The Urinary System Overview

The Urinary System

• The adrenal glands are located on top of each kidney and are part of the endocrine system.
• The kidneys filter blood to create urine.
• The left kidney apex is under ribs 11 and 12, while the right apex is under rib 12 due to the size of the liver.
• The renal arteries branch from the aorta at L1, and the renal veins drain into the inferior vena cava.
• The kidney's outer layer is the capsule; the cortex is at the apex, followed by the medulla, major calyx, and minor calyx.
• The ureters are long, smooth muscle tubes that carry urine from the renal pelvis to the urinary bladder.
• Each ureter has three constrictions: at the renal pelvis, at the pelvic brim, and at the entrance to the bladder.
• The bladder is located behind the pubic bone in the pelvis and stores urine.
• The trigone is an area at the base of the bladder where the two ureters enter and the urethra exits.
• The urethra is a muscular tube that carries urine from the bladder to the outside of the body. It is shorter in females and separate from the genital tract.
• In males, the urethra is longer and unites the urinary and genital tracts.
• Urinary stones can obstruct the ureters or urethra, causing pain due to muscular spasms.

The Male Reproductive System

• The testes produce sperm.
• The vas deferens carries sperm from the testes to the ejaculatory duct in the prostate gland.
• The ejaculatory duct is formed by the vas deferens and the duct from the seminal vesicle.
• The prostate gland and seminal vesicles release fluid to support sperm.
• The male urethra unites the reproductive and urinary systems.
• The urethra has four sections: pre-prostatic, prostatic, membranous, and spongy (penile).
• The penis carries sperm into the female genital tract.

The Female Reproductive System

• The ovaries produce eggs and hormones.
• The uterine tubes (fallopian tubes) transport the egg from the ovary to the uterus.
• The uterus is where a fertilized egg implants and develops.
• The vagina allows sexual intercourse and acts as the birth canal.
• The ovaries are attached to the posterior surface of the broad ligament of the uterus.
• The fimbriae are finger-like projections at the end of the uterine tube that overhang the ovaries.
• A fertilized egg can implant in the uterine wall or, less commonly, outside the uterus, leading to an ectopic pregnancy.

Explore the intricate details of the urinary system, including the roles of the kidneys, ureters, and bladder. This quiz covers the anatomy and functions essential for understanding how urine is formed and excreted. Test your knowledge about the structures and locations involved in this vital bodily function.