An illustration shows an anterior view of the urinary system. The parts labeled are kidneys: right kidney and left kidney, ureters, urinary bladder, and urethra. The right and left kidneys are in the upper abdomen. A pair of long, narrow ureters connects each kidney to the urinary bladder, a hollow organ in the medial pelvic region. The bladder connects inferiorly to the outside of the body through a short, narrow structure, urethra. Blood supply of the kidneys, kidneys, ureters, urinary bladder, and urethra are linked to more detailed screens. Text at the bottom of the screen reads: The urinary system plays an important role in the homeostasis of body fluids. It is responsible for altering blood composition, forming urine, and regulating body fluid pH.
An illustration shows three images of the kidney. The first image shows an anterior view of the right kidney and the parts labeled are ureter, renal artery, renal vein, and renal capsule. The second image is an anterior view of a cross-section of the right kidney. The parts labeled are nephron, renal artery, renal vein, renal cortex, renal medulla, and ureter. The sequence of urine flow is in the following order: collecting duct, papillary duct, renal calyx, renal pelvis, and ureter. The renal artery, renal vein, and ureter enter the indented portion of the kidney. The kidney is divided into multiple renal lobes, which are separated by renal columns and consist of the outer renal cortex and the inner renal medulla. The ureter extends medially from the kidney. A nephron begins in the cortex, dips down to the medulla, and returns to the cortex. The third image is a photo of a cross-section of the right kidney in which the parts labeled are ureter, renal artery, renal vein, renal cortex, renal medulla, and renal capsule. Text at the bottom of the screen reads: Functions: 1. Helps regulate blood levels of all water-soluble substances, including sodium, potassium, calcium, chloride, and phosphate ions. 2. Regulates blood volume by conserving or eliminating water, which helps regulate blood pressure. 3. Regulates body fluids pH. 4. Releases hormones erythropoietin (increases hematocrit) and calcitriol (decreases blood calcium). 5. Releases the enzyme renin that is instrumental in producing the hormone angiotensin II.
An illustration shows two images showing the ureter, urinary bladder, and urethra. The first image is an anterior view of the frontal section of the ureters, bladder, and urethra. The parts labeled are internal urethral sphincter, external urethral sphincter, ureters, urinary bladder, lumen, muscularis layer (detrusor muscle), mucosal layer (transitional epithelium), peritoneum, and adventitia. A pair of narrow ureters connects superiorly to the hollow urinary bladder. A peritoneum is superior to the bladder and holds it in place. The urethra is a tube that connects the inferior bladder to the outside of the body. The bladder’s outermost layer is adventitia, followed by muscularis layer (detrusor muscle) and mucosal layer (transitional epithelium). The large center region is lumen. The internal urethral sphincter is the opening from the bladder to the urethra. The external urethral sphincter is the opening from the urethra to the outside of the body. The left ureter points down to the second image. The second image is a micrograph of a transverse section of a ureter, and the parts labeled are ureters and mucosal layer (transitional epithelium). The mucosal layer is a dark mass that surrounds the center. Text at the bottom of the screen reads: Functions: 1. The ureters transport urine to the urinary bladder. 2. The urinary bladder stores and ejects urine. 3. The urethra is the passageway for discharging urine from the body.
An illustration shows two images showing the ureter, urinary bladder, and urethra. The first image is an anterior view of the frontal section of the ureters, bladder, and urethra. The parts labeled are internal urethral sphincter, external urethral sphincter, ureters, urinary bladder, lumen, muscularis layer (detrusor muscle), mucosal layer (transitional epithelium), peritoneum, and adventitia. A pair of narrow ureters connects superiorly to the hollow urinary bladder.A peritoneum is superior to the bladder and holds it in place. The urethra is a tube that connects the inferior bladder to the outside of the body. The bladder’s outermost layer is adventitia, followed by muscularis layer (detrusor muscle) and mucosal layer (transitional epithelium). The large center region is lumen. The internal urethral sphincter is the opening from the bladder to the urethra. The external urethral sphincter is the opening from the urethra to the outside of the body. The left ureter points down to the second image. The second image is the micrograph of a transverse section of a ureter, and the parts labeled are ureters and mucosal layer (transitional epithelium). The mucosal layer is a dark mass that surrounds the center. Text at the bottom of the screen reads: Functions: 1. The ureters transport urine to the urinary bladder. 2. The urinary bladder stores and ejects urine. 3. The urethra is the passageway for discharging urine from the body.
An illustration shows three images representing the blood supply of the kidneys. The first image is a structure of a nephron in right kidney. The second image is a cross-section of the right kidney. The third image is the path of blood flow. Blood flows from the renal artery into segmental arteries and then into interlobar arteries and into arcuate arteries. Afferent arteriole leads into the glomerulus, and blood from the efferent arteriole leaves the glomerulus and flows through the vasa recta and peritubular capillary to the interlobular veins. Arcuate veins feed into interlobar veins, from which blood exits the kidney at the renal vein. Diagram b is a flowchart showing the path of blood flow through the kidney: renal artery, segmental arteries, interlobar arteries, arcuate arteries, interlobular arteries, afferent arterioles, glomerular capillaries, efferent arterioles, peritubular capillaries and/or vasa recta, interlobular veins, arcuate veins, interlobar veins, segmental veins, and renal vein. Text at the bottom of the screen reads: Functions: The strong flow of blood through the kidney allows the kidneys to remove wastes from the blood and regulate volume and ionic composition of the body fluid.