Urinary System Checklist

HUMAN URINARY SYSTEM CHECKLIST

Note: This checklist is to be used as a guide in studying the anatomy and physiology of the urinary system, and is by no means a complete list of all urinary system structures.

1. KIDNEY- note the retroperitoneal location in the abdominal cavity.

2. RENAL HILUS- indentation on the central medial surface of kidney.

3. RENAL CAPSULE- thin, fibrous covering.

4. ADIPOSE CAPSULE-

A coronal section of the kidney reveals the following:

1. RENAL CORTEX- outer layer.

2. RENAL MEDULLA- inner region, deep to the cortex.

3. RENAL PYRAMIDS- "triangular" structures in the medulla.

4. RENAL PAPILLA- apex of each pyramid.

5. RENAL COLUMN- cortical tissue separating the pyramids.

6. RENAL PELVIS- enlarged proximal portion of the ureter.

7. RENAL CALYCES (CALYX sing.)- branches of the pelvis.

a. MAJOR CALYCES- 2 or 3 direct extensions of the renal pelvis.

b. MINOR CALYCES- 7 to 13 cup-like extensions of the major calyces.

The functional urine-forming unit of the kidney is the NEPHRON:

1. BOWMAN'S CAPSULE- "double walled, cup-like" structure.

2. GLOMERULUS- capillary network.

3. RENAL CORPUSCLE- Bowman's capsule plus the glomerulus.

4. PROXIMAL CONVOLUTED TUBULE- located in the cortex.

5. LOOP OF HENLE- extends off of the proximal convoluted tubule.

a. DESCENDING LIMB-

b. ASCENDING LIMB-

6. DISTAL CONVOLUTED TUBULE- located in the cortex.

7. COLLECTING DUCT- receives filtrate from several DCTs.

8. PAPILLARY DUCT- terminal ends of the collecting ducts that form the renal papillae and that empty urine into the minor calyces.

9. CORTICAL NEPHRONS- nephrons where the loop of Henle is "short" and extends only slightly or not at all into the medulla. About 80% of all nephrons are of this type.

10. JUXTAMEDULLARY NEPHRONS- nephrons where the loop of Henle extends well into the renal medulla; about 20% of the nephrons in the kidney are of this type.

Blood supply to the nephron:

1. RENAL ARTERY-

2. INTERLOBAR ARTERY- passes between the pyramids.

3. ARCUATE ARTERY-

4. INTERLOBULAR ARTERY- travels through the cortex region.

5. AFFERENT ARTERIOLE-

6. GLOMERULUS-

7. EFFERENT ARTERIOLE-

8. PERITUBULAR CAPILLARIES- surround the portions of the nephron tubule in the cortex.

9. VASA RECTA- capillaries that surround the loops of Henle and collecting ducts in the renal medulla.

10. INTERLOBULAR VEIN- formed by the merging peritubular capillaries and vasa recta.

11. ARCUATE VEIN-

12. INTERLOBAR VEIN-

13. RENAL VEIN-

Urinary bladder and associated structures:

1. URINARY BLADDER

a. fundus- "dome-like" portion

b. body- central portion

c. neck- inferior, constricted portion

2. TRIGONE- smooth, triangular area within the urinary bladder.

a. openings to the ureters.

b. opening to the urethra.

3. RUGAE-

4. DETRUSOR MUSCLE- the smooth muscle of the urinary bladder.

5. URETERS-

6. INTERNAL URETHRAL SPHINCTER- smooth muscle sphincter located at the urethral opening where the urethra attaches to the urinary bladder.

7. EXTERNAL URETHRAL SPHINCTER- skeletal muscle that is part of the urogenital diaphragm; located 1-3 cm below the internal urethral sphincter.

8. URETHRA-

9. URETHRAL ORIFICE-

Other things to know:

1. JUXTAGLOMERULAR (JG) APPARATUS- this is usually considered to be the special region of cells where the distal convoluted tubule of the nephron contacts the afferent arteriole.

2. ADRENAL GLAND

CAT URINARY SYSTEM

1. KIDNEYS
2. ADIPOSE CAPSULE
3. ADRENAL GLANDS
4. RENAL HILUS
5. RENAL ARTERY
6. RENAL VEIN
7. URETERS
8. RENAL CAPSULE
9. URINARY BLADDER- look for: fundus, body, neck, rugae.
10. URETHRA
11. UROGENITAL ORIFICE
12. UROGENITAL SINUS- (female cat only)

SHEEP AND PIG KIDNEY

Note: "(both)" means that you can see these on the adult sheep and adult pig kidneys.

1. RENAL CORTEX (both)
2. RENAL MEDULLA (both)
3. RENAL HILUS (both)
4. URETER (both)
5. RENAL ARTERY AND VEIN (pig)
6. INTERLOBAR ARTERY AND VEIN (pig)
7. ARCUATE ARTERY AND VEIN (pig)
8. INTERLOBULAR ARTERY AND VEIN (pig)
9. RENAL CAPSULE (sheep)
10. RENAL PELVIS (both)
11. RENAL CALYX (pig)
12. RENAL COLUMN (pig)
13. RENAL PYRAMID (pig)
14. RENAL PAPILLA (pig)

Last Updated 01/02/07