ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY
Anatomy and Physiology of Urinary System
o The principal organs of the urinary system are the kidneys
which process blood and form urine as a waste to be
excreted (removed from the body). The excreted urine travels
from the kidneys to the outside of the body via accessory
organs: ureters, urinary bladder, and urethra.We often think of
the urinary system primarily as a "urineproducer," which it
certainly is. However, a better image ofthe system is that of
"blood plasma balancer."
o Each kidney processes incoming blood plasma in ways that
allow it to leave the kidney in better condition. The water
content is adjusted so that the body does not have too much
or too little water to maintain constancy of the internal
environment.
o Likewise, the blood content of important ions such as sodium
and potassium is adjusted to match set point levels. Even the
pH of the blood can be altered to match the set point level. In
these ways, the urinary system regulates the content of blood
plasma so that the homeostasis, or "dynamic constancy" of
the entire internal fluid environmentcan be maintained within
normal limits.
Functions of the Urinary System
The major role of maintaining homeostasis with respect to the
composition and volume of blood and body fluids is controlled by the
kidneys, which perform various functions:
o Excretion: The kidneys filter large amounts of fluid from the
bloodstream. They are the major excretory organs of the body
because they eliminate nitrogenous wastes, drugs and toxins
from the body. Although the skin, liver, intestines and lungs
also eliminate wastes, they cannot compensate if the kidneys
fail. In addition, the kidneys can reabsorb needed substances
and return them to the blood.
o Maintain blood volume and concentration: The kidneys
control blood volume by regulating the proper balance in the
blood between salts and water. They regulate the volume of
urine produced. They also regulate the concentration of ions
in body fluids and blood, so the proper balance of sodium,
chloride, potassium, calcium and phosphate ions is
maintained.
o pH regulation: The kidneys control the proper balance of
hydrogen ions in the blood, thus helping to regulate the
proper pH levels in the body along with buffers in the blood
and the respiratory system.
o Blood pressure: The kidneys produce the enzymerenin
(REN-in), which helps adjust filtration pressure.
o Erythrocyte concentration: The kidneys produce
erythropoietin (eh-rith-roh-POY-eh-tin), a hor-mone that
stimulates red blood cell production inred bone marrow. They
help regulate the concentration of erythrocytes in the blood in
cases of chronic hypoxia.
o Vitamin D production: The kidneys convert vitamin D to its
active form (calciferol). Vitamin D is important for normal bone
and teeth development. It also helps control calcium and
phosphorus metabolism. The kidneys participate, alongwith
the liver and the skin, in vitamin D synthesis.
 o Together, the two kidneys contain about 160 km of blood
vessels.
Structure of the Kidney
Renal capsule
o The normal kidney size of an adult human is about 10 to 13
cm (4 to 5inches) long and about 5 to 7.5 cm (2 to 3 inches) o is a tough fibrous layer surrounding the kidney and covered in
wide. It is approximately the size of a conventional computer a thick layer of adipose tissue. It provides some protection
mouse. from trauma and damage
o The kidneys are dark-red, bean-shaped organs. One side of
Renal cortex
the kidney bulges outward (convex) and the other side is
indented (concave) o Is the outer portion of the kidney between the renal capsule
and the renal medulla? In the adult, it forms a continuous
NORMAL KIDNEY LOCATION
smooth outer zone with a number of projections (cortical
o Towards the back of the abdominal cavity, just above the columns) that extend down between the pyramids.
waist. One kidney is normally located just below the liver, on Ultrafiltration occurs.
the right side of the abdomen and the other is just below the
Renal medulla
spleen on the left side.
o is the innermost part of the kidney split up into a number of
Kidney anatomy and excretion
sections, known as the renal pyramids contains the structures
o The most basic structures of the kidneys are nephrons. They of the nephrons responsible for maintaining the salt and water
are responsible for filtering the blood. The renal artery balance of the blood is hypertonic to the filtrate in the nephron
delivers blood to the kidneys each day. Over 180 liters (50 and aids in the reabsorption of water
gallons) of blood pass through the kidneys every day. When
this blood enters the kidneys it is filtered and returned to the
heart via the renal vein.
o The process of separating wastes from the body fluids and
eliminating them, is known as excretion. The urinary system
is one of the organ systems responsible for excretion. K
idneys are the main organs of the urinary system.
Kidney anatomy and blood vessels
o The kidney is full of blood vessels. Every function of the
kidney involves blood, therefore it requires a lot of blood
vessels to facilitate these functions.