The Urinary System

The Urinary System
By Khushal Khan
Urinary System
• Also called Renal system or Urinary tract.
• The urinary system is the organ system responsible for the production and excretion of urine.
Parts:
1. Kidneys (2 in number)
2. Ureters (1 from each kidney)
3. Urinary bladder
4. Urethra
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Kidneys
Location: Perirenal Fat:
• Lie on posterior abdominal wall • Structural fat
• On either side of vertebral column • Provide protection and anchoring functions
• Below the diaphragm Renal Capsule:
• Retroperitoneal • Tough fibrous outer covering
Colour: • Protect internal delicate structures
• Reddish brown Borders:
Shape: • Concave (inner)
• Bean shaped • Convex (outer)
Dimensions: Hilum:
• 11 cm (L) x 6cm (W) x 3cm (thickness) • Indented region on medial side
Weight: • Entry and exit point of renal artery, renal vein,
lymphatics, nerve supply, and ureter
• 150 grams
Blood Supply:
• Arterial – Renal artery
• Venous – Renal vein
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Gross Structure of Kidney
Regions (Layers):
1) Renal Cortex
• Outer layer, lies below the capsule
• Reddish – brown in colour
2) Renal Medulla
• Innermost layer
• Divided into 8 - 10 cone-shaped masses of tissue – renal pyramid
Renal Pyramids
• Base – originates at border b/w cortex and medulla, terminates at papilla
• Papilla → projects into the space of renal pelvis
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Gross Structure of Kidney
Renal Columns
• Projections (extensions) of renal cortex b/w the pyramids.
Renal Pelvis
• A funnel-shaped continuation of the upper end of the ureter.
• It collects urine formed by the kidney.
Major calyces
• Outer border of the pelvis is divided into open-ended pouches - major calyces.
• They extend downward and divide into minor calyces.
Minor calyces
• Collect urine from the tubules of each papilla.
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Renal Blood Flow
Renal Blood Flow Rate

• Approximately 22% of cardiac output – Equivalent to 1100 ml/min
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Microscopic Structure of Kidney
• A kidney is composed of;
1. Nephrons
2. Collecting Ducts
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Nephron
• The nephron is the microscopic structural and functional unit of the kidney.
• A healthy adult have 1-1.2 million nephron each kidney.
• A nephron is composed of:
1. Renal Corpuscle
2. Renal Tubule
1. Renal Corpuscle
• The renal corpuscle consists of;
• Glomerulus - a tuft of capillaries
• Bowman's capsule - a cup-shaped structure
2. Renal Tubule
• It extends from the Bowman’s capsule.
• The capsule and tubule are connected and are composed of epithelial cells.
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Nephron
• Components of renal tubules:
1. Proximal Convoluted Tubule

• Location: Renal cortex
• Epithelium: Simple cuboidal with brush borders
• Function: Increased absorption area
2. Loop of Henle
• Location: Renal medulla
• Structure: U-shaped, hair-pin like
• Limbs:
• Thin (Descending limb)
• Thick (Ascending limb)
3. Distal convoluted tubule

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Renal Capillaries
1. Peritubular Capillaries
• Location: Around tubular portion of cortical nephrons
• Function: Facilitate reabsorption and secretion between blood and nephron lumen
2. Vasa Recta
• Location: Supply tubular portion of juxtamedullary nephrons
• Type: Specialized capillaries
• Structure: Straight blood vessels
• Origin: Arise directly from efferent arteriole of juxtamedullary nephrons
• Path: Run parallel to renal tubule into medulla, ascend towards cortex
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Types of Nephrons
1. Cortical Nephrons
• Glomerulus Location: Near outer cortex
• Loop of Henle: Short
• Percentage: Approximately 85% of nephrons
2. Juxtamedullary Nephrons
• Glomerulus Location: Near cortex-medulla junction
• Loop of Henle: Penetrates deep into medulla
• Percentage: Approximately 15% of nephrons
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Collecting Ducts
• Collecting ducts are a series of tubules and ducts, that physically connect nephrons to;
• Minor calyx or renal pelvis
Pathway of Urine Transport:

• Collecting ducts → Renal pyramids → Minor calyx → Major calyx → Renal pelvis → Ureter →
Urinary bladder → Urethra
Support: Surrounded by connective tissue containing blood vessels, nerves, and lymph vessels
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Functions of Kidneys
1. Excretion of metabolic waste products (urea, creatinine) & foreign materials (drugs, toxins)
2. Regulation of water and electrolyte balance
3. Regulation of concentration of electrolytes (Na+, K+, Cl-,Mg+2, H+, HCO3-, Ca+2)
4. Long term acid- base balance – maintains pH (regulation of H+, HCO3- ions)
5. Metabolic functions:
• Gluconeogenesis
• 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D3 production
6. Endocrine functions:
• Erythropoietin – stimulates synthesis of RBC
• Renin (enzyme) – regulation of blood pressure through RAAS system
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Ureter
• Function: Carry urine from kidneys to urinary bladder
• Length: Approximately 25 to 30 cm
• Diameter: About 3 mm
• Connection: Continuous with renal pelvis
• Opening: Into posterior wall of bladder (base)
Wall Structure:
1. Outer Layer: Fibrous tissue covering
2. Middle Muscular Layer: Smooth muscle cells
3. Inner Layer (Mucosa): Transitional epithelium
Urine Propulsion:
• Achieved by peristaltic contraction of smooth muscle layer
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Urinary Bladder
• Function: Reservoir for urine
• Location: Pelvic cavity
Size and Position

• Variable, depending on urine volume
• When distended, rises into abdominal cavity
Structure
• Shape: Roughly pear-shaped, becoming more oval as it fills
• Base: Posterior surface
• Neck: Opens into urethra at lowest point
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Urinary Bladder
Wall Layers:
1. Outer Layer:
• Loose connective tissue containing blood vessels, lymphatics, nerves; covered by peritoneum
2. Middle Layer (Detrusor Muscle):
• Consists of smooth muscle fibers and elastic tissue, contracts to empty bladder
3. Inner Layer (Mucosa):
• Transitional epithelium, permits bladder distension; forms folds (rugae) when empty
Capacity
• Total: More than 600 ml of urine
• Sensation to urinate: Felt when bladder fills to 300-400 ml
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Urinary Bladder
Trigone
• Three orifices in bladder
• Upper 2: Located on posterior wall, openings of ureters
• Lower 1: Located anteriorly, opening of urethra
Internal Ureteral Sphincter

• Located in upper part of urethra
• Thickening of internal mucosal layer
• Controls urine outflow from bladder to urethra, not under voluntary control
Micturition
• Process of discharging urine from bladder
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Urethra
• Canal extending from neck of bladder to exterior
• Opening: External urethral orifice
• Lining: Stratified columnar epithelium
Sex Differences
1. Male Urethra:
• Length: Approximately 20 cm, extends length of penis
2. Female Urethra:
• Length: Approximately 4 cm, Diameter: 6 mm
External Urethral Orifice

• Guarded by: External urethral sphincter
• Control: Under voluntary control
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The Urinary System

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The Urinary System

Renal Blood Flow Rate

1. Proximal Convoluted Tubule

3. Distal convoluted tubule

Pathway of Urine Transport:

Size and Position

Internal Ureteral Sphincter

External Urethral Orifice

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