3.

02 STRUCTURES,
FUNCTIONS, AND
DISORDERS OF
THE  URINARY
SYSTEM

HU40 Health Science I

Structures of the Urinary System
• Kidneys:  pair of bean-shaped organs
located between the peritoneum and the
back muscles 
• Ureter:  tube that connects and carries
urine from the kidneys to the bladder
• Bladder:  hollow, muscular organ that
collects and stores urine
• Urethra: tube that connects the bladder
to the outside of the body.   
• Urinary meatus:  external opening of the
urethra where urine exits the body
 Kidney Structures
• Renal Capsule: tough fibrous layer
surrounding the kidney
• Renal Hilum: indention where blood
vessels and nerves enter and leave the
kidney
• Renal Pelvis: funnel-shaped structure that
receives urine from the collecting duct for
passage into the ureter 
• Renal Cortex: outer portion of the kidney
• Renal Medulla: innermost part of the
kidney
 Nephron:  Functional Unit of the Kidney
• Bowman’s Capsule: double-walled capsule
surrounding the glomerulus
• Glomerulus: cluster of capillaries where filtration
takes place
• Proximal convoluted tubule: part of nephron where
glucose, sodium, chloride and water are reabsorbed
• Loop of Henle: portion of a nephron that leads from
the proximal convoluted tubule to the distal
convoluted tubule
• Distal Convoluted Tubule: portion of nephron
between the loop of Henle and the collecting tubule
• Collecting Tubule: part of a nephron that collects the
urine from the distal convoluted tubule and
discharges it into the pelvis of the kidney
Functions of the Urinary System
• Excretion of wastes
• Formation of urine
• Fluid and electrolyte balance
• Elimination of urine
 Formation of Urine
• Filtration:  1st step in urine formation.  Blood
from renal artery enters glomerulus and high
pressure forces some things through the
capillary walls.  The capillary walls act like a
filter
• Reabsorption:  Water and useful substances
are reabsorbed.  If blood levels of certain
substances are high (glucose, amino acids,
vitamins, sodium), then those substances will
not be reabsorbed
• Secretion:  Transports substances such as
creatinine, potassium, hydrogen and some
drugs into the collecting tubule
 Fluid and Electrolyte Balance
• The kidneys help maintain fluid and
electrolyte balance
• Chemical control through ADH
(antidiuretic hormone and aldosterone)
• If levels in the blood are low,
substances are returned to the blood
• If levels are too high then substances
are excreted
• Diuretics are substances that inhibit
reabsorption of H2O
Elimination of Urine
• Average urinary output 1500ml
per day
• Urinalysis: Examination of urine
to determine presence of blood
cells, bacteria, acidity level,
specific gravity and physical
characteristics
Disorders of the Urinary
System
Cystitis
• Inflammation of the urinary
bladder

• Most common cause - E.Coli

• Symptoms - DYSURIA (painful

urination) and frequency

• More common in females, due to

shorter urethra

• Rx - antibiotics
Enuresis
• Bedwetting
• Can occur up to the age of 5
5 as part of normal
childhood development
• Most children outgrow bed-
wetting on their own
Glomerulonephritis
• Inflammation of the kidney
• May be acute or chronic
• Acute: develops suddenly. May
occur after strep throat or other
types of infection
• Chronic: develops slowly over
several years. Often leads to
complete kidney failure
Incontinence
• Involuntary urination

• Inability to control release of

urine
Renal Calculi (Kidney Stones)
• Made of crystals of calcium phosphate and uric acid

• Gradually get larger until they block ureters

• 1st symptom - severe pain

• Other symptoms - nausea/vomiting, frequency, chills,

fever, hematuria

• Diagnosis - by symptoms, ultrasound, x-ray

• Rx - increase fluids to flush out stone, medications --

possible LITHOTRIPSY

• Lithotripsy: Shock waves are used to bust up stones

so they can be removed
Renal Failure
• Occurs when your kidneys lose
the ability to sufficiently filter
waste from your blood
• May be acute or chronic
• Oliguria (scanty amount of urine)
is an early sign
• Stages 1-5
• When reach stage 5 must have
regular dialysis or a kidney
transplant
Dialysis (Hemodialysis)
• Used for kidney failure

• Involves the passage of blood through

device with semi-permeable membrane

• Dialysis serves as substitute kidney

• Blood from patient flows through

machine and is filtered

• Can be done at home or in clinic

• Takes 2-4hrs, 2-3 x a week

 Resources
File:Urinary System (Female).png. (2020, February 13). Wikimedia Commons, the free media repository. Retrieved 14:40, May 29, 2020 from 
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Urinary_System_(Female).png&oldid=394159061.
File:Blausen 0592 KidneyAnatomy 01.png. (2020, April 28). Wikimedia Commons, the free media repository. Retrieved 14:47, May 29, 2020 from 
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Blausen_0592_KidneyAnatomy_01.png&oldid=415448369 .
File:Kidney Nephron.png. (2020, March 5). Wikimedia Commons, the free media repository. Retrieved 14:49, May 29, 2020 from 
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Kidney_Nephron.png&oldid=401589119.
File:Figure 41 03 04.jpg. (2017, November 29). Wikimedia Commons, the free media repository. Retrieved 15:31, May 29, 2020 from 
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Figure_41_03_04.jpg&oldid=269955063.
File:Kidney nephron molar transport diagram.svg. (2020, February 2). Wikimedia Commons, the free media repository. Retrieved 15:19, May 29, 2020 from 
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Kidney_nephron_molar_transport_diagram.svg&oldid=391640938 .
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File:Bladder Infection.png. (2020, February 10). Wikimedia Commons, the free media repository. Retrieved 15:46, May 29, 2020 from 
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Bladder_Infection.png&oldid=393461554.
File:  Boy bedwetting, Bing Creative Commons, https://180degreehealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/boy_bedwetting_2.jpg, Retrieved May 29, 2020
File:Structure of glomerulus.png. (2019, August 10). Wikimedia Commons, the free media repository. Retrieved 16:26, May 29, 2020 from 
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Structure_of_glomerulus.png&oldid=361349975 .
File:Adult diapers in Tel Aviv.jpg. (2020, April 22). Wikimedia Commons, the free media repository. Retrieved 16:30, May 29, 2020 from 
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Adult_diapers_in_Tel_Aviv.jpg&oldid=414109898.
File:Kidney stones ( renal calculi ), Бубрежни камења 15.jpg. (2019, June 17). Wikimedia Commons, the free media repository. Retrieved 16:32, May 29, 2020 from 
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Kidney_stones_(_renal_calculi_),_%D0%91%D1%83%D0%B1%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%B6%D0%BD%D0%B8_%D0%B
A%D0%B0%D0%BC%D0%B5%D1%9A%D0%B0_15.jpg&oldid=355130269
.
File:Dialysis - arm - 01.jpg. (2019, June 22). Wikimedia Commons, the free media repository. Retrieved 16:35, May 29, 2020 from 
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https://www.pexels.com/photo/blood-dialysis-machine-hematology-hospital-966368/, Retrieved May 29, 2020
Additional Resources
•https://www.livescience.com/27012-urinary-system.html
•https://www.visiblebody.com/learn/urinary
•https://medlineplus.gov/kidneysandurinarysystem.html