The Urinary System

Function
1. Remove nitrogenous wastes
2. Maintain electrolyte, acid-base,
and fluid balance of blood
3. Homeostatic organ
4. Acts as blood filter
5. Release hormones: calcitriol &
erythropoietin

Kidneys as Filters
Diuretic- loose water; coffee, alcohol
Antidiuretic- retain water; ADH
Aldosterone- sodium & water reabsorption,
and K+ excretion
GFR= 180 liters of blood/day
178-179 liters are reabsorbed back into
blood
Excrete a protein free filtrate

Maintaining
Chemical
Homeostasis
The
Urinary
System

The Urinary System

blood
filtration

General
Functioning
of the Kidney

tubular
reabsorption
and secretion

urine refreshed blood

Nitrogenous
Wastes

urea

uric acid

ammonia

kidneys

Organs
of the
Urinary
System

ureters
urinary
bladder
urethra

Kidney
Anatomy
renal
pelvis
ureter

renal
pyramids

renal
cortex
renal
capsule
renal
medulla

nephron
renal artery
renal vein

Kidney
Anatomy

Nephron
Functioning

blood
filtration
tubular
reabsorption
and secretion

urine refreshed blood

efferent
arteriole
afferent
arteriole

glomerulus

artery
peritubular
capillaries
loop of
Henle

vein

Bowmans
capsule
proximal
convoluted
tubule
distal
convoluted
tubule
collecting
duct

Each kidney contains over 1 million nephrons and thousands

of collecting ducts
Glomerulus

DCT

renal
cortex

PCT

renal
medulla
Collecting duct
Loop of Henle

efferent
arteriole

afferent
arteriole

Glomerular
Filtration
Bowmans
capsule
Filters blood; proteins cant pass through

glomerulus

Composition of
Glomerular Filtrate
Water
Small Soluble Organic
Molecules
Mineral Ions

Proximal Convoluted
Tubule
Reabsorbs: water, glucose,
amino acids, and sodium.
65% of Na+ is reabsorbed
65% of H2O is reabsorbed
90% of filtered bicarbonate (HCO3-)
50% of Cl- and K+

Loop of Henle
Creates a gradient of increasing
sodium ion concentration towards
the end of the loop within the
interstitial fluid of the renal pyramid.
25% Na+ is reabsorbed in the loop
15% water is reabsorbed in the loop
40% K is reabsorbed in the loop

Distal Convoluted
Tubule
Under the influence of the hormone
aldosterone, reabsorbs sodium and
secretes potassium. Also regulates
pH by secreting hydrogen ion when
pH of the plasma is low.
only 10% of the filtered NaCl and 20% of water
remains

Collecting Duct
Allows for the osmotic
reabsorption of water.
ADH (antidiuretic hormone)- makes
collecting ducts more permeable to
water-- produce concentrated urine

Urine
Water- 95%
Nitrogenous waste:
urea
uric acid
creatinine
Ions:
sodium
potassium
sulfate
phosphate
From the original 1800 g NaCl, only 10 g appears in
the urine

Hormonal
Control of
Kidney
Function

Hormonal Control
of Kidney Function
high plasma
solute
concentration

low blood volume

heart receptors

hypothalamus

Hormonal Control
of Kidney Function
hypothalamus
posterior pituitary
antidiuretic hormone
collecting ducts

Hormonal
Control of
Kidney
Function

Hormonal Control
of Kidney Function
reduced blood pressure and
glomerular filtrate
juxtaglomerular apparatus
renin

Hormonal Control
of Kidney Function

angiotensinogen
angiotensin I
angiotensin II

renin

Hormonal Control
of Kidney Function

angiotensin II
adrenal cortex
aldosterone
convoluted tubules

Urinary Bladder

ureters
external
sphincters

internal
sphincters
urethra

Bladder
1. Mucosa (transitional epithelium)
2. Muscular layer (detrusor muscle):
3 layers of smooth muscle
3. Fibrous adventia

Sphincter Muscles on Bladder

Internal urethral sphincter:
Smooth muscle
Involuntary control
More superiorly located
External Urethral sphincter:
Skeletal muscle
Voluntary control
Posteriorly located

Diuresis (Micturition)
When bladder fills with 200 ml of urine,
stretch receptors transmit impulses to
the CNS and produce a reflex
contraction of the bladder (PNS)
When is incontinence normal?

Distension
of the
Urinary
Bladder

Urinalysis
Why do doctors ask for a urine sample?
characteristics:
smell- ammonia-like
pH- 4.5-8, ave 6.0
specific gravity more than 1.0; ~1.0011.003
color- affected by what we eat: salty foods,
vitamins

Odor

odor- normal is ammonia-like

diabetes mellitus- smells fruity or
acetone like due to elevated ketone
levels
diabetes insupidus- yucky
asparagus---

pH- range 4.5-8 ave 6.0

vegetarian diet- urine is alkaline
protein rich and wheat dieturine is acidic

Color
Color- pigment is urochrome
Yellow color due to metabolic breakdown of
hemoglobin (by bile or bile pigments)
Beets or rhubarb- might give a urine pink or
smoky color
Vitamins- vitamin C- bright yellow
Infection- cloudy

Specific Gravity
Water: s.g. = 1g/liter;
Urine: s.g. ~ 1.001 to 1.030
Pyelonephritus- urine has high s.g.;
form kidney stones
Diabetes insipidus- urine has low
s.g.; drinks excessive water; injury or
tumor in pituitary

Abnormal Constitutes of Urine

Glucose- when present in urine condition
called glycosuria (nonpathological)
[glucose not normally found in urine]
Indicative of:
Excessive carbohydrate intake
Stress
Diabetes mellitus

Abnormal Constitutes of Urine

Albumin-abnormal in urine; its a very large
molecule, too large to pass through glomerular
membrane > abnormal increase in permeability
of membrane
Albuminuria- nonpathological conditionsexcessive exertion, pregnancy, overabundant
protein intake-- leads to physiologic albuminuria
Pathological condition- kidney trauma due to
blows, heavy metals, bacterial toxin

Abnormal Constitutes of Urine

Ketone bodies- normal in urine but in small amts
Ketonuria- find during starvation, using fat stores
Ketonuria is couples w/a finding of glycosuria-- which
is usually diagnosed as diabetes mellitus
RBC-hematuria
HemoglobinHemoglobinuria- due to fragmentation or hemolysis of
RBC; conditions: hemolytic anemia, transfusion
reaction, burns or renal disease

Abnormal Constitutes of Urine

Bile pigmentsBilirubinuria (bile pigment in urine)- liver pathology such as
hepatitis or cirrhosis
WBCPyuria- urinary tract infection; indicates inflammation of
urinary tract
Casts- hardened cell fragments, cylindrical, flushed out of
urinary tract
WBC casts- pyelonephritus
RBC casts- glomerulonephritus
Fatty casts- renal damage

INQUIRY
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

List several functions of the kidneys.

What does the glomerulus do?
What are several constitutes you should not find in urine?
What is specific gravity?
What two hormones effect fluid volume and sodium
concentration in the urine?
6. Where are the pyramids located in the kidney?
7. What vessel directs blood into the glomerulus?
8. Where does most selective reabsorption occur in the
nephron?

Moment of Zen

KIDNEY