URINARY SYSTEM

The urinary system, also known as the renal system, is a vital system
in the body that is responsible for producing, storing, and eliminating
urine. The primary function of the urinary system is to maintain the
body's fluid and electrolyte balance, remove waste products and toxins
from the body, and regulate blood pressure. The urinary system
includes the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra.
The kidneys filter waste products and excess water from the blood to
produce urine, which then flows through the ureters to the bladder for
storage. When the bladder is full, the urine is eliminated from the body
through the urethra.
The urinary system also plays a significant role in regulating blood
pressure through the production of hormones such as renin, which
helps to control the amount of sodium and water in the body.
Additionally, the urinary system helps to maintain the body's acidbase
balance by regulating the levels of bicarbonate and hydrogen ions in
the blood.

The urinary system performs several important functions in the body, including:

 Filtration and excretion: The kidneys filter waste products, excess salts, and fluids from the blood and
excrete them in the form of urine.
 Maintenance of fluid balance: The urinary system regulates the amount of water and electrolytes in
the body, helping to maintain proper fluid balance.
 Regulation of blood pressure: The kidneys produce hormones that help regulate blood pressure by
controlling the amount of salt and water in the body.
 Regulation of red blood cell production: The kidneys produce a hormone called erythropoietin,
which stimulates the production of red blood cells in the bone marrow.
 Acid-base balance: The urinary system helps regulate the body's acid-base balance by excreting excess
acids or bases in the urine.
 Detoxification: The urinary system helps remove toxins and other harmful substances from the body,
such as drugs or environmental pollutants.
 Vitamin D activation: The kidneys are responsible for activating vitamin D, which is important for the
absorption of calcium and the maintenance of bone health.

3 Processes:

1. Filtration – happens in Glomerulus

2. Reabsorption – done by proximal & distal convoluted tubules.

3. Secretion – reabsorption in reverse

The major parts of the urinary system include:

 Kidneys: The kidneys are two bean-shaped organs located on either side of the spine, behind the
abdominal cavity. They filter the blood and produce urine.
 Ureters: The ureters are two narrow tubes that carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder.
 Bladder: The bladder is a muscular sac located in the pelvis that stores urine until it is eliminated from
the body.
 Urethra: The urethra is a tube that carries urine from the bladder to the outside of the body

Kidney
  2 kidneys, on either side of the spine between
T12 and L3, left kidney is slightly superior to
the right one.
 Stabilized in place by surrounding connective
tissue.
 Reddish brown, about 10 cm long, 5.5 cm
wide, and 3 cm thick, with a mass of 15

Internal structures:

 Renal cortex: The outer layer of the kidney

that contains nephrons, the functional units of
the kidney that filter blood and produce urine.
 Renal medulla: The inner part of the kidney
that contains renal pyramids, which are
responsible for draining urine into the renal
pelvis.
 Renal pelvis: A funnel-shaped structure that
collects urine from the kidney and transports it
to the ureter.
 Nephrons: The functional units of the kidney that filter blood and produce urine. Each kidney contains
millions of nephrons, which are composed of a renal corpuscle (consisting of a glomerulus and
Bowman's capsule) and a renal tubule (which includes the proximal convoluted tubule, loop of Henle,
and distal convoluted tubule).

External structures:

 Renal capsule: A fibrous membrane that surrounds each kidney and provides it with some protection.
 Renal hilum: An indentation in the kidney where the renal artery, renal vein, and ureter enter and exit
the kidney.
 Renal artery: The blood vessel that supplies the kidney with oxygenated blood.
 Renal vein: The blood vessel that carries deoxygenated blood away from the kidney.  Ureter: A
narrow tube that carries urine from the kidney to the bladder.

Ureters

The ureters serve the following functions:

 Urine transport: The ureters are responsible for transporting urine from the kidneys to the bladder by
means of peristaltic contractions of their muscular walls. These contractions help to propel the urine
forward, even when the bladder is located at a higher level than the kidneys.
 Urine regulation: The ureters have a small amount of smooth muscle tissue that can help to regulate
the flow of urine by contracting or relaxing in response to changes in pressure or other stimuli.
 Prevent backflow: The ureters are designed to prevent the backflow of urine from the bladder to the
kidneys by means of a one-way valve system. This helps to maintain the proper direction of urine flow
and prevent infections of the kidneys and urinary tract.

Bladder
The primary function of the bladder is to store urine until it can be expelled from the body through the urethra.
When the bladder is full, the stretch receptors in its wall send signals to the brain, which initiates the urge to
urinate. During urination, the bladder contracts and the urethral sphincter relaxes, allowing urine to flow out of
the body. The trigone helps to direct the flow of urine from the ureters into the bladder and out through the
urethra, while the ureteral and urethral openings help to control the flow of urine in and out of the bladder.

Parts and functions of the bladder:

 Bladder wall: The bladder wall consists of three layers of smooth muscle that work together to
contract and relax to store and release urine.
 Trigone: A triangular-shaped area on the floor of the bladder that is formed by the openings of the two
ureters and the urethra. The trigone acts as a funnel, directing urine from the ureters into the bladder
and out through the urethra.
 Ureteral openings: Two small openings located on the posterior wall of the bladder that allow urine to
flow from the ureters into the bladder.
 Internal urethral orifice: is a small opening located at the base of the bladder where the urethra
begins. It is the point where the bladder empties into the urethra. The internal urethral orifice is
surrounded by a ring of muscle known as the internal urethral sphincter, which helps to control the flow
of urine out of the bladder.
 Urethra: The opening through which urine leaves the body. In males, the urethra also serves as a
passage for semen during ejaculation.

Urethra

The urethra is a tube-like structure that carries urine from the bladder to the outside of the body. In males, the
urethra also serves as a passage for semen during ejaculation.

Male Urethra:

 Prostatic urethra: The prostatic urethra is the

part of the urethra that passes through the
prostate gland. It begins at the internal urethral
orifice and ends at the membranous urethra.
 Membranous urethra: The membranous
urethra is the shortest part of the male urethra,
which passes through the urogenital diaphragm.
It is surrounded by the external urethral sphincter
muscle.
 Spongy (penile) urethra: The spongy urethra is
the longest part of the male urethra. It extends
from the membranous urethra through the penis
and opens at the external urethral orifice. The
spongy urethra is surrounded by the corpus
spongiosum tissue of the penis.

Functions:

 The main function of the male urethra is to transport urine from the bladder to the outside of the body
and to carry semen during ejaculation.

Female Urethra: The female urethra is shorter than the male urethra, measuring only about 1.5-2 inches in
length. It is located between the clitoris and the vaginal opening
Functions:

 The primary function of the female urethra is to transport urine from the bladder to the outside of the
body. It does not have a reproductive function like the male urethra.