What organs make up the urinary system?
Two kidneys, two ureters, one urinary bladder, and one urethra.
What are the kidney’s three regions?
The renal cortex, renal medulla, and renal pelvis.
What structures does the renal cortex contain?
Renal columns.
What structures does the renal medulla contain?
Renal pyramids.
How does the renal pelvis direct collected urine?
It funnels urine into the ureter.
What functions do the kidneys perform?
They regulate blood volume, electrolytes, acid-base balance, blood pressure, and red blood cell production, and excrete nitrogenous waste.
What is the nephron’s role and basic composition?
It is the kidney’s functional unit, consisting of renal tubules and renal blood vessels.
Which structures make up the renal tubules?
The glomerular capsule, proximal convoluted tubule, loop of Henle, distal convoluted tubule, and collecting duct.
Which three processes form urine?
Glomerular filtration, tubular reabsorption, and tubular secretion.
What drives water and solutes from glomeruli into Bowman’s capsule?
A pressure difference across the membrane.
What determines GFR, and what is its normal daily volume?
Blood pressure determines GFR; the normal volume is 180 L per 24 hours.
Where does tubular reabsorption mostly occur, and where does reclaimed filtrate go?
Mostly in the proximal convoluted tubule, returning filtrate to peritubular capillaries.
What percentage of filtered glucose do the kidneys reabsorb?
100%.
Where does aldosterone act, and what does it increase reabsorption of?
The distal tubule and upper collecting duct; sodium and water.
What initiates the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system when blood pressure is low?
The kidney releases renin.
What does the lung-released converting enzyme produce from angiotensin I?
Angiotensin II.
What stimulus triggers ADH release from the posterior pituitary?
Low blood volume or high concentration.
What effect does ADH have on water excretion and urine concentration?
It decreases water excretion and produces concentrated urine.
What is the average urine volume per 24 hours?
1,500 mL.
When does urinary retention occur?
When the kidneys produce urine but the bladder does not empty.
When does renal suppression occur?
When the kidneys do not produce urine.
What is the urethra?
The tube carrying urine from the bladder outside the body.
What triggers stretch receptors during micturition?
Bladder filling.
Where do sensory signals travel during micturition?
To the spinal cord.
What happens to the bladder and internal sphincter during micturition?
The bladder contracts while the internal sphincter relaxes.
Which organs are classified as organs of excretion?
The kidneys, skin, lungs, and intestines.
What encloses the kidney, and which vessels carry its blood?
A renal capsule encloses it; the renal artery supplies it, and the renal vein drains it.
What is the nephron blood-vessel pathway from renal artery to renal vein?
Renal artery, afferent arteriole, glomerulus, efferent arteriole, peritubular capillaries, renal vein.
What stimulus causes the atrial walls to secrete ANP, and what does ANP cause?
Increased blood volume triggers ANP secretion, which causes sodium excretion.
Which heart chambers secrete BNP in response to elevated ventricular volume?
The ventricular walls.
What is the primary stimulus for parathyroid hormone and calcitonin regulation of electrolytes?
Low plasma calcium.
What is the normal average pH of urine?
6.0, within a normal range of 5.0–8.0.
What is the specific gravity range of urine?
1.001–1.035.
What color is normal urine?
Amber or straw-colored.
What is uremia?
The presence of urine in the blood resulting from renal failure.
What does dialysis remove from the blood?
Waste.
How long are the ureters?
10 to 13 inches.
How many layers does the urinary bladder have?
Four layers.
How does the urethral muscular layer help during micturition?
It contracts to help expel urine.
How do female and male urethral lengths differ?
The female urethra is 1.5 inches (3–4 cm); the male urethra is 7–8 inches (18–20 cm).
Answer 15 questions on Urinary System.
1. Which set correctly describes the organs of the urinary system?
2. Which kidney region collects urine and funnels it into the ureter?
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