Urinary System Overview

Questions and Answers

The kidney is referred to as an excretory organ because it excretes (?) wastes.

nitrogenous

It is also a major homeostatic organ because it maintains the electrolyte, (?) and (?) balance of the blood.

water; acid-base

Urine is continuously formed by the (?) and is routed down the (?) by the mechanism of (?) to a storage organ called the (?);

kidneys; ureters; peristalsis; urinary bladder

Eventually, the urine is conducted to the body exterior by the (?);

Urethra Signup and view all the answers

In males, this tubelike structure is about (?) inches long; in females, it is approximately (?) inches long.

8(20 cm); 1-2 (4 cm) Signup and view all the answers

Which term doesn't belong: Intraperitoneal, Kidney, Retroperitoneal, Superior lumbar region?

Intraperitoneal Signup and view all the answers

Which term doesn't belong: Drains kidney, Ureter, Urethra, Renal pelvis?

Urethra Signup and view all the answers

Which term doesn't belong: Peritubular capillaries, Reabsorption, Glomerulus, Low-pressure vessels?

Glomerulus Signup and view all the answers

Which term doesn't belong: Juxtaglomerular apparatus, Distal tubule, Glomerulus, Afferent arteriole?

Juxtaglomerular apparatus Signup and view all the answers

Which term doesn't belong: Glomerulus, Peritubular capillaries, Blood vessels, Collecting duct?

Collecting duct Signup and view all the answers

The glomerulus is a unique high-pressure capillary bed because the (?) arteriole feeding it is larger in diameter than the (?) arteriole draining the bed.

afferent; efferent Signup and view all the answers

Glomerular filtrate is very similar to (?), but it has fewer proteins.

blood plasma Signup and view all the answers

Mechanisms of tubular reabsorption include (?) and (?).

diffusion; active transport Signup and view all the answers

As an aid for the reabsorption process, the cells of the proximal convoluted tubule have dense (?) on their luminal surface, which increase the surface area dramatically.

microvilli Signup and view all the answers

Other than reabsorption, an important tubule function is (?), which is important for ridding the body of substances not already in the filtrate.

secretion Signup and view all the answers

Blood composition depends on (?), (?), and (?).

diet; cellular metabolism; urine output Signup and view all the answers

In a day's time, 180 liters of blood plasma are filtered into the kidney tubules, but only about (?) liters of urine are actually produced.

1-2 Signup and view all the answers

(?) is responsible for the normal yellow color of urine.

urochrome Signup and view all the answers

The three major nitrogenous wastes found in the blood, which must be disposed of are (?), (?), and (?).

urea; uric acid; creatinine Signup and view all the answers

The kidneys are the final 'judges' of how much water is to be lost from the body. When water loss via vaporization from the (?) or (?) from the skin is excessive, urine output (?).

lungs; perspiration; decreases Signup and view all the answers

If the kidneys become nonfunctional, (?) is used to cleanse the blood of impurities.

dialysis Signup and view all the answers

More acidic or basic? Protein-rich diet

Acidic Signup and view all the answers

More acidic or basic? Bacterial infection

Basic Signup and view all the answers

More acidic or basic? Starvation

Acidic Signup and view all the answers

More acidic or basic? Diabetes mellitus

Acidic Signup and view all the answers

More acidic or basic? Vegetarian diet

Basic Signup and view all the answers

Increase or decrease in urine specific gravity? Drinking excessive fluids

Decrease Signup and view all the answers

Increase or decrease in urine specific gravity? Chronic renal failure

Increase Signup and view all the answers

Increase or decrease in urine specific gravity? Using diuretics

Decrease Signup and view all the answers

Greater (G) or Lesser (L) concentration in urine than in glomerular filtrate or Absent (A) in both? Pus (white blood cells)

Greater Signup and view all the answers

Greater (G) or Lesser (L) concentration in urine than in glomerular filtrate or Absent (A) in both? Albumin

Greater Signup and view all the answers

Greater (G) or Lesser (L) concentration in urine than in glomerular filtrate or Absent (A) in both? Red blood cells

Greater Signup and view all the answers

Presence of red blood cells- cause

hematuria; bleeding in urinary tract Signup and view all the answers

Presence of ketones- cause

ketonuria; diabetes mellitus, starvation Signup and view all the answers

Presence of albumin- cause

albuminuria; glomerulonephritis, pregnancy Signup and view all the answers

Presence of pus- cause

pyuria; urinary tract infection (UTI) Signup and view all the answers

Presence of bile- cause

bilirubinuria; liver disease Signup and view all the answers

Presence of 'sand'- cause

no official term; kidney stones Signup and view all the answers

Presence of glucose- cause

glycosinuria; diabetes mellitus Signup and view all the answers

Explain the reason for the absence of glucose in urine.

Glucose is normally reabsorbed by tubule cells. Signup and view all the answers

Explain the reason for the absence of albumin in urine.

Albumin is too large to pass through glomerular fenestrations. Signup and view all the answers

By what three methods is H+ concentration in body fluids regulated?

chemical buffering; adjustment in respiratory rate and depth; regulation by kidneys Signup and view all the answers

Which of these methods is the fastest?

Chemical buffering Signup and view all the answers

Which acts slowly but is most important for acid-base balance?

Regulation by kidneys Signup and view all the answers

Which method removes CO2 from the body?

Adjustment of respiratory rate Signup and view all the answers

Which term doesn't belong: Female adult, Male adult, About 50% water, Less muscle?

Male adult Signup and view all the answers

Which term doesn't belong: Obese adult, Lean adult, Less body water, More adipose tissue?

Lean adult Signup and view all the answers

Which term doesn't belong: ECF, Interstitial fluid, Intracellular fluid, Plasma?

Intracellular fluid Signup and view all the answers

Which term doesn't belong: Electric charge, Nonelectrolyte, Ions, Conducts a current?

Nonelectrolyte Signup and view all the answers

Which term doesn't belong: up Water output, down Na+ concentration, up ADH, down ADH?

up Water output Signup and view all the answers

Which term doesn't belong: Aldosterone, up Na+ reabsorption, up K+ reabsorption, up BP?

up K+ reabsorption Signup and view all the answers

Which term doesn't belong: Bladder, Kidney, Transitional epithelium, Detrusor muscle?

Kidney Signup and view all the answers

Which term doesn't belong: Trigone, Ureter opening, Urethral opening, Bladder, Forms urine?

Bladder Signup and view all the answers

Which term doesn't belong: Surrounded by prostate gland, Contains internal and external sphincters, Continuous with renal pelvis, Urethra?

Continuous with renal pelvis Signup and view all the answers

Which term doesn't belong: Prostatic, Male, Female, Membranous, Spongy?

Female Signup and view all the answers

The urethra drains the bladder.

Urethra Signup and view all the answers

The bladder is a storage area for urine.

Bladder Signup and view all the answers

The bladder contains the trigone.

Bladder Signup and view all the answers

The urethra, in males, has prostatic, membranous, and spongy parts.

Urethra Signup and view all the answers

The ureter conducts urine by peristalsis.

Ureter Signup and view all the answers

The urethra is substantially longer in males than in females.

Urethra Signup and view all the answers

The ureter is a common site of 'trapped' renal calculi.

Ureter Signup and view all the answers

The bladder contains transitional epithelium.

Bladder Signup and view all the answers

The urethra also transports sperm in males.

Urethra Signup and view all the answers

Another term that means voiding or emptying of the bladder is (?).

micturition Signup and view all the answers

Voiding has both voluntary and involuntary aspects. As urine accumulates in the bladder, (?) are activated.

stretch receptors Signup and view all the answers

This results in a reflex that causes the muscular wall of the bladder to (?), and urine is forced past the (?) sphincter.

contract; internal urethral Signup and view all the answers

The more distal (?) sphincter is controlled (?); thus an individual can temporarily postpone emptying the bladder until it has accumulated (?) mL of urine.

external urethral; voluntarily; ~600 Signup and view all the answers

(?) is a condition in which voiding cannot be voluntarily controlled.

Incontinence Signup and view all the answers

It is normal in (?) because nervous control of the voluntary sphincter has not been achieved.

infants; toddlers Signup and view all the answers

Other conditions that might result in an inability to control the sphincter include (?) and (?).

emotions; pregnancy Signup and view all the answers

(?) is essentially the opposite of incontinence and often is a problem in elderly men because of (?) enlargement.

urinary retention; prostate Signup and view all the answers

Cystitis is an inflammatory condition common in women with poor toileting habits.

cystitis Signup and view all the answers

Hydronephrosis is the backup of urine into the kidney; often a result of a blockage in the urinary tract.

hydronephrosis Signup and view all the answers

______ is a toxic condition caused by renal failure.

Uremia Signup and view all the answers

______ is inflammation of a kidney.

Pyelonephritis Signup and view all the answers

A condition in which excessive amounts of urine are produced because of a deficiency of antidiuretic hormone (ADH) is (?).

Diabetes insipidus Signup and view all the answers

Dropping of the kidney to a more inferior position in the abdomen; may result from a rapid weight loss that decreases the fatty cushion surrounding the kidney is (?).

Ptosis Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Urinary System Overview

The kidneys are excretory organs that eliminate nitrogenous wastes from the body.
Key roles of kidneys include maintaining electrolyte, water, and acid-base balance in blood.

Urine Formation and Transportation

Urine is continuously produced by the kidneys.
It travels through ureters to the urinary bladder via peristalsis.
The urethra conducts urine to the outside of the body.

Urethra Anatomy

The male urethra is approximately 8 inches (20 cm) long; the female urethra is about 1-2 inches (4 cm) long.
Major components of the urinary system include the urethra, bladder, and ureters.

Nephron Structure and Types

Cortical nephrons and juxtamedullary nephrons are two main types of nephrons in the kidneys.
The glomerulus is a significant capillary bed, operating under high pressure due to the size difference between afferent and efferent arterioles.

Glomerular Filtration

Glomerular filtrate resembles blood plasma but contains fewer proteins due to selective filtration.
Tubular reabsorption mechanisms include diffusion and active transport, with microvilli in proximal convoluted tubules enhancing absorption efficiency.

Urine Composition and Production

Major nitrogenous wastes include urea, uric acid, and creatinine.
Normally, 180 liters of blood plasma are filtered daily, leading to approximately 1-2 liters of urine.
Urochrome gives urine its yellow color, and urine composition is influenced by diet and metabolic activities.

Kidney Function and Regulation

The kidneys perform functions like water regulation and controlling the body’s acid-base balance.
Conditions like dehydration or excessive water loss affect urine output.

Urinary System Disorders

Incontinence: Loss of voluntary control over voiding, common in infants, toddlers, and conditions such as pregnancy.
Urinary retention: Difficulty in voiding, often seen in elderly men due to prostate enlargement.
Cystitis: Inflammation of the bladder, commonly found in women with poor toileting habits.
Hydronephrosis: Backup of urine into the kidney, often due to urinary tract blockage.
Uremia: Toxic condition from renal failure leading to accumulation of waste products.
Diabetes insipidus: Involves excessive urine production due to decreased ADH.

Urinary Diagnostics

The presence of substances in urine (e.g., glucose, ketones, albumin) can indicate underlying health issues.
Chemical buffering, respiratory adjustments, and renal regulation work together to maintain H+ ion concentration in body fluids.

Electrolyte vs. Nonelectrolyte

Electrolytes are solutes that dissociate into ions, playing crucial roles in osmotic power and fluid balance.
Nonelectrolytes include substances like lipids and monosaccharides, which do not conduct electricity when dissolved.

Miscellaneous Terminology

Micturition: The act of voiding or emptying the bladder.
Ptosis: Describes the dropping of a kidney to a lower position, often due to loss of surrounding fat.

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Description

Explore the structure and functions of the urinary system in this quiz. Topics include urine formation, kidney anatomy, and nephron types. Test your knowledge about how the body maintains fluid balance and eliminates wastes.