Lecture 33

Question 1

What type of epithelium is found in most the urinary tract?

Answer 1

Transitional epithelium

Question 2

What is transitional epithelium?

Answer 2

Stratified, rounded epithelial cells that flatten when stretched

Question 3

What is the function of transitional epithelium?

Answer 3

Protection

Question 4

How many ureters are there?

Answer 4

Two

Question 5

What are the ureters?

Answer 5

Slender tube structures that arise from each renal pelvis at each hilum and carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder

Question 6

Where do the ureters lie?

Answer 6

Retroperitoneally

Question 7

What moves urine to the bladder?

Answer 7

Peristaltic waves

Question 8

What are the three layers of the ureter wall?

Answer 8

Mucosa, muscularis, adventitia

Question 9

What is the mucosa composed of?

Answer 9

Lamina propria and transitional epithelium

Question 10

What does the mucosa of the ureters secrete?

Answer 10

Protein plaque

Question 11

What is a protein plaque?

Answer 11

A waxy substance that sits along the inner surface of the ureter to create a double layer of protection

Question 12

What is the composition of the muscularis in the ureters?

Answer 12

Inner longitudinal, outer circular

Question 13

How do the ureters enter the bladder?

Answer 13

On an oblique angle through the wall at its posterolateral corners

Question 14

What does the oblique angle act as?

Answer 14

A sphincter/valve that is compressed by increased bladder pressure to prevent backflow

Question 15

What is the urinary bladder?

Answer 15

A collapsible muscular sac that stores and expels urine

Question 16

What happens to the bladder when it is empty?

Answer 16

It lies within the pelvis, collapses along the rugae and is a pyramidal shape

Question 17

What happens to the bladder when it is full?

Answer 17

It becomes a spherical shape and can be palpated above the pubic symphysis

Question 18

What happens to the bladder when it is filling?

Answer 18

It expands without a great increase in pressure (~500mL) superiorly into the abdominal cavity

Question 19

What is the location of the male urinary bladder?

Answer 19

Anterior to the rectum, superior to the prostate gland which wraps around the urethra

Question 20

What is the location of the female urinary bladder?

Answer 20

Anterior to the vagina and uterus

Question 21

Where are the rugae of the urinary bladder?

Answer 21

In the mucosa of transitional epithelium

Question 22

What is the muscle of the urinary bladder called?

Answer 22

Detrusor

Question 23

What is the composition and function of muscle in the urinary bladder?

Answer 23

Longitudinal, circular and oblique fibres in no distinct layer only function is to contract and expel urine

Question 24

What is the urethra?

Answer 24

A thin-walled tube that drains urine from the bladder, out of the body

Question 25

What are the epithelial changes along the urethra?

Answer 25

Transitional epithelium near the bladder, columnar between and then stratified squamose near the external opening. Also containing mucus glands for protection

Question 26

What is the length of the female urethra?

Answer 26

~5cm

Question 27

What is the length of the male urethra?

Answer 27

~25cm

Question 28

What is the difference between the male and female urethra?

Answer 28

Male is apart of the reproductive system, female is not

Question 29

What are the three sections of the male urethra?

Answer 29

Prostatic, membranous and penile (spongy)

Question 30

How many urethral sphincters are there?

Answer 30

Two; internal and external

Question 31

What is the internal urethral sphincter?

Answer 31

Detrusor muscle so under involuntary control, at the junction of the bladder and urethra

Question 32

What is the external urethral sphincter?

Answer 32

Skeletal muscle so under voluntary control, located where the urethra passes through the urogenital diaphragm

Question 33

Explain urination

Answer 33

The bladder fills and expands, APs sent from stretch receptors to the brain, urgency increases and signals increase. This causes the internal sphincter to relax and a conscious decision is made to relax the external sphincter