Urinary System Anatomy Quiz

Urinary System Anatomy

• The urinary system consists of 2 kidneys, 2 ureters, a urinary bladder, and a urethra.
• Kidneys are located on either side of the vertebral column, extending from the 12th thoracic vertebra to the 3rd lumbar vertebra.
• The right kidney sits slightly lower than the left.
• Each kidney has 2 surfaces, 2 borders, and 2 ends.
• The lateral border of the kidney is convex, while the medial border is convex at both ends and concave in the middle, featuring the hilum.
• The hilum is the passage for renal vessels, nerves, and the pelvis of the kidney.
• The kidney is encased in a thin fibrous capsule.
• The kidney tissue is differentiated into an outer cortex and an inner medulla.
• The kidney's pelvis is a dilated sac extending outside the hilum, connecting to the ureter.
• Kidney coverings include a fibrous capsule, perirenal/perinephric fat, renal fascia, and pararenal/paranephric fat.

Kidney Arteries

• Renal arteries branch off the aorta at the L1 (first lumbar vertebra) level.

Ureter

• The ureter passes obliquely through the bladder wall, approximately 1 inch, before entering the bladder at the lateral angle of the trigone.
• The intramural part of the ureter is the narrowest segment.
• Three sites of ureteric constriction are prone to stone impaction: the pelvi-ureteric junction, where the ureter crosses the common iliac artery, and the uretero-vesical junction.

Urinary Bladder

• The urinary bladder is a hollow, muscular organ acting as a urine reservoir.
• Its capacity is typically 220cc, but can expand up to 500cc without discomfort.
• The bladder lies in the lower anterior part of the pelvis, shaped like a three-sided pyramid.
• The apex of the bladder points anteriorly, near the symphysis pubis, while the base points posteriorly.
• The neck of the bladder connects to the urethra.
• In males, the neck rests on the prostate gland, and in females, it directly connects to the urethra.

Male Urethra

• The male urethra (20 cm long) is divided into three parts:
• Prostatic urethra: 3 cm long, surrounded by the prostate gland; widest and most dilatable portion, where ejaculatory ducts open.
• Membranous urethra: 1 cm long, narrowest and shortest portion, surrounded by the sphincter urethrae.
• Spongy urethra: 16 cm long, traverses the penis, terminating at the external urethral orifice (meatus).

Female Urethra

• The female urethra is significantly shorter (4 cm), wider, and more dilatable than the male urethra.
• It begins at the bladder neck and terminates at the external urethral orifice.
• The upper part of the female urethra is surrounded by the sphincter urethrae.

Male Genital System

• Reproductive organs in males include testes, epididymes, ductus deferens, seminal vesicles, ejaculatory ducts, prostate, and bulbourethral glands.
• External genitalia include the penis and scrotum.
• Testes produce sperm through spermatogenesis.
• Testes are located in the scrotum.

Epididymis

• The epididymis is a curved structure connected to the testis.
• Consists of a head, body, and tail.
• Spermatozoa mature in the epididymis.

Vas Deferens

• The vas deferens extends from the epididymis to the urethra.
• Connects to the epididymis and eventually reaches the base of the urinary bladder.
• Unites with the seminal vesicle duct to form the ejaculatory duct.

Seminal Vesicles

• Two pear-shaped structures on either side of the bladder base.
• Secrete a fluid that forms part of semen.

Ejaculatory Ducts

• Two ducts formed by the combination of the vas deferens and seminal vesicle duct.
• Enter the prostatic urethra.

Prostate

• A fibromuscular gland encircling the bladder neck.
• The base is directed upward, continuous with the neck of the bladder; the apex is directed downward.

Bulbourethral Glands

• Pea-sized glands located within the sphincter urethrae fibers.
• Their ducts open into the spongy part of the urethra.

Penis

• Composed of two main parts: the root, within the perineum, and the body (the free part).

Scrotum

• A skin and subcutaneous tissue pouch holding the testes.

Female Genital System

• The reproductive organs in females are two ovaries, two uterine tubes, a uterus, and a vagina.
• External genitalia include the clitoris, mons pubis, labia majora, labia minora, greater vestibular glands, and vaginal orifice.
• Ovaries produce ova. Ovaries are almond-shaped in the pelvis, one on each side of the uterus. They contain thousands of immature ova, releasing one every other month (ovulation) from puberty to the end of reproductive age.
• Uterine tubes (Fallopian tubes) extend from the uterus to the ovaries.
• The uterus is a pear-shaped, thick, muscular organ that houses a developing embryo/fetus.
• The vagina is a musculomembranous canal connecting the uterus to the vestibule.

Vagina

• A musculomembranous pathway connecting the uterus to the vestibule.
• Lies between the bladder anteriorly and the rectum/anal canal posteriorly.
• Anterior wall is 7 cm, posterior wall is 9 cm long.

Test your knowledge on the anatomy of the urinary system, including the structure and function of the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra. This quiz covers important details such as the position of the kidneys, their anatomy, and surrounding structures. Perfect for students studying human anatomy or preparing for exams.