2. The urinary system, also known as
the renal system, consists of the
kidneys, ureters, bladder, and the
urethra. Each kidney consists of millions
of functional units called nephrons
4. Definition
The kidneys are two bean-
shaped organs, each about
the size of a fist. They are
located just below the rib
cage, one on each side of the
spine
The kidneys remove waste
products from the blood and
produce urine. As blood flows
through the kidneys, the
kidneys filter waste products,
chemicals, and unneeded
water from the blood
Figure of kidney
5. Kidneys are bean shaped organ
11 cm long, 6 cm wide, 3 cm thick
Renal fascia
3cm
11cm
6cm
8. Organ associated with kidney
Right kidney
Superiorly
right adrenal gland
Anteriorly
Right lobe of liver, duodenum and the hepatic flexure of colon
Posteriorly
Diaphragm, muscle of posterior abdominal wall
9. Organ associated with kidney
Left kidney
Superior
left adrenal gland
Anteriorly
Spleen ,stomach ,pancreas ,jejunum and spleenic flexure of
the colon
Posteriorly
Diaphragm and muscle of posterior abdominal wall
10.
11.
12. Gross structure of kidney
The internal structure of the kidney is divided into two main
areas
renal cortex
Light outer area called the renal cortex
Renal medulla
darker Inner area called the renal medulla
Renal pyramids
Within the medulla there are eight (8) or more cone-shaped
sections known as renal pyramids
13. renal papilla
The renal papilla is located at the smaller end of the cone-
shaped renal pyramids
renal columns
The areas between the pyramids are called renal columns
minor calyx
Each renal papilla is attached to a cup, or a small tube, called
the minor calyx
major calyx.
Two or three of these minor calices (plural of minor calyx) merge
into what is called a major calyx.
16. Microscopic Anatomy of the Kidney
The renal structures that conduct the essential work of the
kidney cannot be seen by the naked eye. Only a light or
electron microscope can reveal these structures
Nephrons: Functional Unit
The nephron is the structural and functional unit of the kidney.
Each nephron functions as an independent unit and
produces a miniscule quantity of urine. The nephron can be
differentiated into the following regions
1. Malpighian Corpuscle
2. Renal tubule
3. Collecting tubule
17. Malpighian Corpuscle
Bowman's Capsule
This is a cup - shaped structure which is double walled in the
hollow of which is a net work of capillaries called the
glomerulus
Glomerulus
This is a knotted mass of blood capillaries formed by the afferent
arteriole (incoming) and the efferent arteriole (outgoing).
18.
19.
20. Renal Tubule
This is the remaining part of the nephron, continuous with the
Bowman's capsule. It is lined with ciliated epithelium and
differentiated into the following regions
Proximal Convoluted Tubule (PCT)
This is the region behind the Bowman's capsule and consists
of a coiled tube that descends to form the Henle's loop. The
proximal convoluted tubule is present in the cortex region.
Henle's loop
This is continuous with the proximal convoluted tubule and is
U-shaped having a narrow descending limb and a thick
ascending limb. This part of the nephron descends from the
cortex into the medulla region.
21. Distal Convoluted Tubule (DCT)
This is another coiled and twisted tubule that continues from
the ascending limb of loop of Henle found in the renal cortex.
22.
23. Collecting Tubule
The distal convoluted tubule continues to form the collecting
tubule.
Collecting Ducts
Several collecting tubules fuse to form large collecting ducts
which pass downwards from the cortex to the medulla
region.
Ducts of Bellini
Several collecting ducts join to form the larger ducts of Bellini
in the medulla region. Running through the pyramids they
finally open in the renal pelvis draining all the urine collected
from the various nephrons. The renal pelvis is an expanded
region which opens into the ureter.
24. Vasa Rectae
The efferent arteriole that exits from the glomerulus does not
merge into a vein but breaks up into a system of capillaries
called vasa rectae or peritubular capillaries which envelop
the proximal convoluted tubule, the Henle's loop and distal
convoluted tubule. These capillaries rejoin and drain into the
venule. Venules join together to form the renal vein which
drain blood from the kidneys.
25.
26. Ureters
The ureters are paired muscular ducts with
narrow lumina that carry urine from the
kidneys to the bladder.
The ureteric walls are comprised
of smooth muscle, which contracts to
produce peristaltic waves. This propels
the urine towards the bladder.
27. Relation,abdomin
ureter
posteriorly: psoas muscle; genitofemoral
nerve; common iliac vessels; tips of L2-L5
transverse processes
anteriorly
right ureter: descending duodenum (D2); gonadal
vessels; right colic vessels; ileocolicvessels
left ureter: gonadal artery; left colic artery; loops
of jejunum; sigmoid mesentery and colon
medially
right ureter: IVC
left ureter: abdominal aorta, inferior mesenteric vein
28. Relation, pelvic ureter
posteriorly: sacroiliac joint, internal iliac artery
inferiorly
male: seminal vesicle
female: lateral fornix of the vagina
anteriorly
male: ductus deferens
female: uterine artery (in the broad ligament)
medially
female: cervix
It should be noted that the only structures to
anteriorly pass over the pelvic ureter is the ductus
deferens in males and the uterine artery in females.
29.
30. Blood
supply
arterial supply: from branches of
the renal artery, abdominal
aorta, superior and inferior vesical
arteries
some texts also include supply from
the gonadal, middle rectal and uterine
arteries 1-2
venous drainage: via similarly named
veins but is highly variable 1-2
31. Histology
The ureteric wall is composed of three
layers (from outside to inside):
1) adventitia
2) smooth muscle
3) transitional cell epithelium
32. Urinary bladder
The urinary bladder (more commonly
just called the bladder) is a distal part of
the urinary tract and is an extra-
peritoneal structure located in the
true pelvis.
33. Gross anatomy
The bladder has a triangular shape with a posterior
base, an anterior apex and an inferior neck with two
inferolateral surfaces. It is lined with a rough,
trabeculated transitional cell epithelium except at the
trigone.
The trigone is a triangular area of smooth mucosa
found on the internal surface of the base. The
superolateral angles are formed by the ureteric
orifices and the inferior angle is formed by the
internal urethral orifice.
The urethra arises from the neck of the bladder and
is surrounded by the internal urethral sphincter.
As the bladder fills with urine it becomes ovoid in
shape and extends superiorly into the abdominal
cavity.
34. Blood supply
Arterial supply
superior and inferior vesical arteries (from
anterior division of internal iliac artery)
Venous drainage
male: vesical and prostatic venous plexus
via similarly named veins to the internal
iliac veins and internal vertebral veins
female: vesical and uterovaginal plexuses
draining into the internal iliac vein
35.
36. Urethra
The urethra is the terminal segment of
the genitourinary system. Because of
vastly different anatomy between the
sexes, male and female urethras are
discussed separately:
1. female urethra
2. male urethra
37. Female urethra
The female urethra is a simple tube
that extends from the internal urethral
orifice of the bladderto the external
urethral orifice in the vestibule of the
vagina
38. Gross anatomy
The female urethra measures
approximately 4 cm in length. It is
embedded in the anterior vaginal wall and
runs with the vagina through the urogenital
hiatus.
The female urethra begins at the internal
urethral meatus at the bladder neck and
opens in the vestibule of the vagina, 2.5 cm
below the clitoris. Paraurethral glands line
the urethra at the external urethral meatus
40. Male urethra
The male urethra is a fibromuscular
tube that drains urine from the bladder. It
has a longer, more complicated, course
than the female urethra and is also more
prone to pathology.
41. Gross anatomy
The male urethra measures, on average, 18-
20 cm in length. It commences at the internal
urethral orifice in the trigone of the bladder and
opens in the navicular fossa of the glans penis
at the external urethral meatus, which is the
narrowest part of the urethra.
The male urethra can be divided into anterior
and posterior portions. The anterior urethra is
composed of the penile and bulbar urethra to
the level of the urogenital diaphragm. The
posterior urethra is composed of the
membranous and prostatic urethra
42. Anterior urethra
penile (spongy, pendulous) urethra (~16 cm long):
encased by corpus spongiosum of the penis
the longest portion
the 'fossa navicularis' is a small normal dilatation of the
distal penile urethra
bulbar (bulbous) urethra: traverses the root of the
penis
it receives the ducts from the bulbourethral
glands and the glands of Littré
The anterior urethra is lined by pseudostratified
columnar epithelium. The very distal portion (at
approximately the level of the fossa navicularis) is
lined by squamous epithelium.
43. Posterior urethra
membranous urethra (1 cm long): passes
through the urogenital diaphragm,
surrounded by sphincter urethrae
the shortest and narrowest portion
prostatic urethra (3 cm long): surrounded
by the prostate gland; on its posterior wall
lies the smooth muscle verumontanum
it receives the ejaculatory ducts and numerous
small prostatic ducts
The posterior urethra is lined by transtional
columnar epithelium