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Basic Anatomy & Physiology
Basic anatomy and physiology study the structure (anatomy) and function (physiology) of the human body. Together, they explain how body systems work and interact to maintain life
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Introduction to Medical Terminology, Anatomy and Physiology
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Musculoskeletal System
01:48
Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue
Blood and the Circulatory System
Nervous System and Sensory Organs
Respiratory System
Digestive System
Urinary System
Endocrine System
Male and Female Reproductive Systems
Medical Demo-2
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Medical Coding
About Lesson

Urinary System

 

 

General description

The urinary system filters certain waste products from the blood stream by forming urine, and mechanically removes urine from the body.Organs of the system are: two kidneys, two ureters, a bladder and a urethra.

 

Kidneys

The kidneys are large, bean shaped glands located behind the abdominal cavity (retroperitoneal). Thousands of small filters in the  kidneys, called glomeruli, extract nitrogenous wastes, salts, water and  toxins from the bloodstream and turn the wastes into urine.The chief nitrogenous constituent of urine and the final product of protein metabolism in the body is urea.The formation of urine is a continuous process, with droplets constantly  flowing out of the kidneys into the ureters. This function maintains the balance of fluids in the body, and disposes waste from it.

 

Ureters

Two ureters convey urine from the kidneys to the bladder. The ureters are small tubes in diameter and approximately 30cm long.

Bladder

The bladder is a reservoir for urine which is collected until there is a
nerve stimulus to empty (urinate). The bladder is a hollow muscular
organ with considerable capacity for distention.

 

Urethra

The canal leading from the bladder through which we urinate  (micturate) is called the urethra. In the male the urethra is about 20 cm  long and courses through the prostate gland and penis. It also serves as the passageway for emission of spermatozoa. The female urethra is  shorter (about 4 cm long) and it is embedded in the upper vaginal wall.

The external opening of the urethra is called the meatus.

 

Urinary System

 

Glossary of Terms Urinary System

Bladder

(blad’der) Hollow muscular organ which serves as the reservoir for urine.

 

Distention

(dis-ten’shun) Enlargement.

 

Excretory

(eks’kre-to-re) Pertaining to discharge of waste products from the body.

 

Meatus

(me-a’tus) External opening of the urethra.

 

Micturition

(mik-tu-rish’un) Act of urinating.

 

Nitrogenous wastes

(ni-troj’e-nus) By-products of metabolism containing nitrogen.

 

Penis

(pe’nis) Male organ of sexual intercourse through which the urethra passes.

 

Prostate

(pros’tate) A gland in the male which surrounds the bladder neck and urethra. Prostatic fluid is secreted by the prostate.

Toxin

(tok’sin) Any poisonous nitrogenous compound.

 

Upper vaginal wall

(vaj-i’nal) Anterior surface of the vagina in the female.

 

Ureter

(u-re’ter; u’re-ter) One of two small diameter tubes extending from the kidney to the bladder; conveys urine.

Urethra

(u-re’thrah) Passageway for urine from the bladder to body exterior.

 

Urinary system

(u’ri-ner-e) Organs concerned with the common function of ridding the body of certain types of wastes.

Urinate

(u’ri-nate) To empty the urinary bladder.

 

Exercises on the Urinary System

 

A. Write in the table below the medical terms for the numbered items in the diagram. Then check your answers against the fully labelled diagram in this section.

 

 

B. Read the definitions of the terms below. Each describes an organ, a part, or function of the urinary system. You may refer to the previous text to fill in appropriate word or phrase.

 Definition

  1. Two bean-shaped organs which filter blood and  produce urine.
  2. The system which filters waste products from the  body by forming urine.
  3. The location of the kidneys.
  4. This waste product continually flows out of the  kidneys into the ureters.
  5. A tube which extends down from each kidney and  conveys urine from the kidney to the bladder.
  6. A hollow muscular organ which acts as a reservoir  for urine.
  7. The canal leading from the bladder through which we urinate.
  8. The external opening of the urethra.
  9. Thousands of small filters in the kidney which extract nitrogenous waste.
  10. The gland through which the urethra courses in  the male.
  11. The wall in which the short female urethra is embedded.
  12. The balance of these in the body is maintained by kidney function.
  13. The chief nitrogenous constituent of urine.
  14. Urea is the final product when this is metabolised.

 

C. Use a medical dictionary to look up the meaning of these terms which are commonly used in describing conditions related to the urinary system.

 anuria

 blood urea

 catheter

 cystitis

 dysuria

 enuresis

 glomerulonephritis

 glycosuria

 haematuria hilum

 hydronephrosis

 ileal conduit

 nephrectomy

 nephritis

 nephrosclerosis

 nephrotic

 syndrome

 nocturia

 polycystic kidney

 polyuria

 pyelonephritis

 pyuria

 renal colic

 renal pelvis

 retention of urine

 uraemia

 ureteritis

 urethritis

 uric acid

 urinary retention

 vesicoureteral reflux

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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