Anatomy of the Urinary

System
Richard Michael Blay
Anatomy Department
UGMS
 Major Parts of the Human Body

food, water intake oxygen intake

elimination
Digestive System Respiratory System of carbon
dioxide
nutrients, oxygen
water, carbon
salts dioxide

Circulatory System
Urinary System
water
solutes

elimination rapid transport elimination of

of food to and from all excess water
residues living cells salts, wastes
 Objectives

• Describe the various organs and structures.

• Explain the functions of the organs and structures.
• Describe the position and relations of the organs.
• Describe the internal architecture of the kidneys.
Urinary System

• Two kidneys

• Two ureters
• Bladder
• Urethra
Functions

Kidneys:
• Filters blood plasma, eliminates waste, returns useful
chemicals to blood
• Regulates blood volume and pressure, electrolyte
balance
• Secretes erythropoietin which helps in producing RBCs
Functions II
Ureters
• Transports urine

Bladder
• Stores urine which is later drained from the body
through the URETHRA
Renin
• Renin is an enzyme released by the kidneys in
response to a drop in blood pressure.
• Renin catalyzes the production of angiotensin,
a hormone that causes arterioles to constrict,
raising blood pressure.
Erythropoietin

• A second response to low blood pressure is

the release of erythropoietin, another
hormone.
• Erythropoietin travels to the bone marrow
and stimulates the production of new blood
cells.
Anatomy of the kidney
 Anatomy of the kidney
• Bean-shaped, 150g
• Size: large bar of soap
• Located usually between level of T12 to L3 vertebra
• Receive some protection from the lower ribs
• The right kidney is pushed slightly lower than the left
by the liver
• Medial surface is concave and has a cleft called the
HILUM
 Anatomy of the kidney
• The ureter, renal artery and vein enter at
the hilum
• On top of each kidney lies the suprarenal
gland an endocrine gland that is
functionally unrelated to the kidney
Internal architecture of the Kidney
pyramid Renal column

Major Calyx
papilla

Minor calyx
 Internal architecture of the kidney
Basic structural/functional unit of the kidney – Nephron
• Each Nephron has 2 parts: renal corpuscle and renal tubule
• Corpuscle – filtration
• Tubule - reabsorption
• Renal cortex: outer 1 cm
• Renal medulla: renal columns, pyramids
• The kidney is sub divided into lobes
• Lobe of kidney: pyramid and it’s overlying cortex
Lobe of Kidney
Blood Supply of the Kidneys
Renal Corpuscle structure

Bowman’s capsule + Glomerulus

The Urinary System
General Functioning of the Kidney
 Urine
Water- 95%
Nitrogenous waste:
• urea
• uric acid
• creatinine
Ions:
• sodium
• potassium
• sulfate
• phosphate
Urinary Bladder and Urethra - Female
Urinary Bladder and Urethra - Female

• Located in pelvic cavity, posterior to pubic symphysis

• 3 layers
• muscularis: detrusor muscle, 3 layers of smooth muscle
• trigone: openings of ureters and urethra, triangular
• capacity: moderately full - 500 ml, max. - 800 ml
Female Urethra
• 3 to 4 cm long
• External urethral orifice
• between vaginal orifice and
clitoris
• Internal urethral sphincter
• detrusor muscle thickened,
smooth muscle, involuntary
control

• External urethral sphincter

– skeletal muscle, voluntary
control
Male Bladder and Urethra

• 18 cm long
• Internal urethral sphincter
• External urethral sphincter

• 3 regions
– prostatic urethra
• during orgasm receives semen
– membranous urethra
• passes through pelvic cavity
– penile urethra