Overview of the Urinary System

What is the primary function of the urinary system?

Which statement accurately describes the relative positions of the kidneys?

What structures pass through the hilum renale?

What portion of the kidney contains the glomeruli and Bowman's capsules?

How many nephrons are typically found in each kidney?

What is the first stage of urine formation?

In which part of the kidney are the pyramidal structures located?

What is the correct order of urine flow from the calyxes?

What is the primary function of the bladder?

How long is the urethra in females compared to males?

What is the normal capacity of the bladder?

Which vessel drains into the inferior vena cava?

What is the role of the glomerulus in the nephron?

Which part of the bladder is triangular in shape and contains the opening for ureters?

What is the primary method by which beneficial substances return to the bloodstream during nephron function?

In which region is the empty bladder located?

Urinary System Overview

The urinary system is responsible for removing waste products from the blood and eliminating them in the urine.
The system consists of six principal organs: two kidneys, two ureters, the urinary bladder, and the urethra.

Kidneys

Located in the upper posterior abdominal wall, on either side of the vertebral column.
The right kidney is positioned at the level of T12 to L3, while the left kidney is located at the level of T11 to L2.
The left kidney is situated higher than the right kidney.
Kidneys filter blood, remove waste products, and maintain electrolyte and acid-base balance.

Ureters

Channels that transport urine from the kidneys to the bladder.
Approximately 25-30 cm long.
Pass through the linea terminalis to enter the pelvis minor.
Travel along the lateral wall of the pelvis to reach the bladder.

Bladder

A reservoir for urine.
Located posterior to the symphysis pubis, anterior to the uterus in females and anterior to the rectum in males.
Normal capacity is approximately 220 mL, but can hold up to 500 mL of urine.
An empty bladder lies within the pelvis minor; a full bladder can extend to the level of the umbilicus.

Urethra

In males, 15-20 cm long.
In females, 3-5 cm long.
Transport urine from the bladder to the outside of the body.
Contains internal and external sphincter muscles that control the release of urine.

Additional Notes

The hilum renale is a fissure on the medial surface of the kidneys. Structures enter and exit the kidneys through this fissure.
The hilum renale opens medially into a region called the sinus renalis, which contains the calices minores and majores. These are part of the renal pelvis.
The medulla renalis contains 8-18 pyramidal structures oriented toward the calices minores.
The cortex renalis is the outer one-third of the renal mass, which holds the glomeruli and Bowman's capsules.
Blood is brought to the kidney via the renal artery and the renal vein removes the filtered blood.

This quiz covers the fundamental components of the urinary system, including the kidneys, ureters, and bladder. It examines their anatomy and functions in waste elimination and fluid balance. Test your knowledge on how these organs work together to maintain homeostasis.