Urinary SystemAnatomy and Physiology

Urinary System in Context

Urinary System in Context

System How does it do it?

Functions of the Urinary system

1. Regulating blood volume and pressure
2. Regulating plasma concentrations of sodium, potassium, chloride and other ions 3. Stabilising blood pH 4. Conserving nutrients 5. Detoxifying poisons (with the liver)
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Organisation of the Urinary System

Kidneys Ureters Urinary bladder Urethra

Position of the Kidneys

CT abdomen with contrast MRI coronal abdomen

Protection of the Kidneys

3 layers of connective tissue:
Inner layer- Renal capsule
Renal cortex

Middle layer- Adipose capsule

Outer layer-Renal fascia

Retroperitoneal space

Surface anatomy of the Kidney

Hilum is located on the medial surface

10 cm

3cm

5.5cm
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Internal Structure of the Kidney

Renal Lobe Renal pyramids

Renal papilla

Renal Columns
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Microscopic structure of the Kidney and Urine Production

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Renal Corpuscle and Filtration

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Nephron-Tubular System
1. Proximal convoluted tubule 2. Descending loop of Henle 3. Ascending loop of Henle 4. Distal convoluted tubule 5. Collecting duct

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Summary so far..
Blood enters the kidney through the renal artery at the site of the hilum The renal artery divides in to ever smaller arteries and arterioles
Afferent arterioles take blood to the glomerulus to be filtered Once blood is filtered efferent arterioles take blood away from the glomerulus The PCT is concerned with reabsorption- organic nutrients are reabsorbed and water follows because there is a concentration gradient The filtered substances move into the proximal convoluted tubule Products which are filtered out: water, mineral salts, amino acids, glucose, hormones, urea, toxins The glomerulus is a network of capillaries which filters the blood

The remaining filtrate moves into the descending loop of henle. This is lined with thin cells so water moves out

Because water has been reabsorbed the concentration of the filtrate is not very high

The walls of the ascending loop of henle are lined with thicker cells, so water cant pass in or out. Instead sodium and chloride is pumped out actively

Products which do not filter and remain in the blood: Leukocytes, erythrocytes, platelets, plasma proteins

A number of other nephrons join up to the cleectig duct which travels through the medulla to the renal papilla wher the filtrate is emptied in the minor calyx

From the DCT the filtrate now passes into the collecting duct.

In the DCT the volume and composition of the filtrate can be adjusted but this is controlled by hormones

The filtrate now enters the distal convoluted tubule- is it now only 20% of what it originally was.

4-5 minor calyces join up to make a major calyx

2-3 major calyces join up to form the renal pelvis

The renal pelvis joins the ureter at the hilum

The ureter transport the filtrate/urine from the kidney to the bladder

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The Formation of Urine

3 processes involved in the formation of urine.
Simple filtration Selective reabsorbtion
Hormonal control Parathyroid hormone, calcitonin Anti diuretic hormone Aldosterone

Secretion
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Ureters
Superiorly
Continuous with the renal pelvis

Inferiorly
Pass through the abdominal cavity, behind the peritoneum, infront of the psoas muscle, into the pelvic cavity ehere they enter the posterior wall of the bladder

25-30 cm in length
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Ureter- Cross Section

3 layers of tissue
Outer layer
Fibrous tissue

Middle layer
Muscle

Inner layer
Epithelium

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Bladder

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Bladder- structure of
3 layers
Outer layer
Loose connective tissue

Middle layer
Smooth muscle and elastic fibres

Inner layer
Lined with transitional epithelium

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Urethra
Extends from the base of the bladder to the outside world. Anatomical differences mean that male and female urethras are different.
Female: long Male: long 4cm 14cm

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Urethra- structure of
Muscle layer Submucosa layer Mucosa

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