24 Questions
What is the typical pH range of urine?
pH 6-7
What is the main function of the detrusor muscle in the bladder?
To contract and expel urine
What percentage of urine is composed of water?
90-95%
What is the function of the valve-like fold of bladder mucosa in the ureter openings?
To prevent backflow of urine
What is a common site for bacterial infections in diabetes?
Urinary tract
What is the term for the inflammation of the urethra?
Uretritis
What is the primary component of transitional epithelium in the mucosa of the bladder?
Transitional epithelium
What is the typical volume of a moderately full bladder?
500mL
What is the term for the inability to control micturition?
Incontinence
What is the treatment for renal calculi?
Lithotripsy or surgery
What is the primary function of the prostate gland in males?
To surround the urethra
What is the typical daily volume of urine production?
1.5-2.5 liters
What is the term for the inflammation of the kidneys?
Pyelonephritis
What is the reason for urinary retention in males?
Enlargement of the prostate gland
What is the mechanism of micturition?
Relaxation of both internal and external urethral sphincters
What is the term for the inability to micturate?
Retention
What is the normal output of urine per hour?
50-60ml
What type of muscle controls the external urethral sphincter?
Skeletal muscle
What is the function of peristalsis in the ureter?
To aid gravity in urine transport from the kidneys to the bladder
What is the length of the urethra in females?
3-4 cm (1-1.5 inches)
What is the location of the urethra in females?
Along the wall of the vagina
What is the function of the internal urethral sphincter?
To keep the urethra closed when urine is not being passed
What is the length of the ureters?
10-12 inches
What is the function of the mucosal lining in the ureters?
To provide a continuous lining with the renal pelvis and the bladder
Study Notes
Urine Characteristics
- Urine is colored yellow due to the pigment urochrome
- Urine is sterile and slightly aromatic
- Normal pH of urine is around 6
- Specific gravity of urine is between 1.001 to 1.035
- Urine composition differs based on diet, metabolic activity, and urine output
- Urine is made up of 95% water, contains urea, uric acid, electrolytes, and amino acids
Urinary Bladder
- The bladder wall has three layers of smooth muscle (detrusor muscle)
- The mucosa is made of transitional epithelium
- The bladder can expand significantly without increasing internal pressure
- A moderately full bladder can hold around 500mL (1 pint), and a full bladder can stretch to hold more than twice that amount
Ureter
- The ureter is a slender tube that attaches the kidney to the bladder
- The mucosal lining is continuous with that of the renal pelvis and bladder
- The ureter runs behind the peritoneum and enters the posterior aspect of the bladder at a slight angle
- Peristalsis aids gravity in urine transport from the kidneys to the bladder
Micturition (Voiding)
- Both internal and external urethral sphincters must open to allow voiding
- The internal urethral sphincter relaxes after the bladder stretches to around 200mL
- Activation of micturition is from an impulse sent to the spinal cord and then back via the pelvic nerves
- The external urethral sphincter must be voluntarily relaxed
- Incontinence is the inability to control micturition, and retention is the inability to micturate
Urethra
- The urethra is a thin-walled tube that carries urine from the bladder to the outside of the body by peristalsis
- The release of urine is controlled by two sphincters: internal urethral sphincter and external urethral sphincter
- The internal urethral sphincter is a thickening of smooth muscle at the bladder-urethra junction
- The external urethral sphincter is a voluntary skeletal muscle that controls urine as the urethra passes through the pelvic floor
Urethra Gender Differences
- Female urethra is shorter (3-4 cm or 1-1.5 inches) and located along the wall of the vagina
- Male urethra is longer (20 cm or 7-8 inches) and passes through the prostate and penis
This quiz covers the basics of the urinary system, including the structure and function of the urinary bladder, and the relationship between diabetes and urinary tract infections.
Make Your Own Quizzes and Flashcards
Convert your notes into interactive study material.
Get started for free
