Urinary System

Question 1

Urinary system organs

Answer 1

Kidneys
Ureter
Urinary bladder
Urethra

Question 2

Function of the urinary system

Answer 2

Remove metabolic wastes from the blood (nitrogenous and acidic), excess of substances, ex: water and electrolytes, used drugs/ hormones
Regulate water, electrolytes, and acid-base balance in the body
Secrete erythropiotein - hormone released by the kidney, stimulates red blood cell production in bone marrow.
Activate vitamin D - Kidney cells convert vitamin D to its active form
Regulate blood pressure through the renin angiotensin-aldosteronesystem: By producing the enzyme renin, kidneys help regulate blood

Question 3

Kidneys position

Answer 3

Retroperitoneal location, between the 11th and the 12th rib

Question 4

Kidneys anatomy

Answer 4

The kidneys are covered by a fibrous capsule and embedded in fat (the fat insulates the kidneys and acts as a shock absorber)

the renal cortex: outer layer (light in colour), in which the majority of the glomeruli are located.
the renal medulla: inner section of tissue (a darker reddish-brown area), which consists primarily of the tubules and collecting ducts.
Inside the medulla (lateral to the hilum) lie the renal pelvis, through which urine flows into the ureter.
The renal medulla has many basically triangular regions with a striped appearance, the renal or medullary pyramids.
The pyramids are separated by extensions of cortex like tissue, the renal columns.
Extensions of the pelvis, calyces collect urine, which continuously drains from the tips of the pyramids into the renal pelvis. Urine then flows from the pelvis into the ureter, which transports it to the bladder for temporary storage.
The arterial supply of each kidney is the renal artery.
The venous blood draining from the kidney flows through the renalveins.
Nephrons, the structural and functional units of the kidneys,are responsible for forming urine.

Question 5

Central part of the kidney

Answer 5

Renal pelvis

Question 6

Bladder

Answer 6

composed of smooth, expandable sac.
It has openings for the two ureters to bring urine in and an outlet for the urethra through which urine flows out of the body.
Made from transitional epithelial wall (not permeable to water and can resist the irritation of constant contact with urine)
Around the bladder, there are skeletal muscles for urination
The mucosa lining the urinary tract is continuous through the urethra, bladder, and ureter to the pelvis of the kidney → Organisms can easily enter the system through the urethra, and this continuous mucosa facilitates the spread of infection through the urinary tract (an ascending infection).

Question 8

Types of the nephrons

Answer 8

Cortical nephron- only in the cortex
Juxtamedullary nephron- present in the cortex and the medulla