Urinary System

Overview
Urinary System and different organs

Functions

Anatomy

Physiology

Histology

Urinary System
Composed of : 2 kidneys,
2 ureters, 1 urinary
bladder, 1 urethra
Nephrology (nephr =
kidney; -ology=study of)
is the scientific study of
the anatomy, physiology
and pathology of the
kidneys.
Urology is the branch of
medicine that deals with
the U.S > Urologist

Function of the Urinary System

1. Kidneys regulate blood volume
and composition; help regulate
blood pressure , pH, and
glucose levels; produce two
hormones (calcitriol and
erythropoietin); excretes
wastes in urine.
2. Ureters transport urine from
kidneys to urinary bladder.
3. Urinary bladder stores urine
and expels it into urethra.
4. Urethra discharges urine from
body.

Function of the Kidneys

a) Regulation of blood ionic composition
- help regulate the blood level of several ions,
most importantly Na+ , K+ , Ca2+ , Cl- and HPO42-.
b) Regulation of blood pH
- excrete a variable amount of H+ into the urine
and conserve HCO3-, which are important buffer of
H+.
c) Regulation of blood volume
- adjusts blood volume by conserving or
eliminating water in the urine. Am increase of
blood volume increase in blood pressure; decrease
in blood volume decreases blood pressure.

Function of the Kidneys

d) Regulation of blood pressure
- help regulate blood pressure by
secreting the enzyme renin, which
activates the renin-angiostensinaldosterine pathway. An increase in
renin causes an increase in blood
pressure

Regulation of aldosterone secretion by the

reninangiotensinaldosterone (RAA) pathway

Function of the Kidneys

e) Maintenace of blood osmolarity
- By separately regulating loss of water
and loss of solutes in the urine, the kidneys
main- tain a relatively constant blood
osmolarity close to 300 milli- osmoles per
liter
f) Production of hormones
- produce two hormones. Calcitriol, the
active form of vitamin D, helps regulate
calcium homeostasis , and erythropoietin
stimulates the production of red blood cells.

Function of the Kidneys

g) Regulation of blood glucose
- can use the amino acid glutamine in
glucogeonesis . They can release glucose
into the blood to help maintain a normal
blood glucose level.
h) Excretion of wastes and foreign
substances
- from of urine ( ammonia, urea, bilirubin,
creatine, uric acid and others).

Anatomy and Histology of the

Kidneys
reddish, bean-shaped
organ located just
above the waist
between peritoneum
and the posterior wall
of the abdomen cavity.
located between levels
of the last thoracic and
third lumbar vertebrae
the right kidney is
slightly lower than the
left.

External Anatomy of Kidneys

typical adult: 10-12 cm
long, 5-7 wide and 3 cm
thick ( about a size of a bar
bath soap)
Mass: 135-150 g.
The concave medial border
of each kidney faces the
vertebral column
Near the center of the
concave border is an
indentation called RENAL
HILUM/HILUS.
It is where the ureter
emerges from the kidney
along with blood vessels,
lymphatic vessels, and
nerves

External Anatomy of Kidneys

Three layers that surround
kidney:
(1) Renal capsule - deep layer,
smooth transparent sheet
dense irregular connective
tissue that is continuous with
the outer ureter.
- serves as a
barrier against trauma and
helps maintain the shape of
the kidney.
(2) Adipose capsule, middle
layer, mass of fatty tissue
surrounding the renal capsule.
- protects the kidney
from trauma and holds it
firmly in place within the
abdominal cavity.
(3) Renal fascia - superficial
layer, another layer of dense
irregular connective tissue
that anchors the kidney to the
surrounding structures and to
the abdominal wall.

Clinical Connection...
Nephroptosis or Floating Kidney
- inferior displacement or dropping of the
kidney.
- occurs when kidney slips from its normal
position because it is not securely held in place by
adjacent organs or its covering of fat.
- develops most often in very thin people whose
adipose capsule or renal fascia is defecient.
- it is dangerous because the ureter may kink and
block urine flow. The result of backup of urine puts
pressure on kidney which damages the tissues.
- Twisting of the ureter causes pain.

Nephroptosis or Floating Kidney

Internal Anatomy of Kidneys

Renal Cortex - (cortex =
rind/bark) superficial, light
red area
- smooth textured area
extending from renal
capsule to the bases of the
renal pyramids into spaces
between them.
Renal Medulla - ( medulla
= inner portion) deep ,
darker reddish brown inner
region consist of:
Renal pyramids - coneshaped; its base (wider end)
faces the renal cortex

Renal papilla - apex

(narrow end), points towards
renal hilum

Internal Anatomy of Kidneys

Renal Columns portions of the renal
cortex that extend
between renal
pyramids
Renal lobe overlying area of renal
cortex and 1/2 of each
adjacent renal column
Nephrons - functional
units of the kidney

Internal Anatomy of Kidneys

Blood and Nerve Supply of Kidney

Clinical Connection...
Kidney Transplant
transfer of a kidney
from a donor to a
recipient whose kidneys
no longer function.

Nephron
functional unit of kidneys
2 Types : Cortical

nephrons and
Juxtamedullary nephrons
Consist of:
a) Renal corpuscle - where
the blood is filtered

Glomerulus - capillary network

Glomerular/Bowman's
capsule - a double-walled
epithelial cup that surrounds the
glomerular capilliaries

b) Renal tubule - which the

filtered fluid passes

Histology of the Nephron and

Collecting Duct
Glomerular/Bowman
's Capsule
Podocytes - simple
squamous epithelial
cells found in the
visceral layer
Pedicels - foot like
projections that wrap
around the single
layer of endothelial
cells of the glomerular
capillaries and form
the inner wall of the
capsule

Histology of the Nephron and

Renal Tubule andDuct

Collecting
Collecting
Duct
Macula densa - cells in the
nephron that are crowded
together
Juxtaglomerular (JG) cells smooth muscle fibers found in
the wall of afferent/ efferent
arteriole
Juxtaglemerular apparatus
(JGA) - helps regulate blood
pressure within the kidneys
Principal Cells - have receptors
for both antidiuretic
hormone(ADH) and aldosterone
Intercalated Cells - play a role in
hemeostasis of blood pH.

Histology of Renal Corpuscle

Histology of the Nephron and

Collecting Duct

Urine Transportation, Storage, and

Elimination

Urine Transportation, Storage,

and Elimination
Ureters - transports urine from the
renal pelvis of one kidney to the urinary
bladder
- 2530 cm (1012 in.) long and
are thick- walled, narrow tubes that
vary in diameter from 1 mm to 10 mm
along their course between the renal
pelvis and the urinary bladder
- curve medially and pass
obliquely through the wall of the
posterior aspect of the urinary bladder

Ureter
Three layers of tissue
1) Mucosa - the deepest
coat, is a mucous
membrane with

Transitional epithelium
Lamina propria of
areolar connective tissue
with considerable collagen,
elastic fibers, and
lymphatic tissue
2) Muscularis - the
intermediate coat, is
composed of inner
longitudinal and outer
circular layers of smooth
muscle fibers
- peristalsis is the major
function

Ureter
Three layers of tissue
3) Adventitia - superficial coat, a layer of areolar
connective tissue containing blood vessels,
lymphatic vessels, and nerves that serve the
muscularis and mucosa
- blends in with surrounding connective
tissue and anchors the ureters in place.

Urinary Bladder

hollow, distensible muscular organ

sit- uated in the pelvic cavity
posterior to the pubic symphysis.
In males, it is directly anterior to
the rectum; in females, it is
anterior to the vagina and inferior
to the uterus
When slightly distended due to
the accumulation of urine, the
urinary bladder is spherical. When
it is empty, it collapses.
As urine volume increases, it
becomes pear-shaped and rises
into the abdominal cavity. Urinary
bladder capacity averages 700
800 mL
It is smaller in females because
the uterus occupies the space just
superior to the urinary bladder.

Anatomy and Histology of the Urinary Bladder

Trigon- small triangular
area in the oor of the
urinary bladder
- smooth appearance
Internal urethral orice opening into the urethra
and lies in the anterior
corner
- Because its
mucosa is rmly bound to
the muscularis

Three layer coat wall of the Urinary

bladder
1) Mucosa - deepest, a mucous
membrane composed of
transitional epithelium and an
underlying lamina propria similar
to that of the ureters.
Rugae (the folds in the mucosa)
are also present to permit
expansion of the urinary bladder.
2) Muscularis/detrusor muscle intermediate, surrounds the
mucosa
- which consists of three layers of
smooth muscle bers: the inner
longitudinal, middle circular,
and outer longitudinal layers

Three layer coat wall of the

Urinary bladder
internal urethral sphincter
(inferior) & external urethral
sphincter - circular fi-bers
around the opening to the
urethra
composed: skeletal muscle
and is a modification of the
deep muscles of the perineum
3) Adventitia - most superficial
coat in the posterior and
inferior surfaces, a layer of
areolar connective tissue
that is continuous with that of
the ureters.
Serosa - a layer of visceral
peritoneum over the superior
surface of the urinary bladder .

The Micturition Reex

Micturition/ urination/voiding discharge of urine from the urinary
bladder
- occurs via a combination of
involuntary and voluntary muscle
contractions. When the volume of
urine in the urinary bladder exceeds
200400 mL, pressure within the
bladder increases considerably, and
stretch receptors in its wall transmit
nerve impulses into the spinal cord.

Clinical
Cystoscopy is a very important
Connection...

procedure for direct examination

of the mucosa of the urethra and
urinary bladder and prostate in
males.
- In the procedure, a cystoscope (a
flexible narrow tube with a light)
is inserted into the urethra to
examine the structures through
which it passes.
- With special attachments, tissue
samples can be removed for
examination (biopsy) and small
stones can be removed.
- Cystoscopy is useful for evaluating
urinary bladder problems such as
cancer and infections. It can also
evaluate the degree of
obstruction resulting from an
enlarged prostate.

Urethra
small tube leading
from the internal
urethral orifice in
the floor of the
urinary bladder to
the exterior of the
body.
terminal portion of
the urinary system
and the passageway
for discharging urine
from the body.

FEMALE Urethra
lies directly posterior
to the pubic
symphysis; directed
obliquely, inferiorly,
and anteriorly; and
has a length of 4 cm
(1.5 in.)
External urethral
orice - opening of
the urethra to the
exterior, located
between the clitoris
and the vaginal
opening.

FEMALE Urethra

Composed of:
a) Mucosa- innermost wall of the
female urethra; contains stratified
columnar or pseudostratified
columnar epithelium.
Epithelium Transitional epithelium (near the
urinary bladder) - continuous
with that of the urinary bladder;
(near the external urethral
orice) nonkeratinized stratified
squamous epithelium
lamina propria (areolar
connective tissue with elastic
fibers and a plexus of veins)
b) Muscularis - superficial, consists
of circularly arranged smooth
muscle fibers and is continuous
with that of the urinary bladder

MALE Urethra
it discharges semen,
extends from the
internal urethral orifice
to the exterior, but its
length and passage
through the body are
considerably different
than in females.
The male urethra first
passes through the
prostate, then through
the deep muscles of
the perineum, and
finally through the
penis, a distance of
about 20 cm (8 in.)

MALE Urethra consist of:

Deep mucosa
Supercial muscularis: 3
regions
(1) The prostatic urethra
passes through the prostate
-continuous with that of the
urinary bladder and consists
of transitional epithelium that
becomes stratified columnar
or pseudostratified columnar
epithelium more distally
- composed of mostly circular
smooth muscle fibers
superficial to the lamina
propria; these circular fibers
help form the internal
urethral sphincter of the
urinary bladder

MALE Urethra
Prostatic urethra contains the
openings of:
(a) ducts that transport secretions
from the prostate
(b) the seminal vesicles and ductus
(vas) deferens, which deliver
sperm into the urethra and provide
secretions that both neutralize the
acidity of the female reproductive
tract and contribute to sperm
motility and viability.
Lamina propria of the male
urethra is areolar connective
tissue with elastic fibers and a
plexus of veins.
(2)The membranous (intermediate)
urethra, the shortest portion,
passes through the deep muscles
of the perineum.

MALE Urethra
- contains stratified columnar or
pseudostratified columnar
epithelium
- consists of circularly arranged
skeletal muscle fibers of the deep
muscles of the perineum that help
form the external urethral
sphincter of the urinary bladder.
(3) The spongy urethra, the longest
portion, passes through the penis.
-stratified columnar or
pseudostratified columnar
epithelium, except near the
external urethral orifice
Bulbourethral (Cowpers) glands
- The openings of the ducts that
empty into the spongy urethra.
- deliver an alkaline substance
prior to ejaculation that
neutralizes the acidity of the
urethra. Also secrete mucus,
which lubricates the end of the
penis during sexual arousal.

MALE Urethra