Renal System Flashcards
Learn the Urinary System
There are 5 Major functions of the Urinary System, Name them
- Regulation of water, inorganic ion balance, and acid-base balance
- Removal of metabolic waste from the blood (excreted through urine)
- Removal of foreign chemicals in the blood (excreted through urine)
- Gluconeogenesis (formation of glucose)
- Production of hormones
What hormones are produced in the urinary system? What are their functions? (3 total hormones)
- Erythropoietin- controls erythrocyte production
- Renin- enzyme controls the formation of angiotensin, influences blood pressure and sodium balance
- 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D, influences calcium balance
Main components of the Urinary System
- 2 Kidneys
- 2 Ureters
- Urinary Bladder
- Urethra
How do the kidneys function?
they produce urine (fluid made of water, ions, soluble compounds)
How does the Urethra Function?
During micturition (urination), it conducts urine out of the body
Gross Anatomy of the kidneys (Location)
- located in the retroperitoneal space (posterior to the peritoneum)
- extend from T12 to L3
- protected by the floating ribs
- right kidney is crowded by liver (lower than left)
Give an overview of the surface of the kidneys
- convex lateral surface
- concave medial surface
- renal hilum leads to internal space (leads straight into the concave area)
Why is the renal Hilum important for the kidneys?
- ureters, renal blood vessels, lymphatics, and nerves enter and exit at the hilum
What are the four main features of the internal area of the kidney?
- Renal cortex, renal medulla, renal columns, and major and minor calyces
Renal Cortex (internal kidney)
outer regions (granular, reddish brown)
Renal Medulla (internal kidney)
inner regions composed of renal pyramids with striped appearance
Renal Columns (internal kidney)
separate renal pyramids
major and minor calyces (internal kidney)
collect urine
Give an overview of the structure and function of the ureters
- continuation of the renal pelvis
- carries urine out of the kidneys and to the bladder
- capable of peristalsis (rhythmic contractions of smooth muscle to propel urine to the bladder)
- bladder filling compresses the distal end of the ureter, preventing backflow
Microscopically, the ureters has 3 layers. What are they? (from deepest to superficial)
Deepest: Mucosa
Middle: Muscularis
Superficial: adventitia
What is the mucosa of the ureters? (microscopic)
- transitional epithelium
- readily stretches to accommodate distension from urine filling
What is the muscularis of the ureters? (microscopic)
- senses distention with urine filling and triggers reflexive peristalsis
What is the adventitia of the ureters? (microscopic)
- fibrous connective tissue
- anchors the ureter in place
Renal Calculi
kidney stones in renal pelvis (crystalized calcium, magnesium, or uric acid salts)
- large stones can block the ureter causing pressure and pain
Why are kidney stones caused? What is the treatment?
- genetics, diet, bacterial infection, increased blood calcium levels, or high pH of urine
- treatment- shock wave lithotripsy- non invasive procedure sending shock waves to shatter calculi
Give a brief overview of the Urinary Bladder Anatomy.
- a muscular sac for temporary storage of urine
- located on the pelvic floor posterior to pubic symphysis
- Males: superior to prostate
- Females: anterior to vagina and uterus
5 Common features of the bladder in both men and women
- trigone: triangular area at the bottom of the bladder marked by the openings for the paired ureters and urethra
- Inner mucosa of bladder: transitional epithelium that fold into rugae
- middle layer is the detrusor muscle: contains muscle that contracts to drive urination
- thick muscle near the opening leading to the urethra forms the internal urethral sphincter
- urethra passes through a ring of skeletal muscle on its way out the external urethral sphincter
Give a brief overview of the structure of the urinary system in females
- urethra is only 3-5 cm in length; functions only in transport of urine
Give a brief overview of the structure of the urinary system in males
- urethra is longer (20 cm); functions in transport of both urine and semen