The document describes the structure and function of the urinary system. It details the major components including the kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra. It then focuses on the internal anatomy of the kidneys, describing the nephrons as the functional units and explaining the multi-step process of filtering and reabsorbing waste from the blood to produce urine.
The document describes the structure and function of the urinary system. It details the major components including the kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra. It then focuses on the internal anatomy of the kidneys, describing the nephrons as the functional units and explaining the multi-step process of filtering and reabsorbing waste from the blood to produce urine.
The document describes the structure and function of the urinary system. It details the major components including the kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra. It then focuses on the internal anatomy of the kidneys, describing the nephrons as the functional units and explaining the multi-step process of filtering and reabsorbing waste from the blood to produce urine.
The document describes the structure and function of the urinary system. It details the major components including the kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra. It then focuses on the internal anatomy of the kidneys, describing the nephrons as the functional units and explaining the multi-step process of filtering and reabsorbing waste from the blood to produce urine.
Function ▪ Performs excretion: Separates metabolic waste from Adrenal gland the blood and eliminates the waste from the body in urine. Kidney
o Kidneys: separate metabolic waste from the blood
o Ureters, bladder, and urethra: transport, store, and eliminate the waste. Ureter
▪ The most abundant wastes include: Urinary bladder
o Urea: product of protein metabolism. Urethra
o Uric acid: product of nucleic acid metabolism.
o Creatinine: waste product from normal wear and tear of muscle tissue. Anterior view
• All are nitrogenous waste molecules
Other functions ▪ Osmoregulation o Regulates salt and water balance of body tissues (blood volume and blood pressure). ▪ Hormone secretion o Involved in synthesis of calcitriol (vitamin D). ▪ Gluconeogenesis o In conditions of extreme starvation. ▪ Produces erythropoietin o Stimulates production of red blood cells. ▪ Regulation of blood pH o By regulating level of H+ in blood Kidney ▪ Paired organs ▪ Rest against posterior abdominal wall Anterior
o Retroperitoneal Small intestine Stomach
▪ Right kidney slightly lower than left. Colon
▪ Hilum: receives blood vessels, Pancreas
Inferior vena cava
lymphatics, nerves and ureter Renal artery and vein Aorta
Peritoneum L1 Ureter
▪ Surrounded by 3 layers of protective Spleen
Kidney
tissue: Hilum
o Renal fascia: binds to abdominal wall Fibrous capsule
Perirenal
• Fibrous connective tissue fat capsule
Renal fascia Lumbar muscles
o Perineal fat: cushions kidney
o Fibrous capsule: encloses kidney like a wrapper • Dense regular connective tissue Posterior
overlies elastic fibers
Kidney: Internal Anatomy ▪ Renal sinus o Medial cavity occupies]d by blood vessels, lymphatic vessels, nerves, and urine collecting structures.
▪ Parenchyma: glandular tissue that produces urine
o Renal cortex: Outer zone o Renal Medulla: inner zone o Projections called renal columns divide the medulla into 6 – 10 renal pyramids • Broad base • Blunt point called renal papilla
▪ Renal papilla is nestled in a cup called the minor calyx
▪ 2 or 3 minor calyces converge to form a major calyx ▪ 2 or 3 major calyces converge to form the renal pelvis ▪ Renal pelvis leads to ureter ▪ Kidneys receive 1.2 L of blood/min. Kidney: Circulation ▪ 21% of the cardiac output. ▪ Renal artery transports blood into the kidneys ▪ Renal vein transports blood out of the kidneys ▪ Cortical renal tubule is services by peritubular capillaries ▪ Medullary renal tubule is serviced by vasa recta capillaries Kidney: Overview of Steps of Urine Production Kidney: Nephrons ▪ Functional units of the kidney; ~1.3 million pr kidney ▪ Composed of 2 parts: a renal corpuscle and a renal tubule. ▪ Peritubular capillaries and vasa recta: Network of capillaries surrounding the nephron. Kidney: Nephrons ▪ Renal Corpuscle: filters blood plasma ▪ Composed of: o Glomerulus: tuft of fenestrated capillaries o Glomerular capsule: 2 layers • Visceral layer: Podocytes wrapped around capillaries • Parietal layer: Simple squamous epithelium • Capsular space: Filtrate collecting space in between Kidney: Nephrons Glomerular filtration ▪ Afferent artery brings blood into the glomerulus. ▪ Efferent arteriole transports blood out of the glomerulus. ▪ Efferent arteriole is smaller, which creates a pressure in the glomerular capillaries that drives filtration.
▪ Filtration membrane: o Capillary endothelium: fenestrated o Basement membrane: proteoglycan gel o Filtration slits in between podocyte foot processes that surround glomerulus o Collectively they hold back cells and plasma proteins
▪ Filtration is not very selective.
o Any molecule small enough to pass through pores exits blood. o E.g., Water, H+ ions, amino acids, glucose, nitrogenous wastes. Kidney: Nephrons Kidney: Nephrons
Vascular pole of renal corpuscle:
entrance of afferent arteriole/exit of efferent arteriole.
Urinary pole of renal corpuscle:
parietal wall of capsule gives rise to renal tubule. Kidney: Nephrons
Proximal Convoluted Tubule
▪ Receives GF from glomerular capsule at urinary pole of renal corpuscle.
▪ Primary site of tubular reabsorption (~65% of
glomerular filtrate absorbed here).
▪ Lined by simple cuboidal epithelium.
▪ Microvilli are present on apical surface. ▪ Many transport proteins for active transport and facilitated diffusion. Kidney: Nephrons Nephron Loop ▪ U-shaped region of nephron. ▪ Extends from cortex into medulla and back to cortex. ▪ Descending limb: Dips from cortex toward or into medulla. Upper thick region: simple cuboidal epithelium Lower thin region: simple squamous epithelium ▪ Ascending limb: Returns to cortex. Upper thick region: Simple cuboidal epithelium Lower thin region: Simple squamous epithelium
▪ Functions to establish and maintain osmotic
gradient in medulla. o Removes water and ions o Enables the concentration of urine Kidney: Nephrons Filtrate leaves the Distal 1 proximal tubule and Convoluted Bowman‘s Proximal enters the loop of capsule Initial Convoluted tubule Osmolarity filtrate of Henle at the same tubule interstitial By the time the filtrate osmolarity as blood. It 300 fluid 3 enters the distal becomes concentrated 100 (mOsm/L) tubule, the total as water diffuses out of Blood 300 100 Thick 300 300 amounts of water and the water-permeable Ascending Collecting ions have been greatly limb duct descending Cortex decreased. limb of the loop of Henle. 200 400 400 400 Descending The thin segment of The filtrate becomes limb Loop Loop Loop 4 concentrated again 2 the ascending limb is 600 600 400 600 of of of permeable to Na and+ Henle Henle Henle during passage through Medulla Cl–, but not to water. the collecting duct, which 900 700 is permeable to water Na+ and Cl– diffuse 900
out of the filtrate, but not to ions. The lower
Thin making the filtrate 1,200 Ascending 1,200 end of the collecting duct more dilute. limb is also permeable to urea, Epithelial cells in the which diffuses out and KEY thick segment actively helps create the osmotic Filtrate osmolarity (mOsm/L) H2O 1,200 transport Na+ and Cl– Simple diffusion Na+, Cl– gradient in the inner To renal pelvis out of the filtrate, Active transport Urea medulla. which further dilutes the filtrate. Kidney: Nephrons Distal Convoluted Tubule ▪ Variable rate of tubular reabsorption and tubular secretion depending on conditions. ▪ Lined by simple cuboidal epithelium without microvilli. ▪ End of the nephron. ▪ Shorter and less convoluted than proximal tubule. Kidney: Collecting Duct ▪ Receive glomerular filtrate from several nephrons. ▪ Function in water and electrolyte reabsorption. ▪ Impermeable to water in absence of ADH (antidiuretic hormone).
▪ 2 cells types lining the collecting ducts:
▪ Principal cells: Cuboidal to columnar depending on location. o Reabsorb Na+ and water. Secrete K+ o Equipped with aquaporins • Water channels allowing rapid transport across plasma membrane • Last chance to adjust water content o Intercalated cells: Cuboidal cells. • Secrete H+ or bicarbonate ions (regulate pH). ▪ Collecting Ducts → Papillary Duct → Minor calyx Ureters ▪ Transports urine from renal pelvis to urinary bladder. ▪ Retroperitoneal, muscular tube. ▪ Pass behind bladder and connect to it from below.
Layers of Wall ▪ Mucosa o Lined with transitional epithelium. ▪ Muscularis o Inner longitudinal and outer circular layer of smooth muscle. o In lower region of ureter: Additional longitudinal layer. ▪ Adventitia o Fibrous connective tissue binds ureters to surrounding tissues Urinary Bladder ▪ Stores urine. Figure 25.11 ▪ Muscular sac ▪ Inferior to peritoneum ▪ Rugae: temporary folds in empty bladder. o Flatten when bladder fills. ▪ Highly distensible organ. ▪ 800 ml capacity
▪ Trigone o Floor of the bladder. Triangular region o defined by the orifices of the ureters and urethra. No rugae present. Layers of Wall Urinary Bladder ▪ Mucosa o Lined by transitional epithelium. o Epithelium thins when stretched. o Designed for extensibility and water impermeability. o Umbrella cells: Dome-shaped superficial cells in non-distended bladder. Urinary Bladder
Muscularis ▪ Called the detrusor muscle. ▪ Three layers of smooth muscle: o Inner: Thin longitudinal layer. o Middle: Thick circular layer. o Outer: Thin longitudinal layer.
Adventitia/Serosa ▪ Adventitia: covers all but superior region. ▪ Serosa: covers superior region. Urethra ▪ Transports urine away from bladder out of the body. ▪ In females: o 3 – 4 cm in length. o Lined by transitional epithelium near bladder. o Lined by stratified squamous near external orifice. o Pseudostratified in other regions.
▪ In males: o18 cm in length. o Lined by transitional epithelium near bladder. o Stratified squamous near external orifice. oAreas of stratified columnar and pseudostratified columnar in between. o Three regions Urethra ▪ In both sexes, a thickened region of detrusor muscle near urethra retains urine in bladder.
▪ Internal urethral sphincter
o Smooth muscle; not under voluntary control. o Present only in males. o Located around neck of the bladder. o Prevents urine entry during ejaculation.
▪ External urethral sphincter
o Skeletal muscle: voluntary control. o Located where urethra passes through pelvic floor. o Present in both sexes.
