Anatomy And Physiology

Urine Formation and Seperation: Glomerular Filteration: produces cell and protien free filtrate (blood plasma without protiens) Tublar Reabsorption:   Returns 99% of substances from filtrateto blood by the renal tubules and collecting duct Secretion: Moves substances from blood to filterate in renal tubules and collecting ducts  Excretion: process of seperating wastes from wastes from body fluids and taking them away The antidiuretic hormone (ADH) regulates urine volume and concentration

Ureters: Tube like structures that connect the kidneys with the urinary bladder 25-30 cm long and 3-4 mm wide Paired with kidneys (1 ureter with 1 kidney) Lined with transitional epithelium and smooth muscle Transports urine from kidneys to urinary bladder Urinary Bladder: A hollow, stretchy, muscular organ  Collects urine Lined with transitional epithelium and smooth muscle  Urine leaves the bladder by the internal urethral sphincter into the urethra Urethra: Tube that connects the urinary bladder to the external urethral orifice  In males the urethra is approximately 20 cm long and in women it is 4.8 cm long In males it carries semen and urine while in women it only carries urine  Also lined with transitional epithelium and smooth muscle 

UTI(Urinary Tract Infection) - A common disorder; includes cystitis and urethritis; more common in women than men because of differences in anatomy; symptoms include painful urination (burning sensation), frequent urination (even if no urine present) and bloody or brown urine Cystitis - Infection of the bladder Urethritis - Infection of the urethra Pyelonephritis - Infection of the kidney(s); causes can be an infection from elsewhere in the body or obstruction of the prostate gland (usually in older men); for children, the infection can be caused by the tube that drains urine from the kidneys and the bladder. Kidney Stones - Chemicals in the urine that precipitate out and form crystals; recurrent urinary bladder infections, insufficient water intake and consumption, low levels of physical activity, and too much Vitamin C and D intake can cause kidney stones to form

The function of the nephron is to separate water, ions, and small molecules from the blood, filter out toxins and wastes, and return needed molecules to the blood. The nephron functions through ultrafiltration. Each nephron consists of one main interlobular artery feeding a single renal tubule.  The cells in each nephron are arranged so that the most concentrated cells are at the bottom of the nephron, while the cells at the top are less concentrated.

The function of the kidney is to help the body pass waste as urine. Kidneys also help filter blood before sending it back to the heart. The kidneys are a pair of bean-shaped, brown organs about the size of your fist. They are covered by the renal capsule, which is a tough capsule of fibrous connective tissue.  The renal cortex is a space between the medulla and the outer capsule. The renal medulla contains the majority of the length of nephrons, the main functional component of the kidney that filters fluid from blood.