Urinary System Flashcards
What structures make up the urinary system?
2 kidneys, 2 ureters, urinary bladder and urethra
What process is responsible for the movement of urine down the ureters?
Peristalsis
Where do the ureters end?
Posterior wall of the bladder, enter obliquely and in line with the symphysis pubis bone.
What is the cell type that lines the renal pelvis, ureters and bladder?
Transitional epithelium
What is the advantage of transitional epithelium lining the urinary system?
It can stretch and relax meaning the volume of the structures can change.
What is micturition?
This is the process of urinary excretion
What happens during micturition?
As bladder volume increases the pressure increases. This causes the detrusor muscles in the bladder wall to contract and relaxation of the internal urethral sphincter muscle. Voluntary contraction of external urethral sphincter muscle allows passage of urine from the body.
What advice can be given to patients who need to improve their bladder control?
Pelvic floor exercises
These strengthen the pelvic floor muscles and help pt to regain control of contraction inhibiting urination.
What is the bladder trigone?
This is an anatomical section of the bladder consisting of the 2 posterior openings for the ureters and the anterior urethral orifice at the neck of the bladder.
What is bladder retention and what can cause it?
Inability to empty bladder despite being full.
May be caused by blocked urethra or weakening/impairment of the detrusor muscles allowing bladder contraction or relaxation of sphincter muscles.
What is the normal glomerular filtration rate (GFR) for a healthy male and female?
Male - 125ml/min
Female 105ml/min
List the 4 sections of the nephron?
- Bowmans capsule/glomerulus
- Proximal convoluted tubule
- Loop of Henle (ascending and descending limb)
- Distal convoluted tubule
Where are the proteins aquaporins found and what is their role?
These are found in the walls of the collecting ducts and allow the reabsorption of water back into the blood depending on how much the body needs.
What is the role of using contrast media during pre-treatment CT imagine?
Contrast media allows us to visualise the blood vessels easier. Blood vessels run alongside the lymphatic system therefore for patients who have lymph node involvement we can use contrast to get a better prediction of where the nodes are.
What two kidney functions need to be checked before administering contrast media?
Creatinine clearance
GFR
Give two things we tell patient to avoid if they are having frequent/excessive urination problems?
Caffeine (teas and coffees)
Alcohol
What is a diuretic ?
A substance that promotes urine production by reducing water reabsorption into the blood and therefore lowering blood volume.
What is ADH, where is it produced and what is its function?
Anti-diuretic hormone
Produced in the posterior pituitary
stimulates increased water reabsorption in the DCT and collecting ducts
Reduces volume of urine
What two hormones do the kidney produce and what are their function?
Erythropoietin - stimulates red blood cell production
Calcitriol - natural form of vitamin D, maintains calcium levels
What is renin?
An enzyme produced by the kidney involved in the control of blood pressure.
What is hydronephrosis?
A condition where one or both kidneys become stretched and swollen as a result of a build of urine inside them caused by a blockage downstream.
Give 4 etiological factors of bladder cancer
Tobacco
Age (being over 55)
Industrial carcinogens
Chronic bladder infections
Give 5 signs and symptoms of presenting bladder cancer
1.Haematuria
2.Pain when urinating (cystisis)
3.Difficulty passing urine (Dysuria)
4.Hydronephrosis
5.Acute retention
Give 3 signs and symptoms of advanced stage bladder cancer
Bone pain
Lower limb oedema
Reduced appetite/weight loss
