URINARY SYSTEM

What is Urinary system?

Major excretory system of the body.Some organs in the other system also
eliminate waste, but they are not able to compensate in case of kidney failure.

Functions of the Urinary System

1. The kidneys excrete waste products.

2. The kidneys control blood volume and blood pressure by regulating the
volume of urine produced.

3. The kidneys regulate the concentration of major ions in the body fluid.

4. The kidneys help regulate pH of the extracellular fluid.

5. The kidneys regulate the concentration of red blood cells in the blood.

6. The kidneys participate with the skin and liver in regulating vitamin D
synthesis.

Anatomy of the Kidneys

-Location and external anatomy of the kidneys.

- Each kidney is behind the peritoneum and surrounded by a renal capsule and
adipose tissue.

Internal Anatomy and Histology of the Kidneys

1. The kidney is divided into an outer cortex and inner medulla.

2. Each renal pyramid has a base located at the boundary between the cortex
and the medulla. The tip of the renal pyramid extends towards the center of
the kidney and is surrounded by a calyx.

3. Calyces are extensions of the renal pelvis which is the expanded end of the
ureter within the renal sinus.

4. The functional unit of the kidney is the nephron. The parts of nephron are the
renal corpuscle the proximal convulated tubule.

5. The filtration membrane is formed by the glomerular capillaries the basement

membrane and the podocytes of the bowman capsule.
ARTERIES AND VIENS

Urine is produced by filtration, tubular reabsorption and tubular secretion.

Filtration

1. The renal filtrate passes from the glomerolous into the bowman capsule and
contains no blood cells and few blood proteins.

2. Filtration pressure is responsible for filtrate formation.

3. Increase sympathetic activity, decrease blood flow to the kidney, decreases

filtrate formation and decrease urine production. Decrease sympathetic
activity has the opposite effect.

TUBULAR REABSORTION

1. About 99% of the filtrate volume is reabsorbed 1% becomes urine.

2. Among the substances reabsorbed are proteins, amino acid, glucose,

fructose…

3. About 65% of the filtrate volume is reabsorbed in the proximal convoluted

tubule 15% is reabsorbed in the descending limb of the loop of Henle and
other 19% is reabsorbed in the distal convoluted tubule and collecting duct.

TUBULAR SECRETION

Hydrogen ions some by-products of metabolism, and some drugs are actively
secreted into the nephron.

REGULATION OF URINE CONSENTRATION AND VOLUME

HORMONAL MECHANISMS

1. Renin is secreted from the kidney when the blood pressure decreases. Renin
converts angiotensinogen to angiotensin I, which is then converted
angiotensin II by angiotensin converting enzymes.

2. ADH is secreted from the posterior pituitary when the concentration of blood
increases or when blood pressure decreases. ADH increases the permeability
to the water or the distal convuluted tubule and collecting duct. It increases
water reabsorption by the kidney.
 3. Atrial natriuretic hormone, secreted from the right atrium in response to
increase in blood pressure, acts on the kidneys to increase Na and water loss
in the urine.

ANATOMY AND HISTOLOGY OF THE URETERS, URINARY BLADDER, AND

URETHRA

1. Each ureter carries urine from a renal pelvis of the urinary bladder.

2.The urethra carries urine from the urinary bladder to the outside of the body.

3. The ureters and urinary bladder are lined with transitional epithelium and
have smooth muscle in their walls.

4. The external urethral sphincter regulates the flow of urine through the
urethra.

Micturition reflex

1. Increase volume of urinary bladder stretches its wall and activates the
micturition reflex.

2. Parasympathetic actions potentials cause the urinary bladder to contract.

Reduced somatic motor actions potentials cause the external urethral
sphincter to relax.

3. Higher brain centers control the micturition reflex. Stretching of the urinary
bladder stimulates sensory neurons that carry impulses to the brain of the
need to urinate.

Body fluid compartments

1. Water and the ions dissolved in the water are distributed in the intracellular
and extracellular fluid compartments.

2. Approximately two thirds of the total body water is found within cells.

3. Approximately one third of the total body water is found outside cells,
mainly in interstitial fluid , blood plasma, and lymph.