ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY

LESSON 17 | URINARY SYSTEM

URINARY SYSTEM 3. Renal Pelvis
- It is also called the Excretory or Renal system. a. Calyces – Cavities where urine is collected
- Excretion before it flows into the urinary bladder.
- Maintain blood volume and Concentration.
- Blood pH regulation
- Regulates blood pressure.
- Hormone production
a. Erythropoietin
b. Calcitriol
- Regulation of Blood Glucose or Sugar

COMPONENTS

1. Kidneys (2)
2. Ureters (2)
3. Urinary Bladder (1)
4. Urethra (1)

Nephrology – The Scientific study of the anatomy, NEPHRONS:

physiology, and pathology of the Kidneys - Functional unit of the Kidney
- Each kidney contains 1 million Nephrons.
Urology – Branch of medicine that deals with the male
and female urinary and reproductive systems. 2 Major Parts
a. Renal Corpuscles
- Blood plasma is filtered.
KIDNEYS
- Composed of Glomerulus (arterial capillaries),
- Reddish brown, bean-shaped organ
enclosed by Bowman’s Capsule (expanded
- Located on each side of the vertebral column:
extension of renal tubule).
between the 12th thoracic and 3rd Lumbar
vertebra.
b. Renal Tubule
- Passage of filtered (glomerular filtrate)
Internal Structures: 3 Main regions
- Composed of:
i. Proximal convoluted tubule (PCT)
1. Renal Cortex
ii. Nephron loop (Loop of Henle)
- Thin outermost layer
iii. Distal Convoluted Tubule (DCT)
a. Renal column
b. Renal capsule – Connective tissue around
2 Types of Nephrons
each kidney; acts as a barrier
1. Cortical Nephrons (80%)
c. Glomerulus
- Have a glomerulus located nearer to the outer
d. Convoluted Tubules
parts of the cortex and their loops of Henle are
short.
2. Renal Medulla
2. Juxtamedullary Nephrons (20%)
a. Renal Pyramid
- Have long loops of Henle that extend deep into
b. Calyx
the inner medulla.
c. Apex

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Adriel Vamos | BSN 1-F
ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY
LESSON 17 | URINARY SYSTEM
Flow of Filtrate through Nephron RENAL PHYSIOLOGY: Urine Formation
1. Renal Corpuscle
2. Proximal tubule - Homeostatic mechanism to maintain
3. Descending loop of Henle composition and volume of blood plasma
4. Ascending Loop of Henle within normal limits.
5. Distal Tubule
6. Collecting Duct Nephrons function:
7. Papillary Duct 1. Regulate concentration of solutes
2. Regulate concentration of water in blood
plasma
3. Remove metabolic wastes and excess
substances from blood plasma.

3 Processes

1. Glomerular Filtration
- Moves water and solutes (except plasma
proteins) from blood plasma into the nephron
to form filtrate.

Filtrate – fluid that enters the Bowman’s capsule.

- Consists of the same substances In the blood
plasma
- No blood cells.
Filtration
Blood Flow through Kidney - The use of pressure t force fluids and solutes
through a membrane
1. Renal artery - Occurs due to higher blood pressure in the
2. Interlobar artery glomerulus.
3. Arcuate artery
4. Interlobular artery Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR)
5. Afferent arteriole - The amount of filtrate formed in all renal
6. Glomerulus corpuscle of both kidneys each minute.
7. Efferent Arteriole - 125ml/min or 7.5 liters/hour, where entire
8. Peritubular capillaries blood volume is filtered every 40 minutes.
9. Vasa recta
10. Interlobular vein 2. Tubular Reabsorption
11. Arcuate vein - Removes useful substances from the filtrate
12. Interlobar vein and return them into the blood.
- Water reabsorption – Remove water from
filtrate and return into the blood.
- Filtered substances are transferred from the
tubular lumen to the peritubular capillaries.
- The process is Highly selective and Variable.

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Adriel Vamos | BSN 1-F
ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY
LESSON 17 | URINARY SYSTEM
3. Tubular Secretion
- Removes additional wastes and excess
substances from the blood into the filtrate.

Urinary bladder
Has 3 Layers:
a. Mucosa; transitional epithelium – permits
stretching.
b. Intermediate Muscularis (detrusor muscle)
i. Inner longitudinal
ii. Middle circular
iii. Outer Longitudinal layers

Micturition Reflex
EXCRETION OF URINE - Discharge of Urine from the Urinary bladder;
- Pass through ureter by peristalsis, into urinary micturition/urination/voiding
bladder and voided through the urethra. - Occurs via combination of involuntary and
voluntary muscle contractions.
Ureters
- Slender Tubes; 25cm long
- Extend from kidneys to urinary bladder.
Has 3 Layers:
a. Outer fibrous layer
b. Middle smooth muscle fibers
c. Inner mucous membrane

Adventitia – Most superficial coat of the urinary

bladder on the posterior and inferior surfaces

Serosa – Superior surface of the Urinary bladder

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Adriel Vamos | BSN 1-F
ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY
LESSON 17 | URINARY SYSTEM
MAINTENANCE OF BLOOD PLASMA COMPOSITION 4. BICARBONATE
- Second most prevalent extracellular anions
- Composition and volume affected by diet,
cellular metabolism, and urine production. 5. CALCIUM
- Water and Electrolyte balance; concentrations - Most abundant mineral in the body
of one that affects the concentration of the - Contributes to the integrity of bones and teeth.
other. - Plays an important role in
a. Blood clotting
WATER BALANCE b. Neurotransmitter release
- Regulated by the thirst center (hypothalamus) c. Maintenance of muscle tone
- Center activated during decrease in water d. Excitability of nervous and muscle tissue.
concentration of the blood.
MAINTENANCE OF ACID BASE BALANCE
ACID – Substances that release Hydrogen Ions.
NITROGENOUS WASTE
- Kidneys remove excess nitrogenous wastes’ BASE – Substances that release Hydroxyl Ions.
keep concentrations in the blood within
tolerable limits. BUFFER – Solution that can resist pH change.

Products of Cellular Metabolism ABG (Arterial Blood Gas analysis)

a. Urea – Waste product of amino acid - Measures the balance of Oxygen and Carbon
metabolism (from liver to kidney) dioxide in your blood to see how well your
b. Uric Acid – Waste product of Nucleic acids lungs are working.
c. Creatinine – Waste product of muscle
metabolism (secreted by the DCT)

Acid-Base balance
ELECTROLYTE BALANCE - Maintenance of arterial blood pH between
1. SODIUM 7.35 – 7.45
- Most important ions to be regulated; compose
about 90% in the ECF. ACIDOSIS
- Accounts for almost half of the osmolarity of - Occurs when Arterial blood pH levels falls
Extracellular fluid. below 7.35.
- Necessary for the generation and conduction Respiratory Acidosis – Too much hydrogen ions
of action potentials in neurons and muscle Metabolic Acidosis – Too little bicarbonate
fibers
ALKALOSIS
2. CHLORIDE - Occurs when pH is greater than 7.45.
- Most prevalent anions in ECF Respiratory Alkalosis – Too few hydrogen ions
Metabolic Alkalosis – Too much bicarbonate
3. POTASSIUM
- Most abundant cations in the ECF.
- Establishes the resting membrane potential
and in the repolarization phase of action
potentials in neurons and muscle fibers.
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Adriel Vamos | BSN 1-F
ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY
LESSON 17 | URINARY SYSTEM
CLINICAL INTERESTS
a. Anuria (caused by dehydration)
- failure of the kidneys to produce urine.

b. Polyuria (caused by Diabetes)

- occurs when you urinate more than normal.

c. Oliguria (caused by low blood volume)

- Urinary output less than 400 ml per day or
less than 20 ml per hour

d. Albuminuria
- Presence of Albumin in your urine

e. Proteinuria
- Presence of Protein in your urine

f. Pyuria
- The presence of pus in the urine, typically from
bacterial infection.

g. Hematuria
- Presence of Blood in your urine

h. Glycosuria
- Presence of Glucose/Sugar in your urine

i. Nephrosis
- A kidney disorder that causes your body to
pass too much protein in your urine.

j. Hydronephrosis
- One or both kidneys become stretched and
swollen as the result of a build-up of urine
inside them.

k. Azotemia
- Too much nitrogen, creatinine, and other
waste products in your blood.

l. Cystitis
- Inflammation of the Urinary bladder

m. Pyelitis nephritis
- Inflammation of the pelvis and calyces.

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Adriel Vamos | BSN 1-F