Functions:

Homeostasis Maintenance of blood pressure Eliminates metabolic wastes Preserves acid-base balance, water & electrolyte concentrations through urine Hormone regulation

Organs of the Urinary System

Kidneys Ureters Urinary bladder urethra

Hormones produced by the kidneys

Renin Erythropoeitin Kinins calcitrol

Kidneys
Posterior abdominal wall 12th thoracic to the level of the 3rd lumbar vertebrae Embedded in fat & connective tissue Bean-shaped, reddishbrown, 10-12 cm long, 56 cm wide and 2.5-3 cm thick

Each kidney has:

2 surface
Anterior Posterior

2 Margins
Medial concave, has hilus Lateral convex

2 poles
Superior Inferior

The hilus is a vertical fissure where the renal artery enters and the renal vein and ureter leave. It is also the gateway to the renal sinus a 2.5 cm deep fat-filled space within the kidney that contains the reanl blood vessels, nerves, renal pelvis and calyces.

Capsule
Envelopes the kidney At the hilus, it lines lines the renal sinus and becomes continuous with the walls of the calyces

Cortex and Medulla

Cortex Occupies the outer portion of the kidney Reddish and granular Medulla Comprises the inner portion of the kidney striated

Renal Pyramids
Longitudinally-striated, conical structures that takes the bulk of the renal medulla Separated from each other by renal columns The base abuts the cortex The apex (renal papilla) points toward the hilus

Minor Calyx, Major Calyx & Renal Pelvis

Cup-shaped structure where the renal papilla fits Unites with several minor calyces to form a tubular structure called major calyx Major calyces unite to form the renal pelvis (expanded initial portion of the ureter)

Lobes and lobules of the kidney

Renal Lobe constituted by renal pyramid and cortical tissue that overlies its base.

Medullary rays Rays of Ferrein groups of parallel tubes that are grossly visible as longitudinal streaks at the corticomedullary junction Diminish in numbers as they proceed toward the capsule Completely disappear near the capsule

Consists of:
collecting tubules
comprise the initial segment of intrarenal ducts

Loops of Henle

Blood Vessels, Lymphatics and Nerves

Renal arteries
Supplies blood to the kidneys Arises from the abdominal aorta Delivers 1.2 L of blood per minute Divides into 3-5 branches (interlobar arteries) that enter the renal sinus

Arcuate Arteries
Course is parallel to the capsule Branch of at right angles and give off interlobular arteries(straight vessels forming the outer boundary of the renal tubules)

 Afferent arterioles carries blood toward the glomerulus Efferent arterioles drains the glomerulus, short vessels Peritubular capillary network supplies the proximal and distal convulated tubules Vasa recta straight capillaries that take a descending path into the medulla; associated with the juxtamedullary nephrons Superficial cortical veins where venous blood from the capsule and outer cortex drains into Stellate vains found on the surface of the kidney Deep cortical veins where venous blood from the rest of the cortex drains into

 Interlobular veins parallel to the interlobular arteries Arcuate veins where the inlobular veins drains into Uriniferous Tubule - collective term for the nephron and the intrarenal ducts(collecting tubules and papillary ducts) Nephron functional unit of the kidney has 2 parts: a. renal corpuscle b. renal tubule

Renal Corpuscle
Malpighian corpuscle Forms the proximal ends of nephrons Located in the cortex Account for the grainy appearance of cortex Has 2 components: a. glomerulus b. bowmans capsule

 Vascular pole area of the renal corpuscle where the afferent arteriole enters and efferent arteriole leaves the glomerulus Urinary pole area where the renal tubule begins

Glomerulus
20-50 highly convoluted capillary loops that anastomose with each other Glomerular capillaries are fenestrated but not covered by a diaphragm Endothelial cells sits in the basa lamina

Mesangial matrix(mesangium)
spaces between the glomerular capillaries; amorphous mineral similar to the basement membrane

Glomerular mesangial cells

Most numerous in the vascular end of the renal corpuscle Stellate and similar to pericytes Capable of phagocytosis and have cytoplasmic processes Maintaince the glomerular filtration barrier Produces mesangial matrix