Urinary System: Anatomy, Functions, and Kidney Processes

What organs make up the urinary system?

Kidneys, ureters, bladder, urethra.

What is the main function of the kidneys?

Filter blood, remove waste, and convert it into urine.

What is the function of the ureters?

Transport urine from kidneys to bladder.

What is the function of the bladder?

Store urine until urination.

What is the function of the urethra?

Carry urine from bladder to outside of the body.

What are the main roles of the urinary system?

Remove wastes, regulate pH, electrolytes, blood pressure, fluid balance, filter blood, store urine, enable urination.

What are the two layers of the kidney?

Renal cortex (outer) and renal medulla (inner).

What endocrine functions do the kidneys perform?

Produce erythropoietin and calcitriol.

What are the three kidney processes in urine formation?

Filtration, reabsorption, secretion.

What is filtration in the kidney?

Blood passes through glomerulus, proteins/cells removed, ultrafiltrate formed.

What is reabsorption in the kidney?

Useful molecules re-enter blood from ultrafiltrate.

What is secretion in the kidney?

Wastes move from blood into urine.

What is the formula for excretion?

Excretion = Filtration - Reabsorption + Secretion.

What hormone controls water reabsorption in kidneys?

ADH (vasopressin).

What hormone controls sodium and water balance in kidneys?

Aldosterone.

What enzyme regulates blood pressure in kidneys?

Renin.

How much urine can the bladder hold comfortably?

About 500-800 mL.

How does the male urethra differ from the female urethra?

Male urethra carries urine and sperm; female urethra carries only urine.

What is the correct order of urine flow?

Kidneys → Ureters → Bladder → Urethra.

What is the sequential process of urine production?

Blood enters kidneys → filtration → ultrafiltrate → reabsorption → secretion → excretion of urine.

What is the renal cortex?

The outer layer of the kidneys.

What is the renal medulla?

The inside portion of the kidneys.

What is micturition?

The synonym for urination or voiding.

What is a urinary tract infection?

A commonly occurring infection of the urinary tract.

What is urolithiasis?

A kidney stone or calculi.

What is nephrolithiasis?

Kidney stone or calculi.

What is ureterolithiasis?

A stone or calculus in the ureter.

What is renal failure?

A severe acute or chronic failure of the kidney to function adequately.

What are renal cysts?

Infections in the kidney.

What is glomerulonephritis?

Inflammation of the glomeruli of the kidneys.

What are bladder tumors?

Benign or malignant tumors in the bladder.

What are cancers of the urinary tract?

Cancers along the urinary tract.

Kidneys

The lima bean shaped bilateral urinary system organs that anatomically lie in the upper abdominal area in close proximity to the organs of the gastrointestinal system and just below the bilateral adrenal glands.

The acid-base balance

The pH balance of the blood

Erythropoietin

The substance that is needed for the production of red blood cells

Calcitriol

The substance that is needed for the reabsorption of calcium, respectively.

Renal cortex

The outer layer of the kidneys

Renal medulla

The inside portion of the kidneys

Filtration

The renal process that removes proteins and other cellular particles from the blood to create ultrafiltrate

Reabsorption

The kidney process that entails the reentry of some particles and molecules from the ultrafiltrate back into the blood for future use

Secretion

The renal process which entails the movement of wastes and other molecules into the urine from the blood after it is processed by the kidney

Antidiuretic hormone

The hormone secreted by the pituitary gland that controls the amount of water in the body and the blood and also decreases the amount of aldosterone in the body

Vasopressin

An alternative name for antidiuretic hormone

Aldosterone

The hormone that is secreted by the cortex of the adrenal gland, acts on the kidney to save sodium and water or to rid the body of sodium and water which affect the blood pressure

Renin

The hormone that supports the cardiac system's blood pressure, electrolytes and circulating blood volume at the level of the kidneys.

Angiotensin

A vasoconstrictor which increases the blood pressure and it also stimulates the release of aldosterone

The Loop of Henle

A renal structure that manages the pressure differences that move fluids and molecules, such as electrolytes, across a membrane.

Ureters

They connect the pelvis of each kidney to the bladder

The bladder

The muscular organ that serves as the collection and retention vessel of the body.

Micturition

The synonym for urination or voiding

Urethra

The connection between the bladder and the external environment after the urine passes through the urinary sphincter muscle(s) and the urinary meatus, or opening.

Urinary tract infection

A commonly occurring infection of the urinary tract

Urolithiasis

A kidney stone or calculi

Nephrolithiasis

Kidney stone or calculi

Ureterolithiasis

A stone or calculus in the ureter

Renal failure

A severe acute or chronic failure of the kidney to function adequately

Renal cysts

Infections in the kidney

Glomerulonephritis

Inflammation of the glomeruli of the kidneys

Bladder tumors

Benign or malignant tumors in the bladder

Cancers of the urinary tract

Cancers along the urinary tract