOOD SUPPLY OF THE KIDNEY
Renal Artery:
Branches from the abdominal aorta to supply the kidneys.
Renal Veins:
Drains blood from the kidney into the inferior vena cava.
Afferent Arteriole:
Brings blood into the glomerulus
Glomerulus:
** UREA & URIC ACID
· Urea = from amino acid metabolism
o ~20% excreted
· Uric Acid = from nucleic acids
o Mostly reabsorbed; some secreted
/ URINE COMPOSITION
· 95% water
· Contains:
o Urea, Uric acid, Electrolytes
o Trace amino acids
· Normal volume: 0.6-2.5 L/day
· Abnormal if: glucose, protein, blood, ketones present
4 URINE ELIMINATION PATHWAY
Nephron -> Collecting duct -> Renal papilla -> Minor calyx -> Major calyx ->
Renal
pelvis -> Ureter -> Urinary bladder -> Urethra
URETERS
· 3 wall layers:
Mucous coat
o Muscular coat (peristalsis moves urine)
o Fibrous coat
J@555myworld
· Urine flows -+ bladder through valve
URINARY BLADDER
· Hollow, muscular organ
· 4 wall layers:
o Mucous coat (transitional epithelium)
Submucosa
o Muscular (detrusor muscle)
o Serous coat
· Trigone: triangle with 2 ureters + 1 urethra
· Internal sphincter (smooth muscle)
* MICTURITION (Urination)
· Bladder stretch -> spinal reflex -> urge to pee
· Detrusor contracts
· Internal sphincter opens automatically
.
External sphincter = voluntary (skeletal muscle)
URETHRA
· Tube to release urine outside
· Has urethral glands (secrete mucus)
· Female =~ 4 cm
· Male = longer; also used in reproduction
· Nephron = functional unit of the kidney (~1 million/kidney)
* KIDNEY FUNCTIONS
· Controls body fluid volume & composition
· Removes metabolic waste (e.g., urea)
· Secretes:
Erythropoietin - 1 RBC production
0
Renin - helps regulate BP and blood volume
0
o Activates vitamin D (helps calcium absorption)
RENAL BLOOD SUPPLY - IN ORDER
Blood Flow Through Kidney:
Abdominal aorta -> Renal artery -> Interlobar artery -> Arcuate artery ->
Interlobular
artery -> Afferent arteriole -> Glomerulus -> Efferent arteriole -> Peritubular
capillaries
-> Interlobular vein -> Arcuate vein -> Interlobar vein -> Renal vein -> Inferior
vena cava
NEPHRON STRUCTURE
Each nephron has 2 parts:
· Renal Corpuscle
o
Glomerulus: tuft of capillaries
o Glomerular Capsule: collects filtrate
· Renal Tubule
o Proximal Convoluted Tubule
o Nephron Loop (Descending + Ascending limbs)
o Distal Convoluted Tubule
o Drains into a Collecting Duct -> medulla -> minor calyx
@555myworld
/ BLOOD SUPPLY TO NEPHRON
· Afferent arteriole: brings blood to glomerulus
· Efferent arteriole: takes blood away -> forms Peritubular capillaries
Proteins (pinocytosis)
0
o Also: creatine, uric acid, ions, etc.
Sodium & Water
· Sodium reabsorbed by active transport
· CI & HCOs" follow by passive transport
· Water follows Na+ by osmosis
3
Tubular Secretion
·
Moves wastes/excess from blood -> tubule
· Removes:
o Hydrogen (H*)
o Potassium (K*)
o Organic compounds
· Uses active transport
+ HORMONAL CONTROL
· Aldosterone:
o Stimulates Na+ reabsorption
o Promotes K+ secretion
· ADH (antidiuretic hormone):
o Increases water reabsorption
o Acts on distal tubule & collecting duct
@FILTRATION REGULATION
· Sympathetic nerves Į GFR during stress
@555myworld
.
Renin-Angiotensin System:
o Triggered by:
· Į BP
· Sympathetic stimulation
· | Na+, CI-, or K+ (detected by macula densa)
o Releases Renin -+ Angiotensin II -> constricts efferent arteriole -> 1 filtration
o Stimulates Aldosterone -> 1 sodium reabsorption
o ANP (from heart) -+ + filtration when blood volume is high
FORMAT 2 :
URINARY SYSTEM STUDY GUIDE
TERMS & DEFINITIONS
Kidney Anatomy & Structure
· Kidney Position:
Positioned retroperitoneally, on either side of the vertebral column between T12
and
L3, with the left kidney higher than the right.
. 3 Regions of the Kidney:
o Renal Cortex
o Renal Medulla
Renal Pelvis
· Renal Medulla:
Contains the renal pyramids.
· Interlobar Arteries/Veins:
Located between the renal pyramids.
· Arcuate Arteries/Veins:
Found along the boundary between the base of the pyramids and the cortex.
· Interlobular Arteries/Veins:
Branch off the arcuate vessels into the cortex.
Blood Supply of the Kidneys
· Renal Artery:
Branches from the abdominal aorta to supply the kidneys.
· Renal Vein:
Drains blood from the kidney into the inferior vena cava.
· Afferent Arteriole:
Brings blood into the glomerulus.
· Glomerulus:
A ball of capillaries inside the glomerular capsule where filtration begins.
· Efferent Arteriole:
Exits the glomerulus and connects to the peritubular capillaries.
· Peritubular Capillaries:
Surround the renal tubules, facilitating reabsorption and secretion.
Blood Flow Through the Kidney (In Order):
Constriction of Efferent Arterioles:
1 Filtration rate
* Hormonal Control of Filtration
· Renin-Angiotensin System:
Regulates sodium excretion
· Juxtaglomerular Cells Secrete Renin In Response To:
o Į Blood pressure (detected by afferent arteriole)
0
Sympathetic stimulation
Macula densa sensing | CI-, K+, or Na+
O
· Renin triggers -> Angiotensin II:
· Vasoconstricts efferent arteriole
o Increases filtration pressure & GFR
· Angiotensin II stimulates:
Aldosterone secretion -> increases sodium reabsorption
Tubular Reabsorption
· Main Site:
Proximal convoluted tubule
· Cell Adaptations:
Microvilli with carrier proteins
· Glucose & Amino Acids:
Reabsorbed by active transport
· Water:
Reabsorbed by osmosis
· Sodium Ions:
Active transport
- CI- and HCO3- follow passively
· Not All Substances Are Reabsorbed Because:
There's a limited number of receptors in tubules
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/ Tubular Secretion
· Moves substances from blood -> tubule
. Excess ions & organic compounds secreted by active transport
\
A JUXTAGLOMERULAR APPARATUS
· Where distal tubule touches arterioles
· Contains:
o Macula densa cells (detect ion levels)
· Juxtaglomerular cells (smooth muscle)
· Together -> Juxtaglomerular apparatus: helps regulate BP
URINE FORMATION
Glomerular Filtration
· Fluid filtered from glomerulus -> glomerular capsule
· Filtrate = urine precursor
· ~ 180 L/day of filtrate formed
.
Podocytes prevent proteins from leaving blood
· Glomerular filtrate contains:
· Water, Electrolytes, Glucose, Urea, Uric Acid
Filtration Pressure
. Caused by blood hydrostatic pressure
· Efferent arteriole is smaller -> 1 glomerular pressure
· Net Filtration Pressure = always positive
Filtration Rate
· Affected by:
o Arteriole constriction/dilation
· Osmotic & hydrostatic pressures
· Normal GFR = 125 mL/min or 180 L/day
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2 Tubular Reabsorption
· Returns needed substances from filtrate -> blood
.
Mostly occurs in Proximal Convoluted Tubule
.
Uses carrier proteins with limited capacity
·
Reabsorbs:
· Glucose, amino acids (active transport)
o Water (osmosis)
FORMAT 1 :
CHAPTER 17 - THE URINARY SYSTEM
TI MAIN ORGANS & GENERAL FUNCTIONS
Urinary System Includes:
· 2 Kidneys - filter blood & form urine
· 2 Ureters - carry urine to the bladder
· Urinary Bladder - stores urine
· Urethra - carries urine outside body
® Key Functions:
· Regulates electrolyte levels, fluid volume, and pH
· Controls red blood cell production (via erythropoietin)
· Helps control blood pressure (via renin)
KIDNEY STRUCTURE & LOCATION
·
Bean-shaped, reddish-brown, about 12 cm long
· Protected by fibrous capsule, held in place by fat/connective tissue
· Located retroperitoneally (behind peritoneum)
· Between T12-L3 vertebrae
o Left kidney is higher than right
IL INTERNAL KIDNEY STRUCTURE
· Hilum: indentation for entry/exit of blood vessels, nerves, ureter
· Renal Sinus: central cavity inside the kidney
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· Renal Pelvis: funnel-shaped, collects urine
· Branches into major & minor calyces
· Renal Papillae: tip of pyramids, drain into minor calyces
Two Main Regions
· Renal Cortex: outer layer
. Renal Medulla: inner part with pyramids
· Renal Columns: parts of cortex between pyramids
Hormones in Reabsorption
· Aldosterone (Adrenal glands):
o | Na+ reabsorption
0 1 K+ secretion
· ADH (Antidiuretic Hormone):
o Makes distal tubule & collecting duct permeable to water
o Promotes water reabsorption
** Nitrogenous Waste
· Urea:
By-product of amino acid metabolism
· Uric Acid:
By-product of nucleic acid metabolism
Pathway of Urine from Formation to Exit:
Glomerulus -> Glomerular capsule -> Proximal convoluted tubule -> Descending
limb ->
Ascending limb -> Distal convoluted tubule -> Collecting duct -> Minor calyx ->
Major
calyx -> Ureter -> Bladder -> Urethra
+ Urine Transport & Elimination
· Ureters:
2 muscular tubes from kidneys to bladder
· Urinary Bladder Muscle:
Detrusor muscle
· Trigone:
Internal floor of bladder with 2 ureter openings + urethra opening @555myworld
· Urine Leaves Bladder By:
Micturition reflex
11 Urethra & Sphincters
· Urethra:
Tube that conveys urine outside