Urinary System Group of organs in the body concerned with filtering out excess fluid and other substances

s from the bloodstream The substances are filtered out from the body in the form of urine works with the other systems of the body to help maintain homeostasis Functions of the Urinary system 1. excretion (process of eliminating waste products of metabolism and other non-useful materials in the body) 2. elimination (the discharge of waste products into the environment) 3. maintenance (water level or fluid volume in the body; minerals and vitamin level) 4. regulation (normal pH of the blood; blood volume and pressure by adjusting the volume of water loss) Urine -- is a liquid produced by the kidneys, collected in the bladder and excreted through the urethra It is used to extract excess minerals or vitamins as well as blood corpuscles from the body Organs of the Urinary System: 1. 2 kidneys 2. 2 ureters 3. 1 urinary bladder 4. 1 urethra Kidneys are the main organs of homeostasis because they maintain the acid base balance and the water salt balance of the blood Paired organs Production of the urine is their primary function Reddish brown in color Bean-shape An average adult kidney is approximately 3 cm thick, 6 cm wide, 12 cm long - About the size of a large bar of soap - each adult kidney weighs between 125 and 170 gm in males and between 115 and 155 gm in females Location: Located behind the abdominal cavity (retroperitoneal ) th rd Lies between 12 thoracic and 3 lumbar vertebrae, one on each side of the vertebral column, thus they receive some protection from the lower part of the rib cage The right kidney usually is slightly lower than the left because the liver displaces it downward The left kidney is typically slightly larger than the right Functions: Regulation of blood volume Regulation of blood pressure Regulation of the pH of the blood Regulation of the ionic composition of blood Production of RBC Synthesis of vitamin D Excretion of waste products and foreign substances

3 Layers: 1. renal capsule Smooth, transparent fibrous membrane Encloses each kidney and gives kidney a glistening appearance Barrier against trauma and maintain shape of the kidney 2. adipose capsule Fatty mass Surrounds each kidney and helps hold it in place against the muscles of the trunk wall 3. renal fascia Thin, dense, irregular Anchors the kidney to its surrounding structures and to the abdominal wall Regions: 1. Renal cortex Outer part of the kidney This is where blood is filtered this process is ultrafiltration or high pressure filtration because it only works if the blood entering the kidney in the renal artery is at high pressure It is in between the renal capsule and renal medulla Contains millions of microscopic units called nephrons ( functional units of the kidney ) Nephron - the structural and functional units of the kidneys and as such, are responsible for forming the urine - it is a tube; closed at one end, open at the other and consists of the following: bowmanns capsule located at the closed end, the wall of nephron is pushed in forming a double-walled chamber glomerulus capillary network within the bowmanns capsule proximal convuluted tubule coiled and lined with cells carpeted with microvilli and stuffed with mitochondria loop of henle it makes a hairpin turn distal convuluted tubule which is also highly coiled and surrounded by capillaries collecting duct leads to the pelvis of the kidney from where urinea flows to the bladder and periodically on to the outside world 2 portions: 1. renal corpuscles plasma is filtered A. glomerulus capillary network B. glomerular (bowmanns capsule) double walled epithelial cup surrounding the glomerulus 2. renal tubules into which the filtered fluid passes A. PCT B. Loop of Henle C. DCT 2 types of Nephron 1. cortical nephron 85% of entirely nephrons Located in the cortex These perform most of the reabsorptive and secretory functions of the kidneys

2. juxtamedullary nephron Found in the medulla Loops of henle extend deep into the pyramids These are responsibale for the ability to produce a concentrated urine 2. Renal medulla Innermost part of the kidney ( Latin renes medulla = kidney middle ) contains the structures of the nephrons responsible for maintaining the salt and water balance of the blood hypertonic to the filtrate in the nephron and aids in the reabsorption of water Is split up into a number of sections known as the renal pyramids Blood enters into the kidney via the renal artery, which then splits up to form the arcuate arterioles The arcuate arterioles each in turn branch into the interlobular arterioles, which finally reach the glomeruli At the glomerulus the blood reaches a highly disfavorable pressure gradient and a large exchange surface area, which forces the serum portion of the blood out of the vessel into the renal tubules Flow continues through the renal tubules, including the proximal tubule, the Loop of Henle, and finally leaves the kidney by means of the collecting duct, leading to the renal ureter 3. Renal pelvis the funnel-like dilated proximal part of the ureter in the kidney major function is to act as a funnel for urine flowing to the ureter Point of convergence of two or three major calyces. Each renal papilla is surrounded by a branch of the renal pelvis called a calyx It is the location of several kinds of kidney cancer Ureters Passageway that carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder Each ureter is a muscular tube about 10-12 inches ( 25-30 cm ) long and 6mm ( inch ) in diameter After the urine enters the bladder from the ureters, small folds in the bladder mucosa act like valves preventing backward flow of the urine The outlet of the bladder is controlled by a sphincter muscle A full bladder stimulates sensory nerves in the bladder wall that relax the sphincter and allow release of the urine Urinary bladder Hollow, muscular and distensible or elastic organ that sits on the pelvic floor Located between pubic symphysis and rectum in men Serve as temporary reservoir for urine Spherical shaped when full Resembles inverted pyramid when empty Can hold approximately 17-18 ounces (500-530 ml ) of urine, however the desire to micturate is usually experienced when it contains about 150-200 ml Urethra Muscular tube that connects the bladder with the out side of the body The function is to remove urine from the body Length: females: 3-4cm ( 1 inch ) males : 20 cm ( 8 inches )

Location : females: along wall of the vagina males: through the prostate and penis Function: females: only carries urine males: carries urine and is passageway for sperm cells Urine Formation The production of urine is vital to the health of the body The kidneys do not simply pick waste products out of the bloodstream and send them along for final disposal The kidneys 2 million or more nephrons ( about a million in each kidney ) form urine by three precisely regulated processes Filtration - of water and dissolved substances out of the blood in the glomeruli and into Bowmans capsule Reabsorption - of water and dissolved substances out of the kidney tubules back into the blood ( note that this process prevents substances needed by the body from being lost in the urine ) secretion - of hydrogen ions, potassium ions, ammonia and certain drugs out of the blood and into the kidney tubules, where they are eventually eliminated in the urine Urine Color: *Colorless indicates over-hydration, which is usually considered much healthier than dehydration *Yellowing / light orange removal of excess B vitamins from the bloodstream *Dark yellow urine indicative of dehydration Odor: *The smell of urine can be affected by the consumption of food *Usual foods that contribute to odor include curry, alcohol, coffee, turkey and onion pH: is close to neutral ( 7 ) but can normally vary between 6.5 and 7.4 Volume of urine: *Depends on numerous factors including state of hydration, activities, environmental, size and health *In adult human the average production is about 1-2 L per day Polyuria is a condition of excessive production of urine ( >2.5 L / day ) Oliguria where < 400 ml are produced per day Anuria with a production of < 100 ml per day Facts about Urine Adults pass about a quart and a half of urine each day, depending on the fluid and foods consumed The volume of urine formed at night is about half that formed in the daytime Normal urine is sterile. It contains fluids, salts and waste products, but it is free of bacteria, viruses and fungi The tissues of the bladder are isolated from urine and toxic substances by a coating that discourages bacteria from attaching and growing on the bladder wall