the urinary system consists of:
- 2 kidneys
- 2 ureters
- bladder
- urethra
where are the kidneys located
- high in the cranio-dorsal abdomen
- just below the spine on either side of the aorta
what is the hilus
- a part of the kidney
- indentation where the major blood vessels exit and enter
- where ureter exits
what is the capsule
- part of the kidney
- thin fibrous outer coating that acts as protection
what is the cortex
- part of the kidney
- outer darker layer of kidney that contains all the infiltration apparatus
what is the medulla
- part of the kidney
- pale inner layer of kidney
- contains collection ducts and tubules
what is the pelvis
- part of kidney
- where urine collects and drains into the ureter to be delivered to bladder
what is the functions of the kidneys
- filters toxin and waste products
- restricts water loss
- maintains homeostasis
- produces hormones
what are nephrons and the 3 parts they’re made up of?
- the functional unit of the kidney
1. glomerulus
2. bowmans capsule
3. tubules & collecting duct
what is in urine
- water
- waste products
- electrolytes (sodium, potassium, phosphate, chloride, hydrogen ions)
what two hormones act on the kidney
- antidiuretic hormone
- aldosterone
what does antidiuretic hormone do
-controls amount of water in body by controlling concentration & volume of urine
what does aldosterone do
- controls levels of sodium and potassium in the blood
- causes the reabsorption of more sodium and water
what is the purpose of the kidneys releasing the hormone erythropoietin
- it stimulates bone marrow to make and release more rbc
what does the ureters do
- once final urine produced, enters into the ureters
- one for each kidney & attached to bladder
- long thin muscular tube & performs peristalsis
- flap valve to prevent back flow
anatomy of the bladder
- thin walled, balloon shape organ
- sits in caudal abdomen
- has band of muscle called urinary sphincter that controls flow of urine
functions to the bladder
- stores urine
- helps expel urine from the body
what is the urethra
- a short wide tuber that opens to the floor of the vagina and transports only urine in females
- in males it’s a long and narrow tube that runs through penis to outside of the body. transports urine and sperm
