The

Urinary
System

Functions of the Urinary

System
Kidneys filter blood to keep it pure

Toxins
Metabolic wastes
Excess water
Excess ions

Dispose of nitrogenous wastes from

blood
Urea
Uric acid
Creatinine

 Regulate the balance of water and

electrolytes, acids and bases
Produce the enzyme renin that
regulates blood pressure
Produce erythropoietin that
stimulates red blood cell production
in the bone marrow

Kidneys Location
The kidneys lie against the dorsal body region wall
in a retroperitoneal position (beneath the
parietal peritoneum) in the superior lumbar
region.
It extends from the T12 to the L3 vertebra; thus it
receive some protection from the lower part of
the rib cage.
Because it is crowded by the liver, the right kidney
is positioned lower than the left.

Organs
of the
Urinary
System

 Renal Artery (red) where blood,

waste and water enter
Renal Vein (blue) where blood
without waste or excess water leave.
Brings back clean blood.
Kidney pairedorganwhosefunctions
include removing waste products from
the blood and regulating the amount of
fluid in the body

 Ureter where the excess water and

toxic waste in the form of urine
leaves
Urinary Bladder - stores urine after
its formation by the kidneys
Urethra tube that urine passes
through before it leaves the body

The
Kidney

11

 Renal Capsule encloses each

kidney and gives a fresh kidney a
glistening appearance
Adipose Capsule surrounds each
kidney and helps hold it in place
against the muscle of the trunk wall

 Three regions of the Kidney:

1. Renal Cortex outer region, light in
color

2. Renal Medulla deep to the cortex,

darker-reddish brown area
Medullary Pyramids triangular regions
with a striped appearance
Renal Columns separates the pyramids

3. Renal Pelvis medial to the hilus, flat,

basin like cavity

 Major and Minor Calyces

encloses the tips of the pyramids.
Collect urine and empty it into the
renal pelvis.

The
Blood
Supply

Nephron
s

 Nephrons are the

structural and
functional units of
the kidneys and
responsible for
forming urine.

Efferent
Arteriole

Two Main
Structures:
Glomerulus knot of
capillaries
Renal Tubule
composed of the
proximal convoluted
tubule, the loop of
Henle, and the distal
tubule

Afferent
Arteriole

Efferent
Arteriole

Glomerular
or
Bowmans
Capsule
cup-shaped
and
completely
surrounds
the
glomerulus

Efferent
Arteriole

Afferent
Arteriole

 Podocytes
highly
modified
octopus-like
cells that
made up the
inner
(visceral)
layer of the
capsule

 Collecting Duct
connect the
Efferent
Arteriole
nephrons to the
ureter
participates in
electrolyteand
fluid balance
through
reabsorption and
excretion,
processes
regulated by
thehormones
aldosteroneandan
tidiuretic hormone

Afferent
Arteriole

Thick Segment

Thin Segment

 Proximal Convoluted Tubule (PCT) Loop of Henle Distal Convoluted Tubule (DCT) -