WEEK 9: 9.1 Overview of the Urinary System

Question 1

What are the major structures of the urinary system?

Answer 1

Kidneys x2
Ureters x2
Bladder
Urethra

Question 2

What are the functions of the urinary system

Answer 2

Filter Blood plasma
Conserve valuable nutrients lost via urine
Regulate blood volume and pressure
Regulate blood pH, glucose levels
Release hormones like erythropoietin and calcitriol

Question 3

What is filtered in the blood plasma

Answer 3

The concentration of sodium, potassium and chloride, as well as the removal of drugs, toxins and waste products from the bloodstream

Question 4

How is blood volume and pressure regulated?

Answer 4

removing water from the blood decreases blood volume which decreases blood pressure

Question 5

How is blood pH and glucose levels regulated and why?

Answer 5

H+ ions are removed, as well as glucose to maintain homeostasis

Question 6

what does the release of erythropoietin do

Answer 6

stimulate red blood cell formation

Question 7

what does the release of calcitriol do?

Answer 7

stimulate calcium absorption in the GIT

Question 8

Is the left kidney superior or inferior to the right?

Answer 8

superior

Question 9

what kind of peritoneal is the kidneys?

Answer 9

retroperitoneal

Question 10

What structures are in the anterior of the kidney

Answer 10

renal artery
renal vein
ureter
hilum

Question 11

What does the renal artery do?

Answer 11

supply the kidney with approximately 20% of resting cardiac output

Question 12

what does the renal vein do?

Answer 12

take blood out of the kidney

Question 13

what does the ureter do?

Answer 13

take urine to the bladder

Question 14

what does the hilum do?

Answer 14

it is the entry/exit point for the renal vein, renal artery, ureter, renal nerves

Question 15

What is the first connective tissue layer of the kidney?

Answer 15

The fibrous capsule, which is a capsule of collagen fibres

Question 16

What is the second connective tissue layer of the kidney?

Answer 16

perinephric/perirenal fat, which is a thick cushioning layer of adipose tissue

Question 17

What is the third connective tissue layer of the kidney ?

Answer 17

renal fascia, which is a dense fibrous outer layer that anchors the kidney to surrounding structures

Question 18

What is the renal cortex?

Answer 18

the outermost section of the kidney which is the site of filtration and reabsorption, where waste and H2O is removed and glucose/proteins are reabsorbed back into blood

Question 19

What is the renal medulla?

Answer 19

it is a region below the cortex in which the regulation of urine concentration occurs

Question 20

What is the renal sinus?

Answer 20

a central cavity containing the renal pelvis, renal calyces, blood vessels and fat

Question 21

What is a renal pyramids

Answer 21

It exists within the medulla, and are conical structures that transport urine from the cortex -> sinus

Question 22

What is the renal papilla?

Answer 22

the apex of the renal pyramid

Question 23

What are the renal columns?

Answer 23

bands of tissue that separate adjacent renal pyramids

Question 24

What is kidney lobes (functional units)

Answer 24

Consist of renal pyramid, overlying renal cortex, adjacent tissues of the renal columns
Where urine is produced

Question 25

What structures does urine pass through to be transported to the ureter?

Answer 25

(1) Renal papilla - filtrate passes from the renal pyramid --> renal sinus (2) Minor calyces - collects urine produced by a single kidney lobe (3) Major calyces - fusion of 4-5 minor calyces + collects urine from minor calyces (4) Renal pelvis - large funnel shaped chamber, continuous with the ureter (5) Ureter - drains the urine from kidney --> bladder every 30 secs, peristaltic wave sweeps along ureter

Question 26

What does the mucosa of the bladder consist of?

Answer 26

transitional epithelium (stratified cuboidal epithelium --> squamous) rugae for expansion

Question 27

what does the muscularis of the bladder consist of and what is its purpose?

Answer 27

it facilitates the expulsion of urine 3 layers of smooth muscle, including inner and outer longitudinal and middle circular

Question 28

What is the sphincter of the bladder and what does it do?

Answer 28

It is bands of skeletal muscle that control urine flow via (valves)

Question 29

What are the 2 sphincters in the bladder?

Answer 29

(1) internal urethral sphincter (involuntary) (2) external urethral sphincter (voluntary)

Question 30

What does the urethra do?

Answer 30

It transports urine from the bladder to the exterior of the body

Question 31

What does the mucosa of the urethra contain?

Answer 31

proximal stratified transitional epithelium middle stratified columnar distal stratified squamous

Question 32

What does the muscularis of the urethra do and contain?

Answer 32

It facilitates expulsion of urine and contains 2 layers of smooth muscle (inner longitudinal and outer circular)

Question 33

What does the kidneys do?

Answer 33

Produce urine

Question 34

What do ureters do?

Answer 34

Receive urine from kidneys and carry urine to bladder via peristalsis

Question 35

What do bladder do?

Answer 35

Receive and store urine and contract muscular wall to stimulate urination