Urinary System

On this page

Kidneys: Gross Anatomy - Bean Scene Investigation

  • Location: Retroperitoneal, T12-L3 (R lower). Size: ~11x6x3cm, ~150g.
  • Coverings (In→Out): Capsule, Perinephric fat, Renal fascia, Paranephric fat. 📌 'Cats Prefer Real Prawns'.
  • External: Poles (Sup/Inf), Borders (Med/Lat), Surfaces (Ant/Post). Hilum (medial).
  • Internal: Cortex; Medulla (Renal Pyramids 8-18); Columns of Bertin; Papilla → Minor Calyces (7-13) → Major Calyces (2-3) → Renal Pelvis.
  • Hilum (Ant→Post): Vein, Artery, Pelvis (VAP).

    ⭐ The order of structures in the renal hilum from anterior to posterior is Vein, Artery, Pelvis (VAP).

  • Arterial Supply: Renal → Segmental → Lobar → Interlobar → Arcuate → Interlobular. 📌 'Real Sexy Ladies Are Intelligent'.
  • Relations (Ant): R: Liver, Duodenum. L: Spleen, Pancreas, Stomach. (Post): Diaphragm, Ribs (R:12th, L:11th/12th).

Coronal section of kidney Anterior and posterior relations of the kidneys

Kidneys: Microscopic Anatomy - Nephron Ninjas

  • Nephron Components: Functional unit of the kidney.
    • Renal Corpuscle: Glomerulus (capillary tuft) + Bowman's Capsule (parietal: simple squamous; visceral: podocytes).
    • Tubules:
      • Proximal Convoluted Tubule (PCT): Simple cuboidal, prominent brush border (microvilli) for reabsorption.
      • Loop of Henle (LoH): Thin segments (simple squamous), Thick ascending limb (simple cuboidal).
      • Distal Convoluted Tubule (DCT): Simple cuboidal, fewer microvilli.
  • Nephron Types:

    • Cortical (85%): Short LoH, mainly in cortex; peritubular capillaries.
    • Juxtamedullary (15%): Long LoH deep into medulla; vasa recta; vital for urine concentration.
  • Juxtaglomerular Apparatus (JGA): Regulates GFR & blood pressure.

    • Macula Densa: Specialized DCT cells; sense NaCl in tubular fluid.
    • Juxtaglomerular (JG) Cells: Modified smooth muscle cells in afferent arteriole wall; secrete renin.
    • Extraglomerular Mesangial Cells (Lacis cells). Juxtaglomerular Apparatus and Renal Corpuscle
  • Collecting System:

    • Collecting Tubules & Ducts (Cortical/Medullary): Lined by:
      • Principal Cells: Reabsorb Na+, secrete K+; ADH-sensitive H2O reabsorption.
      • Intercalated Cells (Type A & B): Acid-base balance (H+/HCO3- transport).

⭐ Juxtaglomerular cells, modified smooth muscle cells in the afferent arteriole wall, secrete renin in response to decreased renal perfusion or low NaCl at macula densa.

Ureters & Bladder - Passage & Pouch

  • Ureters
    • Course: Abdominal & pelvic; length ≈25-30 cm.
    • Constrictions (3): Pelviureteric Junction (PUJ), crossing Pelvic brim/iliac vessels, Vesicoureteric Junction (VUJ). 📌 Mnemonic: 'UP on the Border of Vegas'.
    • Blood Supply: Branches from renal, gonadal, aorta, common/internal iliac arteries.
    • Histology: Transitional epithelium, 2-3 layers smooth muscle. Sites of ureteric constriction
  • Bladder
    • Location: Retropubic; Shape: Tetrahedral (empty).
    • Relations: Male (ant. to rectum, sup. to prostate); Female (ant. to uterus/vagina).
    • Parts: Apex, body, fundus/base, neck.
    • Trigone: Smooth area; boundaries: 2 ureteric orifices (superolateral), internal urethral meatus (inferior).
    • Muscle: Detrusor (smooth); Internal urethral sphincter (smooth, involuntary at neck).
    • Ligaments: Pubovesical (females), Puboprostatic (males). Bladder anatomy with layers and trigone

⭐ The three physiological constrictions of the ureter are common sites for calculus impaction: pelviureteric junction, crossing the pelvic brim/common iliac artery, and vesicoureteric junction.

Urethra & Clinical Snippets - Final Flush & Fixes

  • Male Urethra:
    • Prostatic: 3-4 cm; urethral crest, prostatic sinus.
    • Membranous: 1-2 cm; urogenital diaphragm, narrowest, least dilatable.
    • Spongy/Penile: 15 cm; corpus spongiosum.
    • Sphincters: Internal (involuntary, bladder neck), External (voluntary, urogenital diaphragm).
  • Female Urethra: ≈4 cm; anterior to vagina; ↑UTI susceptibility. Sphincters: Functional internal, external (voluntary).
  • Histology: Epithelium transition (e.g., Male: Transitional → Pseudostratified/Columnar → Stratified Squamous; Female: Transitional → Stratified Squamous).
  • Innervation (Micturition Control):
    • Parasympathetic (S2-S4): Detrusor contraction, internal sphincter relaxation (Voiding).
    • Sympathetic (T11-L2): Detrusor relaxation, internal sphincter contraction (Filling).
    • Somatic (Pudendal n. S2-S4): External sphincter control.
  • Applied Anatomy:
    • Renal calculi sites: Calyces, Pelvi-Ureteric Junction (PUJ), Vesico-Ureteric Junction (VUJ).
    • Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) impacts prostatic urethra.
    • Urethral rupture: Bulbous/membranous common.

Female and male urinary and reproductive systems

⭐ The membranous urethra in males is the shortest, least dilatable part, and is most susceptible to injury during pelvic fractures or instrumentation.

High-Yield Points - ⚡ Biggest Takeaways

  • Kidneys: retroperitoneal; right lower. Hilum: VAP (Vein, Artery, Pelvis) anterior-posterior.
  • JGA (macula densa, JG cells) regulates renin, BP, GFR.
  • Ureter constrictions: PUJ, pelvic brim, VUJ (narrowest, common site for calculi).
  • Bladder trigone: smooth; detrusor muscle (parasympathetic S2-S4) for voiding.
  • Male urethra (≈20cm): prostatic, membranous (narrowest part), spongy. Female urethra (≈4cm): higher UTI risk.
  • Horseshoe kidney: commonest fusion anomaly, ascent blocked by IMA (Inferior Mesenteric Artery).

Practice Questions: Urinary System

Test your understanding with these related questions

Which of the following is NOT an anterior relation of the right kidney?

1 of 5

Flashcards: Urinary System

1/9

What is the narrowest part of the ureter?_____

TAP TO REVEAL ANSWER

What is the narrowest part of the ureter?_____

VUJ

browseSpaceflip

Enjoying this lesson?

Get full access to all lessons, practice questions, and more.

Start Your Free Trial