Savanna Raica chapter 14 - Urinary

What are the functions of the urinary system? 

• Removes waste products from the blood (especially nitrogenous wastes)

• Regulates water balance and electrolytes

• Maintains acid–base (pH) balance

• Helps regulate blood pressure

• Produces hormones (like erythropoietin for red blood cell production)

1. What is urea? 

• A nitrogen-containing waste formed in the liver from the breakdown of proteins

• Excreted mainly in urine

1. What is uric acid? 

• A waste product from the breakdown of nucleic acids (DNA/RNA)

• Excreted in urine; high levels can lead to gout

1. What are the four regions of the urinary system? 

• Kidneys

• Ureters

• Urinary bladder

• Urethra

1. What is the function of the kidneys? 

• Filter blood to remove wastes and excess substances

• Produce urine

• Regulate fluid, electrolytes, and blood pressure

1. What color are the kidneys? 

• Reddish-brown

1. Where are the kidneys located? 

on either side of the spine, just below the rib cage (retroperitoneal)

1. What is the renal medulla? 

• Inner region of the kidney

• Contains pyramids that concentrate urine

1. What is the renal cortex? 

• Outer layer of the kidney

• Contains glomeruli and much of the filtration process

What is the renal hilium

Indentation on the kidney where blood vessels, nerves, and ureter enter/exit

1. What are the nephrons? 

• Functional units of the kidney

• Responsible for filtering blood and forming urine

1. What is Bowman's capsule?

• Cup-shaped structure that surrounds the glomerulus

• Collects filtered fluid from the blood

1. What is the proximal convoluted tubule? 

• First tubule after Bowman’s capsule

• Reabsorbs nutrients, water, and ions back into the blood

1. What is the loop of henle? 

• U-shaped portion of the nephron

• Concentrates urine by reabsorbing water and salts

1. What is the Distal convoluted tubule? 

• Further adjusts electrolyte levels and pH

• Fine-tunes urine composition

1. What are the urine collecting ducts? 

• Collect urine from multiple nephrons

• Carry it toward the renal pelvis

1. What are the ureters? 

• Tubes that carry urine from kidneys to the bladder

1. What is the urinary bladder? 

Hollow muscular organ that stores urine

What is  micturition

The process of urination (voiding urine)

1. What is the urethra? 

Tube that carries urine from the bladder to the outside of the body

1. How is the male urethra described? 

• Long (~18–20 cm)

• Passes through the prostate and penis

• Carries both urine and semen

1. How is the female urethra described? 

• Short (~3–4 cm)

• Opens above the vaginal opening

• Carries only urine

1. What are the three regions of the male urethra? 

• Prostatic urethra

• Membranous urethra

• Spongy (penile) urethra

1. What is urethritis? 

Inflammation of the urethra (often due to infection)

1. What is kidney agenesis? 

Congenital absence of one or both kidneys

1. What is glomerulonephritis? 

• Inflammation of the glomeruli

• Can affect kidney filtration

1. What are kidney stones? 

• Hard mineral deposits that form in the kidneys

• Can cause severe pain when passing

1. What is cystitis? 

Inflammation of the urinary bladder (commonly due to infection)

1. What is dysuria? 

Painful or difficult urination

1. What is ureteral stenosis? 

Narrowing of a ureter, obstructing urine flow

1. What is urethral stenosis? 

Narrowing of the urethra, making urination difficult

What is a UTI?

• Infection anywhere in the urinary system (kidneys, ureters, bladder, or urethra)

• Common symptoms: burning urination, urgency, frequency