Urinary System - Unit 15 Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What are the organs and structures of the urinary system?

Kidneys, ureters, urinary bladder, urethra.

What is the function of the renal pyramid?

Transport urine from the cortical part of the kidney to the calyces.

What is the function of the renal medulla?

Transports urine from the renal cortex to the calyces.

What is the function of the renal cortex?

Outer portion of the kidneys. Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the renal capsule?

Protects the kidneys and provides some protection from trauma. Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the renal lobe?

Houses the renal medulla and renal cortex. Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of renal columns?

Separate adjacent renal pyramids. Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the renal hilus?

Area where blood vessels, nerves, lymph vessels, and ureter enter. Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of major calyx and minor calyx?

Transfer urine from the kidney to the urinary bladder. Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of renal pelvis?

Allows urine to flow from major calyxes through the ureters. Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the ureter?

Brings urine from the renal pelvis to the urinary bladder. Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the bladder?

Where urine is stored. Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the trigone in the bladder?

Area between the openings of ureters and urethra. Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of rugae?

Transitional epithelium in the wall of the urinary bladder. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the path of blood through the kidney.

Renal Artery → Segmental arteries → Interlobar artery → Arcuate artery → Cortical radiate artery → Afferent arteriole → Glomerulus → Efferent arteriole → Peritubular capillaries → Cortical radiate veins → Arcuate vein → Interlobar vein → Renal vein. Signup and view all the answers

What are the differences between the afferent and efferent arterioles?

Afferent arterioles bring blood to the glomerulus; efferent arterioles drain blood away. Signup and view all the answers

Where do you find vasa recta and what is their function?

Found in the juxtamedullary nephrons; they assist in the kidney's urine concentrating mechanism. Signup and view all the answers

What are uriniferous tubules?

Composed of nephrons and collecting ducts. Signup and view all the answers

What is a nephron and what is its general function?

The nephron is the functional unit of the kidney responsible for filtering blood and forming urine. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the renal corpuscle.

Contains the glomerular capsule and the glomerulus; involved in blood filtration. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the renal tubules.

Composed of proximal convoluted tubule, nephron loop, and distal convoluted tubule; involved in reabsorption and secretion. Signup and view all the answers

Where in the kidney do you find majority of the nephrons?

In the renal medulla. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the anatomy and function of the following components of the nephron: a. Renal corpuscle b. Renal tubules.

a. Renal corpuscle: filters blood through the glomerular capsule and glomerulus. b. Renal tubules: reabsorb nutrients and regulate pH. Signup and view all the answers

What cell types are found in the nephron?

Glomerular capsule: podocytes. PCT: cuboidal epithelial cells. DCT: simple cuboidal cells. Renal loop: thick and thin segments of epithelium. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the anatomy of the juxtaglomerular apparatus (JGA) and its function.

A specialized area with macula densa cells, extraglomerular mesangial cells, and granular cells; regulates blood pressure. Signup and view all the answers

Which cells of the JGA release renin?

Granular cells. Signup and view all the answers

What are the basic processes of urine formation?

Filtration, reabsorption, secretion. Signup and view all the answers

What regions of the nephron are responsible for water reabsorption?

Proximal convoluted tubule. Signup and view all the answers

What regions of the nephron are responsible for salt reabsorption?

Primarily the proximal convoluted tubule and the distal convoluted tubule. Signup and view all the answers

What region of the nephron is responsible for the production of the filtrate?

Glomerular capillaries produce filtrate from the blood. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the anatomy of the glomerulus.

Consists of a tuft of fenestrated capillaries; surrounded by the glomerular capsule. Signup and view all the answers

What are podocytes?

Cells in the glomerular capsule; form filtration slits for blood filtration. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the path urine takes to get out of the kidney.

Afferent Arteriole → Glomerulus → Glomerular capsule → Proximal Convoluted Tubule → Nephron Loop → Distal Convoluted Tubule → Collecting Duct → Minor Calyx → Major Calyx → Renal Pelvis → Ureter → Urinary Bladder → Urethra. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the micturition pathways.

Involves visceral afferent impulses to spinal cord, integration at the pontine micturition center, and stimulation of detrusor muscle. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the histology of the bladder.

Bladder wall is made of transitional epithelium. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the histology of the ureter.

Transitional epithelium, with two muscular layers and typical connective tissue in favor of flexibility. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the histology of the urethra.

Transitional epithelium near the bladder; stratified and pseudostratified columnar in mid urethra; stratified squamous near the distal end. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Organs and Structures of the Urinary System

Kidneys: Filter blood, remove waste products, maintain blood chemical consistency, and produce urine.
Ureters: Transport urine from kidneys to the urinary bladder.
Urinary Bladder: Stores urine until excretion.
Urethra: Expels urine from the body.

Specific Kidney Structures

Renal Pyramid: Transports urine from the outer renal cortex to calyces, where urine collects.
Renal Medulla: Houses renal pyramids and conducts urine to the calyces.
Renal Cortex: The outer portion of the kidney that plays a role in urine production.
Renal Capsule: Tough fibrous protective layer surrounding the kidney.
Renal Lobe: Comprises renal medulla and cortex.
Renal Columns: Inward extensions of cortex that divide adjacent pyramids.
Renal Hilus: Area where blood vessels, nerves, and the ureter enter the kidney.

Urinary Collection and Transport

Calyces: Minor calyx merges to form major calyx; both transfer urine to the renal pelvis.
Renal Pelvis: Central area where major calyxes merge; urine flows to ureters.

Urine Pathway

Ureter: Transports urine from renal pelvis to the bladder.
Bladder: Stores urine, lined with transitional epithelium for expansion.

Urinary Bladder Anatomy

Trigone: Trigonal area at the bladder's base between ureter and urethra openings.
Rugae: Folds in the bladder that allow for expansion.

Blood Flow in the Kidney

Blood Pathway: Renal artery → Segmental arteries → Interlobar artery → Arcuate artery → Cortical radiate artery → Afferent arteriole → Glomerulus (nephron) → Efferent arteriole → Peritubular capillaries → Cortical radiate veins → Arcuate veins → Interlobar vein → Renal vein → Inferior vena cava.

Nephrons

Types:
- Cortical Nephrons: 85% of nephrons, primarily in the cortex.
- Juxtamedullary Nephrons: 15%, important for concentrating urine, located near the medulla.
Uriniferous Tubules: Comprise nephrons and collecting ducts.

Nephron Anatomy

Renal Corpuscle: Contains glomerular capsule and glomerulus; initiates blood filtration.
Renal Tubules: Consist of proximal and distal convoluted tubules and nephron loop, involving urine formation and reabsorption.

Cells in the Nephron

Glomerular Capsule: Parietal layer (simple squamous epithelium) and visceral layer (podocytes for filtration).
PCT: Cuboidal epithelial cells with microvilli for absorption.
DCT: Simple cuboidal cells.
Renal Loop: Thick segment (cuboidal epithelium) and thin segment (squamous epithelium).

Juxtaglomerular Apparatus (JGA)

Components: Macula densa cells, extraglomerular mesangial cells, granular cells.
Function: Involved in regulating blood pressure and filtration rate by releasing renin.

Urine Formation Processes

Processes: Glomerular filtration, tubular reabsorption, and tubular secretion.
Water Reabsorption: Primarily in proximal convoluted tubule.
Salt Reabsorption: Mainly in proximal convoluted tubule and some in distal convoluted tubule.

Urine Exit Pathway

Path: Afferent arteriole → Glomerulus → Glomerular capsule → PCT → Nephron loop → DCT → Collecting duct → Minor calyx → Major calyx → Renal pelvis → Ureter → Urinary bladder → Urethra.

Micturition Pathways

Neural Pathways: Involves visceral afferents from stretch receptors, pontine micturition center, and various efferent pathways to control bladder contractions.

Histology of Urinary Structures

Bladder: Lined with transitional epithelium for flexibility.
Ureter: Mucosa (transitional epithelium), muscularis layers, and connective tissue.
Urethra: Transitional epithelium near bladder, stratified and pseudostratified in mid-urethra, and stratified squamous near the distal end, with both internal (involuntary) and external (voluntary) sphincters.

Gender Differences

Women have a shorter urethra compared to men.

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Description

Test your knowledge of the urinary system with these flashcards from Unit 15. Learn about the organs involved, their functions, and the processes they undertake in maintaining the body's chemical balance. Ideal for students looking to reinforce their understanding of human anatomy.