Essentials of Human Anatomy & Physiology

Seventh Edition
Elaine N. Marieb

Chapter 15
The Urinary System

Slides 15.1 – 15.20

Lecture Slides in PowerPoint by Jerry L. Cook

Functions of the Urinary System

• Elimination of waste products

• Nitrogenous wastes
• Toxins
• Drugs

Slide 15.1a
Functions of the Urinary System

• Regulate aspects of homeostasis

• Water balance
• Electrolytes
• Acid-base balance in the blood
• Blood pressure
• Red blood cell production
• Activation of vitamin D

Slide 15.1b
Organs of the Urinary system

• Kidneys
• Ureters
• Urinary bladder
• Urethra

Figure 15.1a
Slide 15.2
Location of the Kidneys

• Against the dorsal body wall

• At the level of T12 to L3
• The right kidney is slightly lower than
the left
• Attached to ureters, renal blood vessels,
and nerves at renal hilus
• Atop each kidney is an adrenal gland
Slide 15.3
Coverings of the Kidneys

• Renal capsule
• Surrounds each kidney
• Adipose capsule
• Surrounds the kidney
• Provides protection to the kidney
• Helps keep the kidney in its correct location

Slide 15.4
Regions of the Kidney

• Renal cortex –
outer region
• Renal medulla
inside the cortex
• Renal pelvis –
inner collecting
tube

Figure 15.2b Slide 15.5

Kidney Structures

• Medullary pyramids – triangular regions

of tissue in the medulla
• Renal columns – extensions of cortex-
like material inward
• Calyces – cup-shaped structures that
funnel urine towards the renal pelvis

Slide 15.6
 Blood Flow in the Kidneys

Figure 15.2c

Slide 15.7
Nephrons

• The structural and functional units of the

kidneys
• Responsible for forming urine
• Main structures of the nephrons
• Glomerulus
• Renal tubule

Slide 15.8
Glomerulus
• A specialized
capillary bed
• Attached to
arterioles on both
sides (maintains
high pressure)
• Large afferent
arteriole
• Narrow efferent
arteriole Figure 15.3c

Slide 15.9a
Glomerulus

• Capillaries are
covered with
podocytes from
the renal tubule
• The glomerulus
sits within a
glomerular capsule
(the first part of the
renal tubule) Figure 15.3c

Slide 15.9b
Renal Tubule
• Glomerular
(Bowman’s)
capsule
• Proximal
convoluted
tubule
• Loop of Henle
• Distal
convoluted
tubule
Figure 15.3b Slide 15.10
Types of Nephrons
• Cortical nephrons
• Located entirely in the cortex
• Includes most nephrons

Figure 15.3a
Slide 15.11a
Types of Nephrons
• Juxtamedullary nephrons
• Found at the boundary of the cortex and
medulla

Figure 15.3a
Slide 15.11b
Peritubular Capillaries

• Arise from efferent arteriole of the

glomerulus
• Normal, low pressure capillaries
• Attached to a venule
• Cling close to the renal tubule
• Reabsorb (reclaim) some substances
from collecting tubes
Slide 15.12
Urine Formation Processes

• Filtration
• Reabsorption
• Secretion

Figure 15.4

Slide 15.13
Filtration

• Nonselective passive process

• Water and solutes smaller than proteins
are forced through capillary walls
• Blood cells cannot pass out to the
capillaries
• Filtrate is collected in the glomerular
capsule and leaves via the renal tubule
Slide 15.14
Reabsorption
• The peritubular capillaries reabsorb several
materials
• Some water
• Glucose
• Amino acids
• Ions
• Some reabsorption is passive, most is active
• Most reabsorption occurs in the proximal
convoluted tubule
Slide 15.15
Materials Not Reabsorbed

• Nitrogenous waste products

• Urea
• Uric acid
• Creatinine
• Excess water

Slide 15.16
Secretion – Reabsorption in
Reverse
• Some materials move from the
peritubular capillaries into the renal
tubules
• Hydrogen and potassium ions
• Creatinine
• Materials left in the renal tubule move
toward the ureter
Slide 15.17
Formation of Urine

Figure 15.5
Slide 15.18
Characteristics of Urine Used for
Medical Diagnosis
• Colored somewhat yellow due to the
pigment urochrome (from the
destruction of hemoglobin) and solutes
• Sterile
• Slightly aromatic
• Normal pH of around 6
• Specific gravity of 1.001 to 1.035
Slide 15.19
Ureters

• Slender tubes attaching the kidney to

the bladder
• Continuous with the renal pelvis
• Enter the posterior aspect of the bladder
• Runs behind the peritoneum
• Peristalsis aids gravity in urine transport

Slide 15.20
Urinary Bladder
• Smooth, collapsible, muscular sac
• Temporarily stores urine

Figure 15.6
Slide 15.21a
Urinary Bladder
• Trigone – three openings
• Two from the ureters
• One to the urethrea

Figure 15.6
Slide 15.21b
Urinary Bladder Wall

• Three layers of smooth muscle

(detrusor muscle)
• Mucosa made of transitional epithelium
• Walls are thick and folded in an empty
bladder
• Bladder can expand significantly without
increasing internal pressure
Slide 15.22
Urethra

• Thin-walled tube that carries urine from

the bladder to the outside of the body by
peristalsis
• Release of urine is controlled by two
sphincters
• Internal urethral sphincter (involuntary)
• External urethral sphincter (voluntary)

Slide 15.23
Urethra Gender Differences

• Length
• Females – 3–4 cm (1 inch)
• Males – 20 cm (8 inches)
• Location
• Females – along wall of the vagina
• Males – through the prostate and penis

Slide 15.24a
Urethra Gender Differences

• Function
• Females – only carries urine
• Males – carries urine and is a passageway
for sperm cells

Slide 15.24b
Micturition (Voiding)

• Both sphincter muscles must open to

allow voiding
• The internal urethral sphincter is relaxed
after stretching of the bladder
• Activation is from an impulse sent to the
spinal cord and then back via the pelvic
splanchnic nerves
• The external urethral sphincter must be
voluntarily relaxed
Slide 15.25
Maintaining Water Balance

• Normal amount of water in the human

body
• Young adult females – 50%
• Young adult males – 60%
• Babies – 75%
• Old age – 45%
• Water is necessary for many body
functions and levels must be maintained
Slide 15.26
Distribution of Body Fluid

• Intracellular fluid
(inside cells)
• Extracellular
fluid (outside
cells)
• Interstitial fluid
• Blood plasma
Figure 15.7

Slide 15.27
The Link Between Water and Salt

• Changes in electrolyte balance causes

water to move from one compartment to
another
• Alters blood volume and blood pressure
• Can impair the activity of cells

Slide 15.28
Maintaining Water Balance
• Water intake must equal water output
• Sources for water intake
• Ingested foods and fluids
• Water produced from metabolic processes
• Sources for water output
• Vaporization out of the lungs
• Lost in perspiration
• Leaves the body in the feces
• Urine production
Slide 15.29
Maintaining Water Balance

• Dilute urine is produced if water intake

is excessive
• Less urine (concentrated) is produced if
large amounts of water are lost
• Proper concentrations of various
electrolytes must be present

Slide 15.30
Regulation of Water and Electrolyte
Reabsorption
• Regulation is primarily by hormones
• Antidiuretic hormone (ADH) prevents
excessive water loss in urine
• Aldosterone regulates sodium ion content of
extracellular fluid
• Triggered by the rennin-angiotensin
mechanism
• Cells in the kidneys and hypothalamus
are active monitors
Slide 15.31
 Maintaining Water and Electrolyte Balance

Figure 15.9
Slide 15.32
Maintaining Acid-Base Balance in
Blood

• Blood pH must remain between 7.35

and 7.45 to maintain homeostasis
• Alkalosis – pH above 7.45
• Acidosis – pH below 7.35
• Most ions originate as byproducts of
cellular metabolism

Slide 15.33a
Maintaining Acid-Base Balance in
Blood

• Most acid-base balance is maintained

by the kidneys
• Other acid-base controlling systems
• Blood buffers
• Respiration

Slide 15.33b
Blood Buffers
• Molecules react to prevent dramatic
changes in hydrogen ion (H+)
concentrations
• Bind to H+ when pH drops
• Release H+ when pH rises
• Three major chemical buffer systems
• Bicarbonate buffer system
• Phosphate buffer system
• Protein buffer system
Slide 15.34
The Bicarbonate Buffer System

• Mixture of carbonic acid (H2CO3) and

sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3)
• Bicarbonate ions (HCO3–) reactwith
strong acids to change them to weak
acids
• Carbonic acid dissociates in the presence
of a strong base to form a weak base and
water
Slide 15.35
Respiratory System Controls of
Acid-Base Balance
• Carbon dioxide in the blood is converted to
bicarbonate ion and transported in the
plasma
• Increases in hydrogen ion concentration
produces more carbonic acid
• Excess hydrogen ion can be blown off with
the release of carbon dioxide from the lungs
• Respiratory rate can rise and fall depending
on changing blood pH
Slide 15.36
Renal Mechanisms of Acid-Base
Balance

• Excrete bicarbonate ions if needed

• Conserve or generate new bicarbonate
ions if needed
• Urine pH varies from 4.5 to 8.0

Slide 15.37
Developmental Aspects of the
Urinary System

• Functional kidneys are developed by

the third month
• Urinary system of a newborn
• Bladder is small
• Urine cannot be concentrated

Slide 15.38a
Developmental Aspects of the
Urinary System

• Control of the voluntary urethral

sphincter does not start until age 18
months
• Urinary infections are the only common
problems before old age

Slide 15.38b
Aging and the Urinary System

• There is a progressive decline in urinary

function
• The bladder shrinks with aging
• Urinary retention is common in males

Slide 15.39