Human Histology - Lecture (MLSHISTC)

Student Name: ANUBA, MARY CARLYN F. Date: FEBRUARY 10, 2025

Block Section: MED 233
Instructor: MR. JHEFERSON D. ARAYATA

Assessment #7: Urinary System

Learning Outcomes:

At the end of the lesson, the learner will be able to:

1. Identify the urinary organs.
2. Trace the pathway of urine
3. Identify the different structures of each organ at microscopic level

Instruction: Answer the following questions given below.

a. What are the main organs involved in the urinary system?

The urinary system filters blood, removes waste, and regulates fluid and mineral
levels. The primary organs affected are:

Kidneys, are two bean-shaped organs that filter waste items, excess water, and
poisons from the blood, producing urine.
Ureters are two tiny tubes that transfer urine from the kidneys to the bladder.
Urinary bladder is a muscular sac that retains urine until it is evacuated from the body.
Urethra is a tube that transports urine from the bladder to the exterior of the body
during urination.

These organs collaborate to regulate blood pressure, maintain acid-base balance,

and keep the body in homeostasis.

b. How does the structure of the kidneys contribute to their function in urine formation?
The kidneys are responsible for filtering blood, eliminating waste, and regulating fluid and electrolyte levels. Their particular
structure enables them to efficiently produce urine via three important processes: filtration, reabsorption, and secretion.

The renal cortex contains millions of nephrons, which are the kidney's functioning units. Each nephron has a glomerulus,
which is a network of capillaries that filters blood, allowing water, electrolytes, and waste to pass while retaining important
molecules. The loop of Henle, located below the cortex, plays an important role in urine concentration by reabsorbing water
and salt. This process helps the body manage its water and electrolyte levels.

Urine is generated and collected in the renal pelvis before being transferred to the bladder for storage via the ureters. The
kidneys also receive a lot of blood flow, which helps them filter and remove waste efficiently.

The kidneys contribute to homeostasis by facilitating urine production. Their highly specialized structure promotes efficient
waste elimination while keeping critical components, emphasizing their importance to general health.
c. Can you describe the pathway of urine from the kidneys to its elimination from the body?
The path of urine from the kidneys to its disposal is as follows:

The kidneys filter blood and produce urine by filtration, reabsorption, and secretion.
Renal Pelvis - Urine gathers in this funnel-shaped structure located in the center of each kidney.
Ureters are thin, muscular tubes that convey urine from the renal pelvis to the bladder via
peristalsis (wave-like contractions).
Urinary Bladder - A muscle sac that stores urine until it reaches a particular level, which causes
the urge to urinate.
Urethra - A tube that drains urine from the body. In males, it also functions as a channel for sperm,
whereas in females, it is only for urine excretion.
Urinary Sphincters - Muscles at the bladder's outlet that regulate urine release and relax when
urination occurs.

This pathway enables appropriate urine elimination, which contributes to body

fluid balance and waste clearance.

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 d. What role do the ureters play in the process of urine transport?

The ureters play an important function in delivering urine from the kidneys to the bladder. These are two muscle
tubes, each about 25-30 cm long, that guarantee urine movement is smooth and controlled. Their main functions
include:

Urine Transport - Ureters transport urine from the renal pelvis of each kidney to the urinary bladder for storage.
Peristalsis - Unlike passive drainage, ureters actively push urine by contracting their smooth muscular walls in
repetitive wave-like patterns. This prevents the urine from flowing backwards.
One-Way Flow - The ureterovesical junction, where the ureters meet the bladder, contains a valve-like
mechanism that prevents backflow, lowering the risk of kidney infection.

The ureters contribute to the health of the urinary system by providing a consistent and directional flow of urine.

e. What are the key microscopic features of the nephron in the kidney?

The nephron, the kidney's functional unit, filters blood and produces urine. Key microscopic characteristics include:

Glomerulus and Bowman's capsule - Filters blood, trapping proteins while allowing water and waste to pass.
The proximal convoluted tubule (PCT) reabsorbs nutrients, water, and electrolytes.
The Loop of Henle concentrates urine by absorbing water (descending leg) and salt (ascending limb).
The Distal Convoluted Tubule (DCT) regulates salt and water balance through hormonal regulation.
Collecting Duct - The final water reabsorption site, which directs urine to the renal pelvis.

These structures provide effective filtration, waste disposal, and fluid balancing.

f. How do the microscopic structures of the bladder and urethra support their functions in the urinary system?

The bladder and urethra have specialized microscopic structures that support their functions
in urine storage and elimination:

Bladder (urine storage)

Transitional Epithelium - A elastic, multilayered lining that expands when the bladder is full
and collapses when it is empty.
Detrusor Muscle - Smooth muscle fibers that flex to release pee while urinating.
Mucosal Folds (Rugae): Allow the bladder to expand without raising pressure.
Urethra (urine excretion)
Transitional to Stratified Epithelium - The lining changes from stretchy cells near the bladder to protecting
stratified squamous epithelium at the exit.
Internal and external sphincters - Smooth and skeletal muscles control voluntary and involuntary urine flow.

These tiny modifications allow for effective urine storage, regulated release, and
protection against irritation.

Practice Questions

Instructions: Answer the following questions and incorporate your rationale.

1. Which of the following organs is responsible for 2. The organ that stores urine before it is expelled from
filtering blood to form urine? the body is the:
a) Urethra a) Kidney
b) Kidneys b) Ureter
c) Bladder c) Urethra
d) Ureters d) Bladder
e) Prostate gland e) Renal pelvis
Rationale: Rationale:
The kidneys are the principal organs responsible for The bladder is a muscular, hollow organ that holds
filtering blood and producing urine. Each kidney has urine until it is released via the urethra. It can
millions of nephrons that filter waste, excess water, expand to handle larger amounts of urine and
and minerals from the blood and generate urine. constrict during urination to release the stored fluid.

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3. Which organ in the urinary system transports urine 8. The bladder stores urine until it is ready to be
from the kidneys to the bladder? expelled through which structure?
a) Urethra a) Urethra
b) Ureter b) Ureter
c) Renal artery c) Renal pelvis
d) Glomerulus d) Ureteral orifice
e) Nephron e) Glomerulus
Rationale: Rationale:
The ureter is a pair of small, muscular tubes
The urethra is a tube that transports urine from the
that transfer urine from the kidneys to the
bladder to the exterior of the body during urination.
bladder using peristaltic contractions.
4. The primary function of the kidneys is to: 9. Urine is transported from the kidneys to the bladder
a) Produce red blood cells by the:
b) Filter blood and remove waste products a) Urethra
c) Produce hormones b) Ureter
d) Store urine c) Renal artery
e) Transport urine to the bladder d) Glomerulus
Rationale: e) Pelvic cavity
The kidneys' principal role is to filter blood, Rationale:
eliminate waste products, and control the balance
The ureter is a muscular tube that transfers urine from
of sodium and potassium by creating urine.
5. Which of the following structures is not part of the the kidneys to the bladder by peristaltic contraction.
urinary system? 10. The process of voiding urine from the bladder is
a) Kidney called:
b) Ureter a) Filtration
c) Urethra b) Reabsorption
d) Lungs c) Secretion
e) Bladder d) Micturition
Rationale: e) Excretion
The kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra work Rationale:
together to filter blood, eliminate waste, and maintain
Micturition is the medical term for voiding
fluid balance through urine production and excretion.
6. After urine is formed in the kidneys, where does it (expelling) urine from the bladder via the urethra.
flow next? 11. Which of the following structures is found in the
a) Urethra nephron and is responsible for filtering blood?
b) Renal pelvis a) Glomerulus
c) Ureter b) Loop of Henle
d) Bladder c) Renal capsule
e) Prostate gland d) Ureter
Rationale: e) Urethra
Urine is produced in the kidneys and then collected Rationale:
in the renal pelvis, a funnel-shaped structure in each The glomerulus is a network of capillaries within
kidney that guides urine into the ureter. the nephron that filters blood, eliminating waste
7. Which of the following is the correct order of the and excess substances before producing urine.
pathway of urine from formation to elimination? 12. What is the function of the proximal convoluted
a) Kidney → Ureter → Bladder → Urethra tubule in the nephron?
b) Ureter → Kidney → Bladder → Urethra a) To filter blood
c) Kidney → Bladder → Urethra → Ureter b) To reabsorb nutrients and ions
d) Bladder → Kidney → Urethra → Ureter c) To secrete waste into urine
e) Urethra → Ureter → Kidney → Bladder d) To transport urine to the bladder
Rationale: e) To form the renal corpuscle
Urine is produced in the kidneys, which filter the blood Rationale:
and eliminate waste. It then travels through the ureters The nephron's initial renal tubule segment is the proximal
and into the bladder, where it is held until eliminated. convoluted tubule (PCT). Its principal role is to re-absorb
Finally, urine leaves the body through the urethra. vital nutrients, ions (such as sodium and potassium),
water, and glucose from the filtrate into the bloodstream.

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13. The collecting ducts in the kidneys are involved in: Rationale:
a) Filtration of blood Podocytes are specialized cells found in the renal
b) Reabsorption of water and ions corpuscle, specifically Bowman's capsule, that wrap
around the glomerular capillaries. They have filtration
c) Secretion of waste products slits that enable water, ions, and tiny molecules to
d) Storage of urine enter the nephron but prevent larger molecules such
as proteins and blood cells from entering the filtrate.
e) None of the above
Rationale: 15. Which of the following microscopic structures is
The kidney's collecting ducts reabsorb water and responsible for the reabsorption of water and
ions, regulated by ADH and aldosterone, to
maintain water balance and blood pressure. electrolytes in the kidney?
14. The cells of the renal corpuscle that play a major a) Proximal convoluted tubule
role in filtering blood are called: b) Renal papilla
a) Podocytes c) Ureter
b) Epithelial cells d) Loop of Henle
c) Squamous cells e) Distal convoluted tubule
d) Muscle cells Rationale:
e) Endothelial cells The Loop of Henle is responsible for the reabsorption
of water and electrolytes, mainly sodium, chloride,
and water, which helps to concentrate urine and
maintain fluid balance in the body.

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