Urinary System Flashcards

Flashcards about the urinary system organs and functions

Main Organs of the Urinary System

Kidney, Ureter, Urinary bladder, and Urethra

Four General Functions of the Urinary System

Drains urine into the bladder, stores urine, filters blood to make urine, and drains urine from the bladder

Function of Renin

Regulates blood pressure

Function of Erythropoietin (EPO)

Stimulates red blood cell production

Typical pH of Urine

6

Benefit of Urine's pH

Weakly acidic, inhibiting pathogens from growing within the urethra

Renal Capsule

Outermost layer made of dense connective tissue

Renal Cortex

Space between the outermost edge of the kidney and the renal pyramids

Renal Medulla

Made up of renal pyramids

Renal Column

Space between the renal pyramids

Renal Hilum

Located where tubes enter and exit the kidney

Renal Sinus

The entire space surrounding the tubes that enter and exit the kidney

Overall Function of the Nephron

Filter blood, reabsorb essential substances, and excrete waste products as urine

Two Structures of the Nephron

Renal corpuscle and renal tubules

Function of Renal Corpuscle

Forms filtrate

Function of Renal Tubules

Processes filtrate

Percentage of Cortical Nephrons

85%

Percentage of Juxtamedullary Nephrons

15%

Location and Capacity of the Urinary Bladder

Located in the pelvic cavity, max storage 500-700 mL, urge begins around 200 mL

Detrusor Muscle

Responsible for bladder contraction

Function of the Urethra

Drains the bladder during urination

Internal Urethral Sphincter

Composed of smooth muscle

External Urethral Sphincter

Composed of skeletal muscle