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•! The urinary system is devoted to several
Urogenital System!
Zoology 200!
•! Synthesis of Vitamin D
–! kidneys, together with the skin and liver,
synthesize calcitrol (the active form of Vitamin D)
•! Help liver in detoxifying poisons
•! Excretion of waste products and foreign
substances
–! Examples of metabolic waste products: ammonia
(from amino acids), bilirubin (from hemoglobin),
and creatinine (from creatine phosphate of
muscle fibers)
–! Examples of foreign substances: pharmaceutical
drugs and environmental toxins
functions: elimination of waste products,
regulation of water, and etc.
•! The genital system’s primary biological role
is for the reproduction of the species. Urinary
•! However, we treat both systems together as
the urogenital or genitourinary system,
because:
!! of their proximity to each other
System
!! their common embryological origin (intermediate
mesoderm)
!! the use of common pathways (like in the male
urethra)
Functions of the Urinary System
•! Regulation of blood volume
•! Regulation of blood pressure
–! adjusting the volume of blood in the body
–! adjusting the flow of blood into, and out, of the kidneys
–! via the action of the enzyme renin
•! Regulation of the pH of the blood
•! Regulation of the ionic composition of the blood
•! Production of red blood cells
–! kidneys release the hormone erythropoietin which
stimulates erythropoiesis (production of red blood cells)
Kidneys
•! are paired bean-shaped organs
that lie in the abdomen at either
side of the vertebral column
•! The right kidney is slightly lower
than the left
•! The left kidney is located
slightly medial than the right
•! superior surface is capped with
adrenal gland
•! the primary organ of the urinary
system
•! where the major functions of
the urinary system take place
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Protection and Stabilization Layers of Connective Tissues

•! overlying peritoneum •! Renal capsule
•! contact with adjacent visceral organs –! layer of collagen fibers
–! covers outer surface of entire kidney
•! supporting connective tissues
•! Adipose capsule/Perinephric fat
–! thick layer of adipose tissue
–! surrounds the renal capsule
•! Renal fascia
–! dense, fibrous outer layer
–! anchors kidney to surrounding structures

Internal Structures •! Renal columns

–! Bands of cortical tissue separate adjacent renal
•! Renal sinus pyramids
–! Internal cavity within the kidney –! Extend into medulla
–! Lined by fibrous renal capsule –! Have distinctly granular texture
•! Renal capsule •! Renal lobe
–! Bound to outer surfaces of structures in renal sinus –! Consists of the renal pyramid, overlying area of
–! Stabilizes positions of ureter, renal blood vessels, and renal cortex, and adjacent tissues of renal
nerves
columns
•! Renal pyramids •! Renal pelvis
–! Large, funnel-shaped chamber
–! 6 to 18 distinct conical or triangular structures in the
renal medulla –! Consists of 2 or 3 major calyces
–! Base abuts renal cortex –! Fills most of renal sinus
–! Tip (renal papilla) projects into renal minor calyx –! Connected to ureter which drains kidney from
urine

•! Nephron
–! The basic structural and functional unit of the
kidney
–! Consists of two parts:
1.! Renal corpuscle – the part of the nephron in
which blood plasma is filtered
–! Two parts:
»! Glomerulus – capillary beds
»! Bowman’s / Glomerular capsule – double-walled
epithelial cup within which the glomerulus is
contained
–! Blood is forced through the glomerular capillaries at
higher pressures. This causes a filtration process in
which some blood fluid is forced out of the glomerulus
into the Bowman’s capsule

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2.! Renal tubule

•! Reabsorb useful organic nutrients that enter
filtrate
•! Reabsorb more than 90% of water in filtrate
•! Secrete waste products that failed to enter renal
corpuscle through filtration at glomerulus

Segments:
Proximal convoluted tubule
Loop of Henle
Distal convoluted tubule
Collecting duct
Papillary duct

Two Types of Nephron

•! Cortical nephron
–! 85% of all nephrons
–! Located mostly within superficial cortex
–! Loop of Henle is relatively short
–! Peritubular capillaries surround entire renal tubule
•! Juxtamedullary nephron
–! 15% of all nephrons
–! Have long Loops of Henle that extend deep into
medulla

Nephrogenesis / Kidney
Ureters
Development
Relationships of pronephros, mesonephros, and metanephros
1. Three major urinary organs appear in the vertebrates
•! are a pair of muscular tubes that begin at
a. Pronephros is most primitive, functional as an excretory organ only in Pronephro the renal pelvis and penetrate the
the s
lowest fishes. posterior wall of the urinary bladder
b. Mesonephros assumes the role of pronephros in the higher fishes and
amphibia •! due to their shape (openings are slit-like),
c. Metanephros supplants mesonephros in the reptiles, birds, and
mammals.
they help prevent backward flow of urine
Mesonephro
s when bladder contracts
In phylogeny, these three major kidney forms are formed in succession
during avian and mammalian development. •! have peristatltic contractions that force
a. Pronephros is first, most anterior, wholly vestigial, completely
disappears urine toward the bladder every 30 seconds
b. Mesonephros appears later, more caudal, functional in early
embryonic life, disappears except for its duct which becomes a Metanephro
part of male reproduction. s
c. Metanephros appears last, most caudal, becomes functional in late
embryonic life, and persists throughout adulthood.

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Layers of the Ureter

•! Inner mucosa
–! Transitional epithelium and lamina propia
•! Middle muscular layer
–! Longitudinal and circular bands of smooth
muscle
•! Outer connective tissue layer
–! Continuous with fibrous renal capsule and
peritoneum

Urinary Bladder Male Urethra

•! Is a hollow muscular organ that serves as •! Extends from the urinary bladder to the tip
temporary storage of urine until it is of the penis
discharged out of the body •! 18 – 20 cm in length
•! A full bladder can contain 1 liter of urine •! Three parts:
–! prostatic urethra (passes through prostate
gland)
–! membranous urethra (penetrates urogenital
diaphragm)
–! spongy / penile urethra (from urogenital
diaphragm to external urethral orifice)

Female Urethra
•! Extend from bladder to vestibule
•! External urethral orifice is near anterior
wall of vagina
•! 3 – 5 cm

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Urethral Sphincters
•! a collective name used for the muscles
used to control the flow of urine
(micturition) from the urinary bladder
•! they envelop the urethra
•! Internal urethral sphincter (near the
bladder; involuntary)
•! External urethral sphincter (at the
bladder's distal inferior end in females and
inferior to the prostate in males)