Urinary system (summarized)

Key words

Micturition : processing of passing urine

Renin : an enzyme that does long-term control of blood pressure.

Erythropoietin : hormone, that stimulates red blood cell production (erythropoietin.

Anuria : lack of urine

Oliguria : scanty urine

Polyuria : excess urine

Urinary system consist of following:

 2 kidneys

 2 ureters

 1 bladder

 2 urethra

Functions of urinary system

1. Urine production, acid - base balance, Acid-base balance,water balance.

2. Renin production

3. Erythropoeitin production

4. Excretion of waste product

 Gross structure of Kidney

Definition

The kidney is a bean shaped organ of the urinary system, that produces urine.

Location:

It's lies on the posterior abdominal wall, one on each side of the vertebral column, behind the
peritoneum and below the diaphragm. Extends from the level of the 12the thoracic vertebra to
the 3re lumbar vertebra.

Size :

About 11cm long, 6cm wide and 3cm thick; weigh about 150g.

Shape :

Bean shaped

Structure :

The right kidney is slightly lower than the left kidney.

embedded in a mass of fat, and enclosed by the renal fascia.

Has 3 distinguishable area of tissues :

Outer fibrous capsule

Cortex

Inner medulla that consist of the renal pyramids which has a pointed end called renal papilla.

The hilium is a point on the kidney where the renal blood , lymph vessels, ureter and nerves
enter.

Urine formed within the kidney passes through a renal papilla - minor calyx - major calyx - renal
pelvis - ureter - urethra - exterior.

Associated organs :

Right kidney

Superiorly : right adrenal gland

Anteriorly : right lobe of the liver, the duodenum and the hepatic flexure of the colon.
Posteriorly: diaphragm and muscles of the posterior abdominal wall.

Left Kidney

Superiorly : left adrenal kidney

Anteriorly : spleen, stomach, pancreas, jejunum and splenic flexure of the colon.

Posteriorly - diaphragm and muscles of abdominal abdominal wall.

Blood supply:Renal artery and renal veins

Nerve supply : sympathetic and para-sympathetic supply.

Microscopic structure of the kidney

 The microscopic structure of the kidney is also called nephron

 There about 1-2 millions functional units.

 The Nephron is a tubule that is closed at one end and opens into a collecting duct.

 The closed end forms the Bowman's capsule which encloses a the glomerulus.

 The remaining part of a nephron are divided into 3 parts:

 The proximal convuluted tubule

 The medullary loop(loop of Henley)

 Distal convulated tubules.

 The larger afferent arteriole of the renal artery brings blood to the glomerulus, which
leaves through the smaller efferent arteriole.

 The efferent arteriole turns to Peri-tubular capillary which wrap round the tubules.

 The walls of 4the glomerulus and Bowman's capsule are lined by single layer of
epithelial cells .
 Urine formation

Urine formation occurs in 3 stages:

Father. - filtration

Remember - reabsorption

Son - secretion

Filtration :

 Takes place in the semipermeable walls of the glomerulus and glomerular capsule.

 Occurs according to size of particles, blood cells and plasma proteins are not filtered.

 Takes place because of the difference in pressure:

 The hydrostatic pressure build up of 7.3kpa (55mmHg)

 This pressure is opposed by Osmotic pressure provided by plasma proteins 4kpa

(30mmHg).

 And filtrate hydrostatic pressure of about 2IPA (15mmHg).

 The net filtrate rate is 1.3kpa(10mmHg)

Selective reabsorption:

 Reabsorption takes place from the filtrate back to the blood.

 Most reabsorption takes place in the proximal con u later tubule

 Substances like glucose, water, organic nutrients and amino acids are reabsorbed here.

 More substances are reabsorbed in the loop of Henle

 Only about 15 - 20% filtrate reaches the distal convulated tubules and more reabsorption
of substances takes place.

 Most waters are reabsorbed in the collecting ducts.

Tubular secretion

 substances not required and foreign materials e.g drugs may not be filtered completely
because of the short time they remain I. the glomerulus or because they are too large.

 These substances are cleared by secretion from peritubular capillaries into the filtrate
within the convoluted tubules.

Constituents of urine

1. Water - 96%

2. Urea - 2%

3. Uric acid

4. Creatinine

5. Ammonia

6. sodium
2%
7. Potassium

8. Sodium

9. Potassium

10. Chlorides

11. Sulphate

12. Phosphates

13. sulphate

14. Oxalates