General Structure &

Function of the
Urinary System

Asst. Prof. Dr. Izzuddin Ahmad Nadzirin

DBMS, KAHS
 Introduction
• The urinary system is involved in the regulation of
internal environment
• A cell’s function depends on receiving continous
supply of organic nutrients, eliminating metabolic
end products as well as stable ionic condition in
the extracellular fluid bathingit
• Some of the important substances include water,
sodium, potassium, calcium, and hydrogen ion
• Regulation of their excretion allows the relative
constant maintenance of their total amounts in
the body and their concentration in the
extracellular fluid
 25 L,
40% body weight

3 L, Total body
20% of ECF water: 40 L, 60%
body weight
Extracellular
fluid: 15 L, 20%
body weight

12 L,
80% of ECF
 URINARY SYSTEM ORGANS
• Kidneys (2)
• Ureters (2)
• Urinary bladder
• Urethra
KIDNEYS AND SURROUNDING
STRUCTURES
 KIDNEY FUNCTIONS
• Control blood volume andcomposition
– Secrete erythropoietin (EPO)
• Filter blood plasma, eliminate wastes
• Regulate fluid osmolarity
• Regulate blood volume, pressure
– Secrete renin for renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system
• Regulate PCO2, Acid-Base balance
• Synthesize calcitriol ( active form of vitamin D)
• Detoxify free radicals, drugs
• Gluconeogenesis
– during longer fasting; supplied from proteins and fat
 EXCRETION
Removal of wastes
• Respiratory system
– CO2, water
• Integumentary (skin) system
– Water, salts, lactic acid, urea
• Digestive system
– Water, salts, CO2, lipids, bile pigments, cholesterol, etc.
• Urinary system
– Metabolic wastes, toxins, drugs, hormones, salts, H+,water
 KIDNEY ANATOMY
Protected by three connective tissuelayers
• Renal fascia
– Attaches or achors to abdominal walland
surrounding structures
• Adipose capsule
– Fat cushioning kidney, protects from trauma
• Renal capsule
– Fibrous sac, helps maintain shape
– Protects from trauma and infection
KIDNEY ANATOMY
 KIDNEY ANATOMY
Gross anatomy
• Renal sinus
• Renal parenchyma
 KIDNEY ANATOMY
Renal sinus
• Surrounded by renal parenchyma
• Contains blood & lymph vessels, nerves,urine-
collecting structures
 KIDNEY ANATOMY
Renal parenchyma
• Glandular tissue
• Forms urine
• Two zones
– Outer cortex
– Inner medulla
 KIDNEY ANATOMY
Renal parenchyma
• Renal pyramids
– Extensions of cortex (renal
columns) divide medulla into 6
– 18 renal pyramids
– Pyramid + overlying cortex =
Lobe
– Point of pyramid =Papilla
– Papilla nested in cup (minor
calyx)
– 2 – 3 minor calices  Major
calyx
– 2 – 3 major calices  Renal
pelvis
– Renal pelvis  Ureter
 KIDNEY ANATOMY: NEPHRONS
Nephrons
• Functional units of kidney
• 1 - 2 million per kidney
• Three main parts
– Blood vessels
– Renal corpuscle
– Renal tubule
 Nephrons
• Capillary to
lumen: secretion
• Lumen to
capillary :
reabsorption
 NEPHRONS
Blood vessels servicingkidney
• Supplied by renal artery
– ~21% or cardiac output
–   Afferent arterioles
–  Capillary cluster (glomerulus)
 NEPHRONS
Blood vessels servicing kidney
• Glomerulus
– Fenestrated capillaries
– Capillary filtration in glomerulus initiates urine production
– Filtrate lacks cells & proteins
– Drained by efferent arteriole
– Peritubular capillaries
–     Renalvein
BREAK
 NEPHRONS
Renal corpuscle
• Glomerulus plus capsule
• Glomerulus enclosed in two-
layered glomerular capsule
– “Bowman’s capsule”
• Fluid filters from glomerular
capillaries
– “Glomerular filtrate”
• Fluid collects in capsular
space
• Fluid flows into renal tubule
 NEPHRONS
Renal tubule
• Leads from glomerular capsule
• Ends at tip of medullarypyramid
• ~3 cm long
• Four major regions
– Proximal convoluted tubule
– Nephron loop / Loop of Henle
– Distal convoluted tubule
– Collecting duct
 NEPHRONS
Renal tubule
• Proximal convoluted tubule (PCT)
– Arises from glomerular capsule
– Longest, most coiled region
– Prominent microvilli
• Function in absorption
– Much contact with peritubularcapillaries
 NEPHRONS
Renal tubule
• Nephron loop (“Loop of Henle”)
– “U” – shaped, distal to PCT
• Descending and ascending limbs
– Thick segments
• Active transport of salts
• High metabolism, many mitochondria
– Thin segments
• Permeable to water
• Low metabolism
 NEPHRONS
Renal tubule
• Distal convoluted tubule
(DCT)
– Coiled, distal to nephronloop
– Shorter than PCT
– Less coiled than PCT
– Very few microvilli
– Contacts afferent and efferent
arterioles (regulation
imparted)
– Contact with peritubular
capillaries
 NEPHRONS
Renal tubules
• Collecting duct
– DCTs of several nephrons empty into a collecting
duct
– Passes into medulla
– Several merge into papillary duct (~30 per papilla)
– Drain into minor calyx
 URINE FORMATION
Overview
• Blood plasma  Urine
• Four steps
– Glomerular filtration
– Tubular reabsorption
– Tubular secretion
– Water conservation
 URINE STORAGE
Ureters
• Carry urine from kidneys to urinarybladder
via peristalsis
– Rhythmic contraction of smoothmuscle
• Enter bladder from below
• Pressure from full bladder compressesureters
and prevents backflow
 URINE STORAGE
Ureters
• Small diameter
• Easily obstructed or injured by kidney stones
(renal calculi)
 URINE STORAGE
Urinary bladder
• Muscular sac
• Wrinkles termed rugae
• Openings of ureters common site forbladder
infection
 URINE ELIMINATION
Urethra
• Conveys urine from body
• Internal urethral sphincter
– Retains urine in bladder
– Smooth muscle, involuntary
• External urethral sphincter
– Provides voluntary control over voiding of urine
 URINE ELIMINATION
Urethra
• 3 – 4 cm long in females
– Bound by connective tissue to anterior wallof
vagina
– Urethral orifice exits body between vaginalorifice
and clitoris
 URINE ELIMINATION
Urethra
• ~18 cm long in males
– Prostatic urethra
• ~2.5 cm long, urinary bladder  prostate
– Membranous urethra
• ~0.5 cm, passes through floor of pelviccavity
– Penile urethra
• ~15 cm long, passes through penis
 URINE ELIMINATION
Urination (micturition)
• ~200 ml of urine held
• Distension initiates desire to void
• Internal sphincter relaxes involuntarily
– Smooth muscle
• External sphincter voluntarily relaxes
– Skeletal muscle
– Poor control in infants
• Bladder muscle contracts
• Urine forces through urethra