Urinary System

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Urinary System Urinary System Chapter 24 Urinary system - Functions Removal of nitrogenous waste, mainly urea Maintain electrolyte balance, Maintain pH or acid-base balance and Maintain water balance of the body. Urinary System Urinary system of humans is formed of a pair of Kidneys, a pair of ducts called Ureters, a Urinary Bladder to store urine and Urethra the duct that carries urine outside the body. Each kidney lies attached to back wall partly covered by 12th rib. It is a flat bean shaped organ. Median side has an indentation, hilum. Renal Capsule, a transparent fibrous membrane, covers each kidney. In addition a fat capsule and a fibrous renal fascia surround the kidney and keep it in position. Take notice, peritoneum only covers anterior surface of kidneys. Therefore, kidneys are retroperitoneal organs. Kidney - structure Outer part, Cortex of kidney, appears granular in section. Cortex appears lighter in color and has abundant blood supply. Inner part, Medulla of kidney, appears striated. It has nephron loop and collecting ducts passing through it. Renal columns are extensions of cortex into medulla and separate medullary pyramids from one another. Collecting ducts papillary duct minor calyx major calyx pelvis ureters urinary bladder urethra urine released outside = micturition. Ureters are a pair of urinary ducts that collect urine from kidneys to urinary balder. Renal Blood Supply Renal arteries arise from descending aorta and one enters hilum of its side. Renal artery segmental artery lobar artery interlobar artery arcuate artery interlobular artery or cortical radiate artery afferent arteriole glomerulus efferent arteriole Peritubular capillaries / Vasa recta Venules interlobular vein arcuate vein interlobar vein renal vein. Renal veins leave the hilum and join inferior vena cava. Nephron – the functional unit of kidney Each kidney has about 1 million Nephrons. Each nephron is formed of a Glomerular capsule, PCT – proximal convoluted tubule, Nephron Loop or Loop of Henle with descending and ascending limbs, DCT – distal convoluted tubule and a collecting duct. Glomerulus glomerular capsule PCT descending limb ascending limb DCT collecting duct. Each nephron has Renal Corpuscle formed of outer cup shaped Glomerular capsule and inner Glomerulus formed of a bunch of blood capillaries. Afferent arteriole brings blood to glomerulus and Efferent arteriole takes it away from glomerulus. Efferent arteriole then wraps around different parts of nephron as Peritubular capillaries. Urine formation Urine formation takes place by 3 processes – Filtration, Reabsorption and Secretion. Filtration: Glomerular capillaries are highly permeable. The inner membrane of glomerular capsules has a many gaps in it. Inner wall of glomerular capsule is lined by Podocytes with many feet like extensions. Fenestrae are the gaps between these extensions. Diffusible part of blood having water, glucose, amino acids, urea, ions, enter space of glomerular capsule. Reabsorption: Useful substances are reabsorbed from the filtrate. Primary site of reabsorption is PCT and all glucose, most amino acids and majority of salts are absorbed in PCT. Water follows passively. Secondary site is DCT. Most of the reabsorption is active. Secretion: Some substances like, K+ and H+ do not filter from blood, but are actively secreted into filtrate. Others filter in small quantity, like creatinine, and are secreted actively into filtrate. Excretion: The urine with wastes like urea, uric acid and creatinine (3 nitrogenous wastes) and excessive salts or amino acids, leaves body with variable amount of water. Nephrons – 2 types Nephron is the functional unit of kidney. Cortical Nephrons lie in outer part of cortex and have a short loop of Henle barely entering medulla. Juxtamedullary nephrons (15%) lie near border of cortex and medulla and have long loop of Henle present in most of medulla. Juxtaglomerular Apparatus Juxtaglomerular Apparatus = JGA is formed of 3 types of cells Grannular cells around afferent arteriole Macula densa in DCT facing cleft of afferent and efferent arterioles Mesangial Cells in the cleft (mesangial cells in glomerular capsule are not included in JGA) JGA secretes renin Renin converts Angiotensinogen angiotensin 1 Angiotensin-1 changes to Angiotensin-2 in blood vessels and stimulates adrenal medulla to secrete aldosterone Recap 1 Urinary System 1. Urinary system removes ----waste materials, maintain -----balance and -----------balance. 2. Urine is formed in ------------- and is stored in -------------. 3. ----- carries urine from kidneys to bladder and ------carries urine to outside. 4. Each kidney has about 1 million of functional units ---------------. 5. Each nephron has renal corpuscle formed of ---------- and --------- -------------. 6. Filtrate moves from ------------ Glomerular capsule ----------- loop of Henle -------- collecting duct and becomes urine. 7. Renal artery --------- A. lobar A. --------- A. arcuate A. --------- ---------tubule glomerulus ------ 8. Collecting ducts --------- duct medullary ---------- -------calyx -------- calyx pelvis ------ 9. ------------ --------- are extensions of cortex into medulla and separate medullary pyramids from one another. 10. Urethra in females is ----------- than urethra in males. 11. Urine formation takes place by 3 processes -------, --------------, and ----------------. 12. Filtration takes place in--------------. Useful substances like ----------- and ---------pass out in filtrate, also harmful substances like ------------- pass out in filtrate. Recap 2 Urinary System 1. Kidney has to actively secrete some substances, like ------------ and --------, that do not filter out in filtrate. 2. 3 nitrogenous substances eliminated in urine are ----, -----, and -------------. 3. Most of the reabsorption takes place in -------------- ; most of the secretion takes place in -----------. 4. Glomerular capillaries are many times more permeable than ordinary capillaries due to presence of --------- in them and slits between feet of -------. 5. Juxtaglomerular Apparatus consists of ------- -------, and ---------- cells. 6. ----- ----- is a patch of closely placed slender cells in side of DCT facing afferent arteriole. 7. --------------cells are swollen smooth muscle fibers mostly around afferent arteriole but some around efferent arteriole. 8. ---------released by posterior pituitary causes the walls of DCT and Collecting ducts to become permeable so that lot of water is ---------from urine. 9. Kidneys release ------------ that stimulates adrenal cortex to release aldosterone hormone that causes greater reabsorption of Na+ followed by water. 10. ---------- is a small triangular area in urinary bladder having 2 openings of ureters and a 3rd for urethra. 11. The counter current systems of kidney are ----------------- and -----------------. 12. Kidneys can excrete ---------- urine due to activity of counter current systems. .
Recommended publications
  • Te2, Part Iii
    TERMINOLOGIA EMBRYOLOGICA Second Edition International Embryological Terminology FIPAT The Federative International Programme for Anatomical Terminology A programme of the International Federation of Associations of Anatomists (IFAA) TE2, PART III Contents Caput V: Organogenesis Chapter 5: Organogenesis (continued) Systema respiratorium Respiratory system Systema urinarium Urinary system Systemata genitalia Genital systems Coeloma Coelom Glandulae endocrinae Endocrine glands Systema cardiovasculare Cardiovascular system Systema lymphoideum Lymphoid system Bibliographic Reference Citation: FIPAT. Terminologia Embryologica. 2nd ed. FIPAT.library.dal.ca. Federative International Programme for Anatomical Terminology, February 2017 Published pending approval by the General Assembly at the next Congress of IFAA (2019) Creative Commons License: The publication of Terminologia Embryologica is under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-ND 4.0) license The individual terms in this terminology are within the public domain. Statements about terms being part of this international standard terminology should use the above bibliographic reference to cite this terminology. The unaltered PDF files of this terminology may be freely copied and distributed by users. IFAA member societies are authorized to publish translations of this terminology. Authors of other works that might be considered derivative should write to the Chair of FIPAT for permission to publish a derivative work. Caput V: ORGANOGENESIS Chapter 5: ORGANOGENESIS
    [Show full text]
  • Kidney, Renal Tubule – Dilation
    Kidney, Renal Tubule – Dilation Figure Legend: Figure 1 Kidney, Renal tubule - Dilation in a male B6C3F1 mouse from a chronic study. Dilated tubules are noted as tracts running through the cortex and outer medulla. Figure 2 Kidney, Renal tubule - Dilation in a male F344/N rat from a chronic study. Tubule dilation is present throughout the outer stripe of the outer medulla, extending into the cortex. Figure 3 Kidney, Renal tubule - Dilation in a male B6C3F1 mouse from a chronic study. Slight tubule dilation is associated with degeneration and necrosis. Figure 4 Kidney, Renal tubule - Dilation in a male F344/N rat from a chronic study. Tubule dilation is associated with chronic progressive nephropathy. Comment: Renal tubule dilation may occur anywhere along the nephron or collecting duct system. It may occur in focal areas or as tracts running along the entire length of kidney sections (Figure 1). 1 Kidney, Renal Tubule – Dilation Renal tubule dilation may occur from xenobiotic administration, secondary mechanisms, or an unknown pathogenesis (see Kidney – Nephropathy, Obstructive (Figure 2). Dilation may result from direct toxic injury to the tubule epithelium interfering with absorption and secretion (Figure 3). It may also occur secondary to renal ischemia or from prolonged diuresis related to drug administration. Secondary mechanisms of tubule dilation may result from lower urinary tract obstruction, the deposition of tubule crystals, interstitial inflammation and/or fibrosis, and chronic progressive nephropathy (Figure 4). A few dilated tubules may be regarded as normal histologic variation. Recommendation: Renal tubule dilation should be diagnosed and given a severity grade. The location of tubule dilation should be included in the diagnosis as a site modifier.
    [Show full text]
  • Female Urethra
    OBJECTIVES: • By the end of this lecture, student should understand the anatomical structure of urinary system. General Information Waste products of metabolism are toxic (CO2, ammonia, etc.) Removal from tissues by blood and lymph Removal from blood by Respiratory system And Urinary system Functions of the Urinary System Elimination of waste products Nitrogenous wastes Toxins Drugs Functions of the Urinary System Regulate homeostasis Water balance Acid-base balance in the blood Electrolytes Blood pressure Organs of the Urinary system Kidneys Ureters Urinary bladder Urethra Kidneys Primary organs of the urinary system Located between the 12th thoracic and 3rd lumbar vertebrae. Right is usually lower due to liver. Held in place by connective tissue [renal fascia] and surrounded by thick layer of adipose [perirenal fat] Each kidney is approx. 3 cm thick, 6 cm wide and 12 cm long Regions of the Kidney Renal cortex: outer region Renal medulla: pyramids and columns Renal pelvis: collecting system Kidneys protected by three connective tissue layers Renal fascia -Attaches to abdominal wall Renal capsule: -Surrounds each kidney -Fibrous sac -Protects from trauma and infection Adipose capsule -Fat cushioning kidney Nephrons Each kidney contains over a million nephrons [functional structure] • Blood enters the nephron from a network that begins with the renal artery. • This artery branches into smaller and smaller vessels and enters each nephron as an afferent arteriole. • The afferent arteriole ends in a specialized capillary called the Glomerulus. • Each kidney has a glomerulus contained in Bowman’s Capsule. • Any cells that are too large to pass into the nephron are returned to the venous blood supply via the efferent arteriole.
    [Show full text]
  • Excretory Products and Their Elimination
    290 BIOLOGY CHAPTER 19 EXCRETORY PRODUCTS AND THEIR ELIMINATION 19.1 Human Animals accumulate ammonia, urea, uric acid, carbon dioxide, water Excretory and ions like Na+, K+, Cl–, phosphate, sulphate, etc., either by metabolic System activities or by other means like excess ingestion. These substances have to be removed totally or partially. In this chapter, you will learn the 19.2 Urine Formation mechanisms of elimination of these substances with special emphasis on 19.3 Function of the common nitrogenous wastes. Ammonia, urea and uric acid are the major Tubules forms of nitrogenous wastes excreted by the animals. Ammonia is the most toxic form and requires large amount of water for its elimination, 19.4 Mechanism of whereas uric acid, being the least toxic, can be removed with a minimum Concentration of loss of water. the Filtrate The process of excreting ammonia is Ammonotelism. Many bony fishes, 19.5 Regulation of aquatic amphibians and aquatic insects are ammonotelic in nature. Kidney Function Ammonia, as it is readily soluble, is generally excreted by diffusion across 19.6 Micturition body surfaces or through gill surfaces (in fish) as ammonium ions. Kidneys do not play any significant role in its removal. Terrestrial adaptation 19.7 Role of other necessitated the production of lesser toxic nitrogenous wastes like urea Organs in and uric acid for conservation of water. Mammals, many terrestrial Excretion amphibians and marine fishes mainly excrete urea and are called ureotelic 19.8 Disorders of the animals. Ammonia produced by metabolism is converted into urea in the Excretory liver of these animals and released into the blood which is filtered and System excreted out by the kidneys.
    [Show full text]
  • Urinary System
    URINARY SYSTEM Ján Líška DVM, PhD Institut of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University Urinary system • The kidneys are the organ with multiple functions: • filtration of the blood • excretion of metabolic waste products and related removal of toxins • maintenance blood volume • regulation of acid-base balance • regulation of fluid and electrolyte balance • production of the hormones The other components of urinary system are accessory. Their function is essentially in order to eliminate urine. Urinary system - anatomy • Kidney are located in the retroperitoneal space • The surface of the kidney is covered by a fibrous capsule of dense connective tissue. • This capsule is coated with adipose capsule. • Each kidney is attached to a ureter, which carries urine to the bladder and urine is discharged out through the urethra. ANATOMIC STRUCTURE OF THE KIDNEY RENAL LOBES CORTEX outer shell columns Excretory portion medullary rays MEDULLA medullary pyramids HILUM Collecting system blood vessels lymph vessels major calyces nerves RENAL PELVIS minor calyces ureter Cortex is the outer layer surrounding the internal medulla. The cortex contains renal corpuscles, convoluted parts of prox. and dist. tubules. Renal column: the renal tissue projection between two medullary pyramids which supports the cortex. Renal pyramids: the conical segments within the medulla. They contain the ductal apparatus and stright parts of the tubules. They posses papilla - having openings through which urine passes into the calyces. Each pyramid together with the associated overlying cortex forms a renal lobe. renal pyramid papilla minor calix minor calyx Medullary rays: are in the middle of cortical part of the renal lobe, consisting of a group of the straight portiones of nephrons and the collec- medullary rays ting tubules (only straight tubules).
    [Show full text]
  • The Urinary Tract and How It Works
    The Urinary Tract and How It Works National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse What is the urinary tract and how does it work? The urinary tract is the body’s drainage system for removing urine, which is composed of wastes and extra fluid. In order for normal urination to occur, all body parts in the urinary tract need to work together in the correct order. Kidneys Kidneys. The kidneys are two bean-shaped organs, each about the size of a fist. They are located just below the rib cage, one on each side of the spine. Every day, the kidneys filter about 120 to 150 quarts of blood to produce about 1 to 2 quarts of urine. The kidneys work around the clock; a person does not control what they do. Ureters Ureters. Ureters are the thin tubes of muscle—one on each side of the bladder— Bladder that carry urine from each of the kidneys to Urethra the bladder. Bladder. The bladder, located in the pelvis The urinary tract between the pelvic bones, is a hollow, muscular, balloon-shaped organ that expands as it fills with urine. Although a urination. The bladder stores urine until person does not control kidney function, the person finds an appropriate time and a person does control when the bladder place to urinate. A normal bladder acts empties. Bladder emptying is known as like a reservoir and can hold 1.5 to 2 cups of urine. How often a person needs to urinate depends on how quickly the kidneys Why is the urinary tract produce the urine that fills the bladder.
    [Show full text]
  • Claudins in the Renal Collecting Duct
    International Journal of Molecular Sciences Review Claudins in the Renal Collecting Duct Janna Leiz 1,2 and Kai M. Schmidt-Ott 1,2,3,* 1 Department of Nephrology and Intensive Care Medicine, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 12203 Berlin, Germany; [email protected] 2 Molecular and Translational Kidney Research, Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), 13125 Berlin, Germany 3 Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), 10178 Berlin, Germany * Correspondence: [email protected]; Tel.: +49-(0)30-450614671 Received: 22 October 2019; Accepted: 20 December 2019; Published: 28 December 2019 Abstract: The renal collecting duct fine-tunes urinary composition, and thereby, coordinates key physiological processes, such as volume/blood pressure regulation, electrolyte-free water reabsorption, and acid-base homeostasis. The collecting duct epithelium is comprised of a tight epithelial barrier resulting in a strict separation of intraluminal urine and the interstitium. Tight junctions are key players in enforcing this barrier and in regulating paracellular transport of solutes across the epithelium. The features of tight junctions across different epithelia are strongly determined by their molecular composition. Claudins are particularly important structural components of tight junctions because they confer barrier and transport properties. In the collecting duct, a specific set of claudins (Cldn-3, Cldn-4, Cldn-7, Cldn-8) is expressed, and each of these claudins has been implicated in mediating aspects of the specific properties of its tight junction. The functional disruption of individual claudins or of the overall barrier function results in defects of blood pressure and water homeostasis. In this concise review, we provide an overview of the current knowledge on the role of the collecting duct epithelial barrier and of claudins in collecting duct function and pathophysiology.
    [Show full text]
  • Renal Corpuscle Renal System > Histology > Histology
    Renal Corpuscle Renal System > Histology > Histology Key Points: • The renal corpuscles lie within the renal cortex; • They comprise the glomerular, aka, Bowman's capsule and capillaries The capsule is a double-layer sac of epithelium: — The outer parietal layer folds upon itself to form the visceral layer. — The inner visceral layer envelops the glomerular capillaries. • As blood passes through the glomerular capillaries, aka, glomerulus, specific components, including water and wastes, are filtered to create ultrafiltrate. • The filtration barrier, which determines ultrafiltrate composition, comprises glomerular capillary endothelia, a basement membrane, and the visceral layer of the glomerular capsule. • Nephron tubules modify the ultrafiltrate to form urine. Overview Diagram: • Tuft of glomerular capillaries; blood enters the capillaries via the afferent arteriole, and exits via efferent arteriole. • The visceral layer of the glomerular capsule envelops the capillaries, then folds outwards to become the parietal layer. • The capsular space lies between the parietal and visceral layers; this space fills with ultrafiltrate. • Vascular pole = where the arterioles pass through the capsule • Urinary pole = where the nephron tubule begins • Distal tubule passes by the afferent arteriole. Details of Capillary and Visceral Layer: • Fenestrated glomerular capillary; fenestrations are small openings, aka, pores, in the endothelium that confer permeability. • Thick basement membrane overlies capillaries • Visceral layer comprises podocytes: — Cell bodies — Cytoplasmic extensions, called primary processes, give rise to secondary foot processes, aka, pedicles. • The pedicles interdigitate to form filtration slits; molecules pass through these slits to form the ultrafiltrate in the 1 / 3 capsular space. • Subpodocyte space; healthy podocytes do not adhere to the basement membrane. Clinical Correlation: • Podocyte injury causes dramatic changes in shape, and, therefore, their ability to filter substances from the blood.
    [Show full text]
  • Kidney Function • Filtration • Reabsorption • Secretion • Excretion • Micturition
    About This Chapter • Functions of the kidneys • Anatomy of the urinary system • Overview of kidney function • Filtration • Reabsorption • Secretion • Excretion • Micturition © 2016 Pearson Education, Inc. Functions of the Kidneys • Regulation of extracellular fluid volume and blood pressure • Regulation of osmolarity • Maintenance of ion balance • Homeostatic regulation of pH • Excretion of wastes • Production of hormones © 2016 Pearson Education, Inc. Anatomy of the Urinary System • Kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra • Kidneys – Bean-shaped organ – Cortex and medulla © 2016 Pearson Education, Inc. Anatomy of the Urinary System • Functional unit is the nephron – Glomerulus in the Bowman’s capsule – Proximal tubule – The loop of Henle • Descending limb and ascending limb twisted between arterioles forming the juxtaglomerular apparatus – Distal tubule – Collecting ducts © 2016 Pearson Education, Inc. Figure 19.1b Anatomy summary The kidneys are located retroperitoneally at the level of the lower ribs. Inferior Diaphragm vena cava Aorta Left adrenal gland Left kidney Right kidney Renal artery Renal vein Ureter Peritoneum Urinary Rectum (cut) bladder (cut) © 2016 Pearson Education, Inc. Figure 19.1c Anatomy summary © 2016 Pearson Education, Inc. Figure 19.1d Anatomy summary © 2016 Pearson Education, Inc. Figure 19.1f-h Anatomy summary Some nephrons dip deep into the medulla. One nephron has two arterioles and two sets of capillaries that form a portal system. Efferent arteriole Arterioles Peritubular Juxtaglomerular capillaries The cortex apparatus contains all Bowman’s Nephrons Afferent capsules, arteriole Glomerulus proximal Juxtamedullary nephron and distal (capillaries) with vasa recta tubules. Peritubular capillaries Glomerulus The medulla contains loops of Henle and Vasa recta collecting ducts. Collecting duct Loop of Henle © 2016 Pearson Education, Inc.
    [Show full text]
  • The Kidneys (Nephros)
    THE KIDNEYS (NEPHROS) Functions 1. Removal of excess water, salts and products of protein metabolism 2. Maintenance of PH 3. Production and release of erythopoietin, which controls blood cell production 4. Synthesis and release of renin to influence blood pressure 5. Production of 1, 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (activated form of vitamin D) for control of calcium metabolism. There are 2 kidneys in the body, one on either side of the median plane. The kidneys are bean-shaped about 10cm long, 5cm wide and weigh about 150g. The kidneys are intra-abdominal extending from T12-L3. The left kidney is about 1cm higher than the right one, owing to the large right lobe of the liver. The kidneys lay retroperitoneally on the posterior abdominal wall against Psoas major muscle. Each kidney is covered by a tough fibrous renal capsule. This is surrounded by fat known as perirenal /perinephric fat. The latter is enclosed in a renal fascia which attaches it firmly to the posterior abdominal wall. However, the renal fascia is flexible enough to allow kidneys shift slightly as the diaphragm moves during respiration. The kidney has • Anterior and posterior surfaces • Medial and lateral borders • Superior and inferior poles The lateral border is convex and lies against psoas major muscle. The medial border is concave. The hilus/hilum is a prominent medial indentation on this border. It’s a point of entry for the renal artery, renal nerves and exit for the renal vein and renal pelvis. From anterior to posterior are the; renal vein, renal artery and renal pelvis. The posterior surface of the superior pole is related to the diaphragm while the anteromedial surface to the suprarenal gland.
    [Show full text]
  • Urinary System
    OUTLINE 27.1 General Structure and Functions of the Urinary System 818 27.2 Kidneys 820 27 27.2a Gross and Sectional Anatomy of the Kidney 820 27.2b Blood Supply to the Kidney 821 27.2c Nephrons 824 27.2d How Tubular Fluid Becomes Urine 828 27.2e Juxtaglomerular Apparatus 828 Urinary 27.2f Innervation of the Kidney 828 27.3 Urinary Tract 829 27.3a Ureters 829 27.3b Urinary Bladder 830 System 27.3c Urethra 833 27.4 Aging and the Urinary System 834 27.5 Development of the Urinary System 835 27.5a Kidney and Ureter Development 835 27.5b Urinary Bladder and Urethra Development 835 MODULE 13: URINARY SYSTEM mck78097_ch27_817-841.indd 817 2/25/11 2:24 PM 818 Chapter Twenty-Seven Urinary System n the course of carrying out their specific functions, the cells Besides removing waste products from the bloodstream, the uri- I of all body systems produce waste products, and these waste nary system performs many other functions, including the following: products end up in the bloodstream. In this case, the bloodstream is ■ Storage of urine. Urine is produced continuously, but analogous to a river that supplies drinking water to a nearby town. it would be quite inconvenient if we were constantly The river water may become polluted with sediment, animal waste, excreting urine. The urinary bladder is an expandable, and motorboat fuel—but the town has a water treatment plant that muscular sac that can store as much as 1 liter of urine. removes these waste products and makes the water safe to drink.
    [Show full text]
  • The Urinary System Dr
    The urinary System Dr. Ali Ebneshahidi Functions of the Urinary System • Excretion – removal of waste material from the blood plasma and the disposal of this waste in the urine. • Elimination – removal of waste from other organ systems - from digestive system – undigested food, water, salt, ions, and drugs. + - from respiratory system – CO2,H , water, toxins. - from skin – water, NaCl, nitrogenous wastes (urea , uric acid, ammonia, creatinine). • Water balance -- kidney tubules regulate water reabsorption and urine concentration. • regulation of PH, volume, and composition of body fluids. • production of Erythropoietin for hematopoieseis, and renin for blood pressure regulation. Anatomy of the Urinary System Gross anatomy: • kidneys – a pair of bean – shaped organs located retroperitoneally, responsible for blood filtering and urine formation. • Renal capsule – a layer of fibrous connective tissue covering the kidneys. • Renal cortex – outer region of the kidneys where most nephrons is located. • Renal medulla – inner region of the kidneys where some nephrons is located, also where urine is collected to be excreted outward. • Renal calyx – duct – like sections of renal medulla for collecting urine from nephrons and direct urine into renal pelvis. • Renal pyramid – connective tissues in the renal medulla binding various structures together. • Renal pelvis – central urine collecting area of renal medulla. • Hilum (or hilus) – concave notch of kidneys where renal artery, renal vein, urethra, nerves, and lymphatic vessels converge. • Ureter – a tubule that transport urine (mainly by peristalsis) from the kidney to the urinary bladder. • Urinary bladder – a spherical storage organ that contains up to 400 ml of urine. • Urethra – a tubule that excretes urine out of the urinary bladder to the outside, through the urethral orifice.
    [Show full text]