Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is the primary function of the kidneys?
What is the primary function of the kidneys?
To filter waste from the blood and excrete it as urine.
Which of the following is NOT a part of the urinary system?
Which of the following is NOT a part of the urinary system?
What is the name of the thin-walled tube that drains urine from the bladder and expels it from the body?
What is the name of the thin-walled tube that drains urine from the bladder and expels it from the body?
Urethra
What part of the kidney is responsible for filtration?
What part of the kidney is responsible for filtration?
Signup and view all the answers
Reabsorption is the process of removing waste products from the blood.
Reabsorption is the process of removing waste products from the blood.
Signup and view all the answers
What are the two types of nephrons found in the kidney?
What are the two types of nephrons found in the kidney?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the main structural and functional unit of the kidney?
What is the main structural and functional unit of the kidney?
Signup and view all the answers
Study Notes
Urinary System Overview
- Kidneys maintain blood purity and chemical balance.
- Primary function is filtering waste from blood and excreting it as urine.
- Organs include kidneys, ureters, urinary bladder, and urethra.
Kidney Anatomy and Function
- Location: posterior abdominal wall, superior lumbar region.
- Right kidney is slightly lower than the left due to the liver.
- Lateral surface is convex, medial surface is concave.
- Renal hilum is where vessels, ureters, and nerves enter/exit.
- Fibrous capsule: helps maintain shape and prevents infection.
- Internal Anatomy: two regions
- Cortex: superficial, light-colored, granular appearance.
- Medulla: deep to cortex, cone-shaped masses (renal pyramids).
- Renal columns: inward projections of cortex separating pyramids.
- Renal pelvis: expanded part of ureter; collects urine from calyces.
Kidney Vasculature and Nerve Supply
- Receive oxygenated blood from renal arteries from abdominal aorta.
- Renal arteries branch to: segmental, interlobar, arcuate, and interlobular arteries.
- Veins exit through hilum.
- Nerve supply is the renal plexus.
Microscopic Anatomy of the Kidney
- Nephron: structural and functional unit of the kidney
- Urine production involves three mechanisms:
- Filtration: "cleaning" the blood: a strainer separating wastes from useful substances.
- Reabsorption: reclaiming necessary substances from filtrate.
- Secretion: removing additional wastes from blood into filtrate.
Nephron Structure
- Renal corpuscle: where filtration occurs.
- Glomerulus: ball of capillaries.
- Bowman's capsule: surrounding structure.
- Proximal convoluted tubule (PCT): initial reabsorption.
- Nephron loop (loop of Henle): vital for water and sodium balance.
- Distal convoluted tubule (DCT): "fine tuning" part; reabsorbs water based on body needs.
- Collecting ducts: final collection and passage of urine to renal pelvis.
Ureter Anatomy
- Thin-walled tubes.
- Carry urine from kidney to bladder.
- Oblique entry to bladder to prevent backflow.
- Microscopic layers: mucosa, muscularis, and adventitia.
Urinary Bladder Anatomy
- Collapsible muscular sac.
- Stores urine, inferior to peritoneal cavity.
- Expands when full; posterolateral angles receive ureters.
- Urethra: tube from bladder that expels urine.
Micturition
- Process of emptying the bladder (peeing).
- Controlled by the brain.
- Bladder's detrusor muscle contracts, internal/external sphincters relax.
- Stretching in bladder activates stretch receptors for control via lower pons (on/off switch).
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
