Essentials of Human Anatomy & Physiology
Seventh Edition
Elaine N. Marieb
The Urinary System
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Functions of the Urinary System
Elimination of waste products
Nitrogenous wastes
Toxins
Drugs
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Functions of the Urinary System
Regulate aspects of homeostasis
Water balance
Electrolytes
Acid-base balance in the blood
Blood pressure
Red blood cell production
Activation of vitamin D
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Organs of the Urinary system
Kidneys
Ureters
Urinary bladder
Urethra
Figure 15.1a
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Location of the Kidneys
Against the dorsal body wall
At the level of T12 to L3
The right kidney is slightly lower than
the left
Attached to ureters, renal blood vessels,
and nerves at renal hilus
Atop each kidney is an adrenal gland
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Regions of the Kidney
Renal cortex –
outer region
Renal medulla –
inside the cortex
Renal pelvis –
inner collecting
tube
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Kidney Structures
Medullary pyramids – triangular regions
of tissue in the medulla
Renal columns – extensions of cortex-
like material inward
Calyces – cup-shaped structures that
funnel urine towards the renal pelvis
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Blood Flow in the Kidneys
Figure 15.2c
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Nephrons
The structural and functional units of the
kidneys
Responsible for forming urine
Main structures of the nephrons
Glomerulus
Renal tubule
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Glomerulus
A specialized
capillary bed
Attached to
arterioles on both
sides (maintains
high pressure)
Large afferent
arteriole
Narrow efferent
arteriole Figure 15.3c
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Glomerulus
The glomerulus
sits within a
glomerular capsule
(the first part of the
renal tubule)
Figure 15.3c
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Renal Tubule
Glomerular
(Bowman’s)
capsule
Proximal
convoluted
tubule
Loop of Henle
Distal
convoluted
tubule
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Types of Nephrons
Cortical nephrons
Located entirely in the cortex
Includes most nephrons
Figure 15.3a
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Types of Nephrons
Juxtamedullary nephrons
Found at the boundary of the cortex and
medulla
Figure 15.3a
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Peritubular Capillaries
Arise from efferent arteriole of the
glomerulus
Normal, low pressure capillaries
Attached to a venule
Cling close to the renal tubule
Reabsorb (reclaim) some substances
from collecting tubes
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Urine Formation Processes
Filtration
Reabsorption
Secretion
Figure 15.4
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Filtration
Nonselective passive process
Water and solutes smaller than proteins
are forced through capillary walls
Blood cells cannot pass out to the
capillaries
Filtrate is collected in the glomerular
capsule and leaves via the renal tubule
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Reabsorption
The peritubular capillaries reabsorb several
materials
Some water
Glucose
Amino acids
Ions
Some reabsorption is passive, most is active
Most reabsorption occurs in the proximal
convoluted tubule
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Materials Not Reabsorbed
Nitrogenous waste products
Urea
Uric acid
Creatinine
Excess water
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Secretion – Reabsorption in
Reverse
Some materials move from the
peritubular capillaries into the renal
tubules
Hydrogen and potassium ions
Creatinine
Materials left in the renal tubule move
toward the ureter
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Formation of Urine
Figure 15.5
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Characteristics of Urine Used for
Medical Diagnosis
Colored somewhat yellow due to the
pigment urochrome (from the
destruction of hemoglobin) and solutes
Sterile
Slightly aromatic
Normal pH of around 6 (varies 4.5-8)
Specific gravity of 1.001 to 1.035
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Ureters
Slender tubes attaching the kidney to
the bladder
Continuous with the renal pelvis
Enter the posterior aspect of the bladder
Runs behind the peritoneum
Peristalsis aids gravity in urine transport
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Urinary Bladder
Smooth, collapsible, muscular sac
Temporarily stores urine
Figure 15.6
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Urinary Bladder
Trigone – three openings
Two from the ureters
One to the urethrea
Figure 15.6
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Urinary Bladder Wall
Three layers of smooth muscle
(detrusor muscle)
Mucosa made of transitional epithelium
Walls are thick and folded in an empty
bladder
Bladder can expand significantly without
increasing internal pressure
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Urethra
Thin-walled tube that carries urine from
the bladder to the outside of the body by
peristalsis
Release of urine is controlled by two
sphincters
Internal urethral sphincter (involuntary)
External urethral sphincter (voluntary)
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Urethra Gender Differences
Length
Females – 3–4 cm (1 inch)
Males – 20 cm (8 inches)
Location
Females – along wall of the vagina
Males – through the prostate and penis
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Urethra Gender Differences
Function
Females – only carries urine
Males – carries urine and is a passageway
for sperm cells
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Micturition (Voiding)
Both sphincter muscles must open to
allow voiding
The internal urethral sphincter is relaxed
after stretching of the bladder
Activation is from an impulse sent to the
spinal cord and then back via the pelvic
splanchnic nerves
The external urethral sphincter must be
voluntarily relaxed
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Maintaining Water Balance
Normal amount of water in the human
body
Young adult females – 50%
Young adult males – 60%
Babies – 75%
Old age – 45%
Water is necessary for many body
functions and levels must be maintained
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Distribution of Body Fluid
Intracellular fluid
(inside cells)
Extracellular fluid
(outside cells)
Interstitial fluid
Blood plasma
Figure 15.7
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The Link Between Water and Salt
Changes in electrolyte balance causes
water to move from one compartment to
another
Alters blood volume and blood pressure
Can impair the activity of cells
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Maintaining Water Balance
Water intake must equal water output
Sources for water intake
Ingested foods and fluids
Water produced from metabolic processes
Sources for water output
Vaporization out of the lungs
Lost in perspiration
Leaves the body in the feces
Urine production
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Maintaining Water Balance
Dilute urine is produced if water intake
is excessive
Less urine (concentrated) is produced if
large amounts of water are lost
Proper concentrations of various
electrolytes must be present
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Regulation of Water and Electrolyte
Reabsorption
Regulation is primarily by hormones
Antidiuretic hormone (ADH) prevents
excessive water loss in urine
Aldosterone regulates sodium ion content of
extracellular fluid
Triggered by the rennin-angiotensin
mechanism
Cells in the kidneys and hypothalamus
are active monitors
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Maintaining Water/Electrolyte Balance
Figure 15.9
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Maintaining Acid-Base Balance in
Blood
Blood pH must remain between 7.35
and 7.45 to maintain homeostasis
Alkalosis – pH above 7.45
Acidosis – pH below 7.35
Most ions originate as byproducts of
cellular metabolism
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Maintaining Acid-Base Balance in
Blood
Most acid-base balance is maintained
by the kidneys
Other acid-base controlling systems
Blood buffers
Respiration
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Developmental Aspects of the
Urinary System
Functional kidneys are developed by the
third month
Urinary system of a newborn
Bladder is small
Urine cannot be concentrated
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Developmental Aspects of the
Urinary System
Control of the voluntary urethral
sphincter does not start until age 18
months
Urinary infections are the only common
problems before old age
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Aging and the Urinary System
There is a progressive decline in urinary
function
The bladder shrinks with aging
Urinary retention is common in males
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