Two kidneys and tow ureters

Urinary bladder & urethra

Function:

Excretion
Regulation of blood volume and pressure
Regulation of concentration of solutes in the blood
Regulation of extracellular fluid pH
Regulation of RBC synthesis
Vitamin D synthesis

Bean-shaped organs
Retroperitoneal
Divided:
Cortex outer portion
Medulla inner portion
Contains renal pyramids and renal columns

 Renal corpuscle
Bowmans capsule
indented to form a double
walled chamber
surrounds the glomerulus
Glomerulus
composed of capillaries
with pores
blood flows from the
afferent arteriole and leaves
through efferent arteriole

Glomerular filtration - filter plasma

Tubular reabsorption
Reabsorb needed compounds & water from

filtrate

Tubular Secretion
Secrete some materials into filtrate

Two layers of capsule surround glomerulus

Between is capsular space

Filtration membrane
Consists of capillary endothelial cells, a basement

membrane and podocytes

Permeable to water & solute
but not most proteins & blood cells

Filtration pressure
Forces fluid from the glomerular capillary across

the filtration membrane into Bowmans capsule

Fluid from the blood enters Bowmans capsule by passing through the capillary walls
and the inner layer of bowmans capsule

Normal GFR 105-125 ml/min

Determines net reabsorption because it

determines filtrate flow

estimates how much blood passes through

the glomeruli each minute

Movement of substances from the filtrate across

the wall of the nephron back into the blood of
the peritubular capillaries

reabsorbed by:
Active transport of solutes
Co - transport
Osmosis moves water

About 99% of the filtrate volume is reabsorbed

Proteins, amino acids, glucose, fructose and Na+,

K+ , Ca2+ , and HCO3-

Proximal tubule
~65% Na+ & H2O
Normally 100% nutrients
~100% HCO3- (depends on blood pH)

Descending limb of the loop of Henle

15 %

Distal tubule and collecting ducts

19 %

Takes place all along tubule

Major substances : H+, K+, ammonia, urea,

creatine, drugs like penicillin

Helps regulate plasma pH 7.35-7.45

Collecting ducts calyces

renal pelvis
Ureter

Lined with mucus & transitional

epithelium

Bladder- directly in front of rectum

Smaller in females because of uterus
Three layers of detrussor muscle

Urethra- internal urethral

sphincter
External urethral sphincter
(voluntary)

regulates the flow of urine

Micturition reflex is activated by stretch of

the urinary bladder wall
Parasympathetic action potentials cause
contraction of the urinary bladder
Higher brain centers control micturation
reflex.

Urine = 1-2 l /day

95% water
+ urea, creatine, K+, ammonia, uric acid, Na+,
Cl-, Mg2+, sulfate, phosphate & Ca2+
Depends on diet and state of health
Diet is acid urine is typically acidic