URINARY SYSTEM
§ Consists of 2 kidneys, 2 ureters, urinary
bladder, and the urethra.
FUNCTIONS
1. Excretion
2. Regulation of blood volume + pressure.
3. Regulation of the concentration of solutes in
the blood.
4. Regulation of RBC synthesis.
5. Regulation of vit. D synthesis.
ANATOMY OF THE KIDNEYS
Kidneys – bean-shaped organs; size of a tightly clenched
fist
Renal capsule – CT that surround each kidney
Hilum – where the renal artery and nerves enter
Renal sinus – cavity that contains blood vessels
Cortex (outer) Medulla (inner) – surround the renal
sinus
Renal pyramids – located bet. the cortex & medulla
Calyx – funnel-shaped structure that surround the tip of
each pyramid
Renal pelvis – formed by calyces into a larger funnel
Ureter – exits the kidney and connects to the urinary
bladder
Nephron – functional unit of the kidney
v Renal corpuscle
v Proximal convoluted tubule
v Loop of Henle
v Distal convoluted tubule
Collecting duct – carries the fluid from the cortex
through the medulla
Papillary duct – empty their contents into a calyx
Juxtamedullary nephrons (15%) – have loops of Henle
that extend deep into the medulla
Cortical nephrons (85%) – have loops of Henle that do
not extend deep into the medulla
Bowman’s capsule – consists of the enlarged end of the
nephron
Glomerulus – tuft of capillaries that resembles a ball of
yarn; lies within the indentation of Bowman’s capsule
Podocytes – inner layer of Bowman’s capsule that
consists of specialized cells
Filtration membrane – formed by glomerular
capillaries, basement membrane, and podocytes of BC
Filtrate – the fluid that passes across the filtration
membrane
Arteries and Veins
Renal arteries – branch off the abdominal aorta and
enter the kidneys
Interlobar arteries – pass bet. the renal pyramids
Arcuate arteries – arch bet. the cortex and the medulla
Interlobular arteries – branch off the arcuate arteries
and project into the cortex
Afferent arterioles – arise form branches of the
interlobular arteries and extend to the glomerular
capillaries
Efferent arterioles – extend from the glomerular
capillaries
Peritubular capillaries – surround the proximal
convoluted and distal convoluted tubules and the loops
of Henle
Vasa recta – specialized portions of the peritubular
capillaries that extend deep into the medulla
Juxtaglomerular apparatus – formed where the distal
convoluted tubule comes in contact with the afferent
arteriole next to BC
URINE FORMATION
1. FILTRATION
§ Movement of water, ions, and small molecules
through the FM into the BC
Filtration pressure – forces fluid from the glomerular
capillary across the FM into the BC
Glomerular capillary pressure – BP in the glomerular
capillary
Capsular pressure – pressure of filtrate already inside
the BC
Colloid osmotic pressure – pressure of filtrate within
the glomerular capillary
Regulation of Filtration
Cardiovascular shock – the filtration pressure and
filtrate formation fall dramatically
2. TUBULAR REABSORPTION
§ Movement of substances from the filtrate across
the wall of the nephrons back into the blood of
the peritubular capillaries
3. TUBULAR SECRETION
§ Active transport of solutes across the nephron
walls into the filtrate
A x 2 .
REGULATION OF URINE REGULATION OF EXTRACELLULAR FLUID
CONCENTRATION AND VOLUME COMPOSITION
Hormonal Mechanism Thirst Regulation
Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone-Mechanism § Blood concentration increases = thirst center
§ Renin is secreted from the kidney when blood initiates sensation of thirst
pressure decreases § When water is consumed, blood concentration
§ Renin converts angiotensinogen to angiotensin increases = thirst sensation decreases
I; then converted to angiotensinogen II; which § Blood pressure decreases = thirst sensation is
stimulates aldosterone triggered
§ Aldosterone increases Na+ and Cl+ § Consumption of water = increases blood volume
reabsorption from the nephron + allows blood pressure to increase

Antidiuretic Hormone Mechanism Thirst center – neurons in the hypothalamus that control
§ Secreted from the posterior pituitary when water intake
blood concentration increases / blood pressure
decreases Thirst – one of the important means of regulating ECF
§ Increases the permeability to water of the distal volume and concentration
convoluted tubules and collecting ducts
§ Increases water reabsorption by the kidney Ion Concentration Regulation
§ Sodium ions are dominant extracellular ions
Atrial Natriuretic Hormone Ø Aldosterone increases Na+
§ Secreted from the RA in response to increased reabsorption from filtrate
blood pressure Ø ADH increases water reabsorption
§ Acts on the kidney to increase Na+ & water loss from the nephron
in the urine Ø ANH increases Na+ loss in urine

URINE MOVEMENT § Aldosterone increases K+ secretion in urine

Anatomy and Histology of the Ureters, Urinary
Bladder, and Urethra
Ureters – small tubes that carry urine
§
Urinary bladder – hollow muscular container that stores
urine
Urethra – tube that carries urine form the urinary
§
bladder to the outside of the body
Ø Increased blood levels of K+ stimulate
Ø Decreased blood levels of K+ inhibit
PTH increases extracellular Ca2+ levels
Ø Causes bone resorption
Ø Increases Ca2+ uptake in the kidney
PTH increases vit. D synthesis

Internal urinary sphincter (males) – smooth muscle at § Calcitonin (thyroid gland)

the junction of the urinary bladder and urethra Ø Inhibits bone resorption
Ø Lowers blood Ca2+ levels
External urinary sphincter (males + females) – skeletal
muscle that surrounds the urethra § Phosphate + Sulfate Ions
Ø When levels are low in the filtrate = ions
Micturition Reflex are reabsorbed
§ Activated by stretch of the urinary bladder wall Ø When levels are high = excess is lost in
the urine
BODY FLUID COMPARTMENTS
Intracellular fluid compartment – fluid inside all the REGULATION OF ACID-BASE BALANCE
cells in the body Buffers
§ Resist changes in the pH;
Extracellular fluid compartment – fluid outside all the § Proteins, phosphate buffer system, bicarbonate
cells in the body buffer system

Composition of the Fluid in the BFC Respiratory System

Intracellular fluid – contains more K, Mg, PO4, SO4, § Increase respiratory rate raises pH = rate of
protein, CO2 elimination is increased
§ Reduced respiratory rate = reduces pH (CO2
Extracellular fluid – contains more Na, Ca, Cl, HCO3 elimination is reduced)

Exchange bet. BFC Kidneys

§ Water moves continually bet. compartments I § Excrete H+ in response to decreasing blood pH
response to hydrostatic pressure differences § Reabsorb H+ in response to an increasing
and osmotic differences bet. the compartments blood pH

A x 2 .
Acidosis and Alkalosis
Acidosis – occurs when blood pH falls below 7.35
v Respiratory acidosis – respiratory is unable to
eliminate adequate amounts of CO2
v Metabolic acidosis – excess production of acidic
substances (lactic acid + ketone bodies)

Alkalosis – occurs when blood pH increases above 7.45

v Respiratory alkalosis – results from
hyperventilation in response to stress
v Metabolic alkalosis – results from rapid
elimination of H+ from body

A x 2 .