Urinary System

Question 1

What are the components of the urinary system?

Answer 1

Kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra.

Question 2

Where are the kidneys located?

Answer 2

Posteriorly to Abdominal Wall
Between T12 and L3

Question 3

Why is the right kidney lower than the left?

Answer 3

Due to the position of the liver.

Question 4

What kind of tissue is the kidney covered by?

Answer 4

Dense connective tissue capsule = Renal Capsule

Question 5

What is covered by the renal fascia?

Answer 5

Adrenal glands, peri renal fat & kidneys.

Question 6

What is the renal hilum?

Answer 6

The area where structures enter or leave the kidneys.

Question 7

What structures are within the hilum?

Answer 7

Renal Vein, Renal Artery and Ureter

Question 8

What is the outer layer of the kidney called?

Answer 8

Cortex

Question 9

What is the inner part of the kidney called?

Answer 9

Medulla

Question 10

What are the two projections that run from the cortex?
What are their functions?

Answer 10

Renal columns: connective tissue extensions that separate the pyramids.
Medullary Rays: Striated projections from bases of renal pyramids into the cortex.

Question 11

What is the filtering unit of the kidney?

Answer 11

Blood vessel + Bowman’s capsule

Question 12

Draining system within the kidney

Answer 12

Pyramids contain many collecting ducts
Collecting ducts gather to form papillary ducts
Gather to from Renal Papilla
Minor Calyx
Each pyramid drains into minor calyx
All minor calyces join to form the major calyx
Major calyces join into renal pelvis
Renal pelvis drains into ureter

Question 13

Where is the renal corpuscle located?

Answer 13

In the cortex

Question 14

What is the function of the renal corpuscle?

Answer 14

To filter blood and form urine

Question 15

What is the renal corpuscle composed of?

Answer 15

Glomerulus (Capillary Network)
Bowman’s Capsule (Visceral: surround the capillaries &Parietal: Continues with tubules)

Question 16

What are the three renal tubules?

Answer 16

Proximal Convoluted Tubule
Loop of Henle
Distal Convoluted Tubule

Question 17

How many types of nephrons are there and what are they?

Answer 17

Cortical Nephrons: 80 to 85% of nephrons, cortical zone of cortex, a short loop of Henle.

Juxtamedullary Nephrons: 15 to 20% of nephrons, juxtamedullary zone, long loop of Henle.

Question 18

Where are the papillary ducts located?

Answer 18

Apex of renal pyramids

Question 19

Where do the papillary ducts drain into?

Answer 19

Minor calyx

Question 20

What are the two muscular layers of the ureter?

Answer 20

Inner longitudinal and Outer circular

Question 21

What are the 3 areas of constriction?

Answer 21

Renal pelvis joins the ureter,
Over pelvic brim,
Enters the bladder posteriorly.

Question 22

Where do renal stones usually get stuck?

Answer 22

Between the renal pelvis joining the ureter and the pelvic brim.

Question 23

Where is the urinary bladder located?

Answer 23

In the pelvis; posteriorly

Question 24

What are the different shapes of the bladder under different circumstances?

Answer 24

Empty: collapsed
Normal: spherical
Overfilled: pear-shaped

Question 25

What is the average capacity of the bladder?

Answer 25

700 to 800ml

Question 26

What are rugae and when are they visible in the bladder?

Answer 26

Folds of the bladder mucosa, more visible when bladder is empty.

Question 27

What is the trigone in the bladder?

Answer 27

Area in the floor of the bladder, closes automatically when opposite pressure is exerted.
No rugae,
Very sensitive to expansion,
Posterior corners receive two ureters.

Question 28

What is the urethra?

Answer 28

Small tube that is responsible for urine excretion from bladder

Question 29

Urethra in males

Answer 29

20cm
3 different parts;
- Prostatic,
- Membranous,
- Penile

Question 30

Urethra in females

Answer 30

4cm

Question 31

Prostatic Urethra

Answer 31

Extends through the prostatic gland,
Openings of prostatic ducts,
Most dilatable portion,
- Transitional Epithelium

Question 32

Membranous Urethra

Answer 32

Shortest and least dilatable,
Passes through urogenital diaphragm,
- Stratified columnar or pseudo stratified columnar

Question 33

Spongy (Penile) Urethra

Answer 33

Longest,
Extends to external urethral orifice,
- Pseudostratified columnar

Question 34

Urethra Anatomy (Female)

Answer 34

• Transportation of urine,
• 3 to 5cm long,
• Proximal part: Transitional epithelium,
• Distal part: Stratified squamous,
• Extends from next of bladder to external urethra.

Question 35

Reflex and Urination

Answer 35

Stretch receptors in the wall of bladder relayed to sacral spinal cord (pelvic nerves)

Sensation relayed to cerebral cortex

Parasympathetic outflow causes contraction of detrusor muscle & relaxation of internal urethral sphincter

Micturition suppressed by somatic control of external urethral sphincter

Micturition is facilitated with voluntary relaxation of external urethral sphincter.