UNIT EIGHT

Excretory system
 8. Excretory system/urinary system
 The Urinary System is a group of organs in the body concerned
with filtering out excess fluid and other substances from the
bloodstream.
 The organs, tubes, muscles, and nerves that work together to
create, store, and carry urine are the urinary system.
 The urinary system includes two kidneys, two ureters, the bladder,
two sphincter muscles, and the urethra.
 The substances are filtered out from the body in the form of urine.
Urine is a liquid produced by the kidneys, collected in the bladder
and excreted through the urethra.
 Urine is used to extract excess minerals or vitamins as well as
blood corpuscles from the body.
 The kidneys are the main organs of homeostasis because they
maintain the acid base balance and the water salt balance of the
2 blood.
 Functions of the Urinary System
 Excretion.
 Homeostasis
 Conserving water, salts, and electrolytes.
The most important roles of the kidneys are:
 Regulation of plasma ionic composition
 Regulation of plasma osmolarity
 Regulation of plasma volume
 Regulation of plasma hydrogen ion concentration (pH)
 Removal of metabolic waste products and foreign substances from
the plasma: Secretion of Hormones
 They continuously maintain the proper balance between water and
salts in the blood and they help to maintain the blood PH at 7.35-
7.45.
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 Structures of Urinary system
 1. The ureters- The convey urine from the kidneys to the urinary
bladder.
 2. The urinary bladder- The function of the urinary bladder is the
temporary storage of urine
 The sphincter muscles close and opening of the bladder into the
urethra
 3. The urethra- is a muscular tube that drains urine from the urinary
bladder and conveys it out of the body.
 Common for sperm and urine in males
 4. Kidneys:- The primary function of the kidney is to make urine
and purify the blood.
 Each kidney removes waste materials, and other chemicals which
are not required by body.
 The right kidney is slightly lower than left kidney. WHY?

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 The Structure of kidney
The frontal section of the kidney reveals 3 distinct regions. Such
are:-
1. Renal cortex: the outer region just inside the renal capsule;
light red in color and granular in appearance.
2. Renal medulla: Extensions of the renal cortex between the
renal pyramids are called renal columns. Together, the renal
cortex & medulla form the parenchyma of the kidney where
urine is formed.
3. Renal pelvis: The renal pelvis collects urine that is formed in
the renal cortex and medulla.

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 Parts of kidney

1. Renal pyramid- the cone shaped masses in the kidney

2. Renal pelvis- a central space, or cavity that transmits urine
to the urinary bladder via the ureter
3. Ureter- is tube that drain urine from the kidneys to the
bladder
4. Renal capsule- filters out large solutes from the blood,
delivering water and small solutes to the renal tubule for
modification.
5. Nephron- basic structural and
functional unit of the kidney
6. Renal column- Extensions
of the renal cortex between
the renal pyramids

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 Nephron
 Nephron:- is basic structural and functional unit of the kidney
 chief function to regulate water and soluble substances by
filtering the blood, reabsorbing what is needed and excreting
the rest as urine as carry out the processes that form urine.
 Nephrons-the renal cortex & medulla of each kidney contain
over 1 million microscopic tubules called nephrons.

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 Parts of nephron
1. Glomerulus- the glomerulus is a capillary tuft that receives
its blood supply from an afferent arteriole of the renal
circulation.
2. capsule:- Bowman's capsule (glomerular capsule) the site of
the ultrafiltration of the blood.
3. First coiled (convoluted) tubule: is where much of the
reabsorption takes place.
4. Second coiled (convoluted) tubule: where the main water
balancing is done.
5. Collecting duct: where the liquid (essentially urine) is
collected.
6. Loop of Henle: where the urine is concentrated and more
water is conserved. Salt concentrate.

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 Cont…
Nephrons are classified into 2 types based on the location of the
loop of Henle:
i. Cortical Nephrons- the loop of Henle is mostly in the cortex
and penetrates a little into the medulla.
ii. juxtamedullary Nephrons- the loop of Henle penetrates
deeply into the medulla

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