Lecture 6 Urinary and Reproductive Organs Lecture Review

Question–and–answer flashcards covering kidney anatomy, urinary tract, male and female reproductive organs, vascular supply, innervation, and sexual responses.

What structures make up the urinary system?

Kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra.

In which region of the body do the kidneys lie?

The superior lumbar region of the posterior abdominal wall.

Which kidney is lower and why?

The right kidney, because it is crowded by the liver.

What is the concave medial surface of the kidney called?

The renal hilus (or hilum).

Which structures enter or leave the kidney at the hilus?

Renal vessels, nerves, and the ureter.

What glands sit on top of the kidneys and what do they secrete?

Adrenal glands; the cortex secretes cortisol and aldosterone, and the medulla secretes epinephrine and norepinephrine.

What are the two parts of the adrenal gland?

Adrenal cortex (outer part) and adrenal medulla (inner part)

What does the adrenal cortex produce?

cortisol and aldosterone

What does the adrenal medulla produce?

adrenalin and noradrenalin (epinephrine and norepinephrine)

At what ribs is the top of the right kidney typically found?

Between ribs 11–12

At what ribs is the top of the left kidney typically found?

At rib 11

List the connective tissue layers around the kidney from deep to superficial.

Renal capsule, perirenal fat (adipose capsule), renal fascia, pararenal fat.

What adheres directly to the kidney surface?

Renal capsule

What condition can arise if the kidney drops due to loss of surrounding fat?

Hydronephrosis, which can lead to necrosis and renal failure.

Name the three major regions of the internal kidney.

Renal cortex, renal medulla, and renal sinus.

What is the most superficial region of the internal kidney?

Renal cortex

What are the urine-producing functional structures of the kidney that span the cortex and medulla?

Nephrons

Where are renal corpuscles located?

In the renal cortex.

The renal tubule passes from the cortex deep into what?

Medullary pyraminds

The renal medulla consists of what?

Medullary pyramids (renal pyramids)

What structures form the renal pyramids?

Parallel bundles of tiny urine-collecting tubules in the renal medulla.

What do minor and major calyces do?

Collect urine from the papillae and empty it into the renal pelvis.

Describe the pathway of urine from nephron to urethra.

Collecting tubules → renal papilla → minor calyx → major calyx → renal pelvis → ureter → bladder → urethra.

What is the renal sinus?

The large space within the medial part of the kidney opening to the exterior through the hilus

What are the largest elements within the renal sinus?

Urine-carrying tubes (renal pelvis and calyces)

What is the renal pelvis?

A flat funnel-shaped tube (the expanded superior part of the ureter)

The renal pelvis is within what?

The space of the renal sinus

How do ureters enter the bladder?

At the posterior–superior angle of the bladder.

The lumen of the bladder opens into the what?

Urethra at the neck of the bladder

What muscle forms the main wall of the urinary bladder?

The detrusor muscle.

What is the trigone of the bladder?

The triangular area between the ureteric openings and the neck of the urethra.

Which urethral sphincter is involuntary and what controls it?

The internal urethral sphincter; it is under autonomic (ANS) control.

Name the three parts of the male urethra.

Prostatic, membranous (shortest), and spongy urethra (longest)

Where does the membranous urethra lie?

It descends from the external urethral sphincter to the bulb of the penis

Where does the prostatic part of the urethra start?

At the internal urethral sphincter and passes through the prostate gland

Where does the spongy part of the male urethra begin?

Where the urethra passes into the corpus spongiosum of the penis

Where is the female external urethral orifice located between?

The labia minora just anterior and superior to the vaginal orifice and inferoposterior to the clitoris

List the pathway of urine for a male

Kidney (glomerulus/cortex, medulla, minor/major calyces, renal sinus) → renal pelvis → ureter →ureteral orifice → internal urethral sphincter → prostatic urethra → membranous urethra → external urethral sphincter → spongy urethra → external urethral orifice

List the pathway of urine for a female

Kidney (cortex, medulla, papilla, minor/major calyces, renal sinus) → renal pelvis → ureter → bladder→ internal urethral sphincter → female urethra → external urethral orifice

List the structures of the male reproductive system.

Penis, testes, vas (ductus) deferens, seminal vesicles, ejaculatory ducts, prostate gland, bulbourethral glands.

What dense fibrous layer surrounds the corpora cavernosa of the penis?

The tunica albuginea.

Which erectile bodies are paired in the penis?

The corpora cavernosa.

What is the name of the erectile body that contains the urethra?

Corpus spongiosum.

What fascia contains the superficial nerves and vessels of the penis and scrotum?

Superficial (Dartos) fascia.

Why is the scrotum devoid of fat?

To help regulate testicular temperature for optimal sperm production.

Which two anterior nerves provide sensory innervation to the scrotum?

Genital branch of the genitofemoral nerve and anterior scrotal branch of the ilioinguinal nerve.

Which two posterior nerves provide sensory innervation to the scrotum?

Posterior scrotal branch of the perineal branch of pudendal nerve and perineal branch of the posterior femoral cutaneous nerve

What is the function of the epididymis?

Storage and maturation of sperm.

What is the tunica vaginalis?

A double serous membrane derived from the abdominal peritoneum

What is the sperm producing organ?

The testes

What organ is comma shaped that arches over the posterior and lateral side of the testes?

The epididymis

Name the contents of the spermatic cord.

Vas deferens, testicular artery, cremasteric artery, deferential artery, testicular veins/pampiniform plexus, genital branch of genitofemoral nerve, sympathetic fibers, and cremaster muscle.

The testicular arteries arise from where? Where do they travel?

Abdominal aorta and travel across the inguinal canal to the testes

List the three fascia located in the spermatic cord.

External spermatic fascia, cremasteric fascia, and internal spermatic fascia

Which fascia of the spermatic cord is a continuation of the external oblique aponeurosis?

External spermatic fascia.

Which fascia of the spermatic cord is a continuation of the transversalis fascia of the abdomen?

Internal spermatic fascia

What structure contains fructose for nutrition of sperm?

Epididymis

What does the vas (ductus) deferens connect?

The tail of the epididymis to the ejaculatory duct.

Do seminal vesicles store sperm?

No, they secrete fructose-rich seminal fluid that mixes with sperm.

What structures unite to form the ejaculatory ducts?

The ampulla of the ductus deferens and the ducts of the seminal vesicles.

Which gland surrounds the first part of the male urethra?

The prostate gland.

What is the contribution of the prostate to semen?

A thin, milky fluid that enhances sperm motility and causes clotting of semen.

Where are the bulbourethral glands located and what do they secrete?

Within the urogenital diaphragm; they secrete a clear viscous alkaline fluid that neutralizes urethral acidity.

List the external female genital organs (vulva).

Mons pubis, labia majora, labia minora, and clitoris.

List the internal female genital organs.

Vagina, uterus, uterine (fallopian) tubes, ovaries

What glands are homologous to the male bulbourethral glands in females?

Greater vestibular (Bartholin’s) glands.

What are the functions of Bartholin’s glands?

Secretion of mucus for lubrication and neutralization of vaginal acidity.

What structure connects the vagina to the uterus?

The cervix.

Which erectile tissue forms the body of the clitoris?

Two corpora cavernosa (no corpus spongiosum).

Between which pouches is the body of the uterus situated?

The vesicouterine pouch (anterior) and the rectouterine pouch (posterior).

Name the four parts of the uterus.

Fundus, body, isthmus, and cervix.

Which ligament travels through the inguinal canal to the labia majora from the uterus?

The round ligament of the uterus.

What are the three parts of the broad ligament of the uterus?

Mesometrium (closest to uterus), mesosalpinx (closest to uterine tube), and mesovarium (closest to ovaries)

What is the function of the uterine (fallopian) tubes?

Receive oocytes, facilitate fertilization, and convey the zygote to the uterus.

Where are fimbriae located and what is their role?

At the terminal ends of the uterine tubes; they sweep the released oocyte into the tube.

Which hormones do the ovaries produce besides oocytes?

Estrogen and progesterone.

Which nervous system division mediates erection in males?

The parasympathetic system.

What causes ejaculation in males, parasympathetic or sympathetic stimulation?

Sympathetic stimulation.

During female sexual response, what causes uterine contractions during orgasm?

Sympathetic innervation.

Which muscle contractions are responsible for somatic sensations during orgasm in females?

Skeletal muscle contractions triggered by somatic nerves.

What are the three branches of the pudendal nerve in males?

Inferior rectal, perineal, and dorsal nerve of the penis (continuation of pudendal)

What are the three branches of the pudendal nerve in females?

Inferior rectal, perineal, and dorsal nerve of the clitoris (continuation of pudendal)

Name the three typical branches of the posterior division of the internal iliac artery.

Iliolumbar artery, lateral sacral artery, and superior gluteal artery.

The inferior vesical artery in males supplies which organs?

Inferior bladder, prostate, seminal vesicles, vas deferens, and lower ureter.

Which artery is analogous to the male inferior vesical artery in females?

The vaginal artery.

Through which foramen does the internal pudendal artery exit the pelvis?

The greater sciatic foramen, below the piriformis muscle.

List the terminal branches of the internal pudendal artery in males inside the perineum.

Inferior rectal artery, perineal artery, posterior scrotal artery, and deep and dorsal arteries of the penis.

List the terminal branches of the internal pudendal artery in females inside the perineum.

Inferior rectal artery, perineal artery, posterior labial artery, clitoral artery, and deep and dorsal arteries of the clitoris

Which parasympathetic nerves dilate the arteries of the penis to produce an erection?

Pelvic splanchnic nerves (S2–S4).

Which vein is compressed during erection to maintain rigidity?

The deep dorsal vein of the penis (venous occlusion).

Which artery runs with the obturator nerve to the medial thigh?

The obturator artery.

Which ligament contains the ovarian vessels?

The suspensory ligament of the ovary.

Which pouch is also called the pouch of Douglas?

The rectouterine pouch.

Which muscles help maintain erection by compressing the crura and bulb of the penis?

Ischiocavernosus and bulbospongiosus muscles.