THE KIDNEY and the

URINARY SYSTEM

Organ of osmoregulation and excretion

he urinary system
Aorta
Renal
vein

Kidne
y

Renal
artery
Vena
cava

Urete
r
Bladd
er
Ureth
ra

The Kidney
Rena
l
arter
Rena
y
l Vein
Pelvi
s
Urete
r

2008 Paul
Billiet ODWS

Urine

Outer
membrane
Nephrons
(2 million)
Corte
xMedulla
organised in
pyramids

The blood supply

The cortex (view

x100)
Tubule

Malpighian or renal corpuscles

The Malpighian corpuscle

(view x400)
Glomerulus
a ball of
capillaries

Bowmans capsule

Medulla (view x400)

Tubules

Capillaries

2008 Paul
Billiet ODWS

The nephron
In the cortex

In the medulla

2008 Paul
Billiet ODWS

Branch ofnephron
The
Bowmans capsule

renal
artery of
Branch
renal vein
Distil
convoluted
tubule

Glomerulus
Proximal
convoluted
tubule
Capillary

ting duct
Loop of Henl

2008 Paul
Billiet ODWS

Filtration in the
glomerulus
Blood enters the glomerulus from a branch of

the renal artery

This blood is under high pressure
The capillary walls are one cell thick
They are pierced with openings (fenestrations)
The plasma filters though the membrane under
pressure
Proteins do not pass

2008 Paul
Billiet ODWS

Filtration in the
glomerulus

A membrane surrounds each capillary of the

glomerulus
The blood plasma is filtered at about 150
litres per day

Southern Illinois School of Medicine

Filtration in the
glomerulus

Southern Illinois School of Medicine

Auer Lab Life Sci Div Lawrence Berkley National Lab

The filtration membrane is held in place by

specialised podocytes

Plasma
/ mg 100cm-3

Filtrate
/ mg 100cm-3

Urea

0.03

0.03

Glucose

0.10

0.10

Amino acids

0.05

0.05

Salts

0.72

0.72

Proteins

8.00

Component

Blood plasma v
Filtrate

The nephron
functions

ImpermeVariable
Freely
permeable able to permeability
water to water
to water

The nephron
osmoregulation
Active reabsorption
Na+ Na+ Na+

H2O Passive
H2O
Ultrafiltrat osmosi
s
of
ion under 80%
water
pressure
reabsorbe
d
ImpermeVariable
Freely
permeable able to permeability to
water
water
to water

H2O

C
oll
ec
ti
n
g
d
uc
t
H2O

H2O

H2O

H2O

H2O

nephron
oregulation

H2O
H2O

Loop
of
Henl

Na+
Na+
Na
+

ImpermeVariable
Freely
permeable able to permeability
water to water
to water

or
e
a
n
d
m
or
e
sa
lt
y

The nephron
osmoregulation

The blood concentration is monitored by

osmoreceptors in the hypothalamus

If the concentration rises the hypothalamus

releases ADH

ADH makes the collecting duct walls more

permeable

More water is reabsorbed from the filtrate as

the ducts pass through the salty tissues of the
medulla

The nephron
osmoregulation

The urine released into the pelvis is more or

less concentrated depending upon the blood
concentration

Excessive sweating and eating salty food will

produce concentrated urine

Drinking and cold weather will produce dilute

urine

Component

Filtrate
/ mg 100cm-3

Urine
/ mg 100cm-3

Kidney reabsorption
Urea

0.03

2.00

Glucose

0.10

Amino acids

0.05

Salts

0.72

1.50

Proteins

Reabsorption
Microvilli on cuboidal
epithelial cells

Kidney tubule with brush border

Dr Millet USC Med schooll

The proximal tubules

reabsorb:
80% of water
All of the glucose
All of the amino acids
Blood pH is regulated
Blood salt levels are regulated
Urea is left behind and even secreted into the
tubules
Reabsorbed molecules pass into the
surrounding capillaries

Two types of nephron

Cortical nephrons

~85% of all nephrons

Located in the cortex

Juxtamedullary
nephrons

Closer to renal medulla

Loops of Henle extend
deep into renal
pyramids

Nephron

Proximal convoluted tubule

(PCT)
Actively reabsorbs nutrients,
plasma proteins and ions from
filtrate
Released into peritubular fluid

Loop of Henle
Descending limb
Ascending limb
Each limb has a thick and thin
section

Nephron

Distal convoluted
tubule (DCT)

Actively secretes

ions, toxins, drugs

Reabsorbs sodium
ions from tubular
fluid

Collecting Tubules (Collecting ducts)

Collecting tubules - Receive urine from distal

convoluted tubules

Figure 23.8

Uriniferous Tubule

Figure 23.5a

Types Of Capillary Beds In Nephron

Glomerulus - Fed and drained

by afferent and efferent
arterioles
Peritubular capillaries

Arise from efferent arterioles

Low-pressure, porous capillaries
Absorb solutes

Vasa recta

Thin-walled looping vessels

Part of the kidneys urineconcentrating mechanism

Microscopic Anatomy of the Kidney

Juxtaglomerular apparatus
Functions in the regulation of blood pressure
Juxtaglomerular cells secrete renin
Macula densa
A portion of distal convoluted tubule
Tall, closely packed epithelial cells
Act as chemoreceptors

Summary of Nephron Function

Each segment of nephron

and collecting system
contribute

Glomerulus
PCT
Descending limb
Thick ascending limb
DCT and collecting ducts

Concentrated urine
produced after considerable
modification of filtrate

Urine Excretion

Leaves Collecting System

Enters renal pelvis
Rest of urinary system transports, stores
and eliminates

Ureters
Bladder
Urethra

The Ureters

Pair of muscular tubes

Extend from renal pelvis to the bladder
Peristaltic contractions force urine from the kidneys to the
urinary bladder
Oblique entry into bladder prevents backflow of urine

Histology of Ureter

Mucosa transitional
epithelium
Muscularis two layers

Inner longitudinal layer

Outer circular layer

Adventitia typical
connective tissue

Urinary Bladder

A collapsible muscular sac

Stores and expels urine

Full bladder spherical

Expands into the
abdominal cavity

Empty bladder lies

entirely within the pelvis

Figure 23.13

Urinary Bladder

Wall of bladder

Mucosa - transitional epithelium

Muscular layer - detrusor muscle
Adventitia

The urethra

Extends from the urinary bladder to the exterior of the body

Passes through urogenital diaphragm (external urinary sphincter)

Differs in length and function in males and females

Internal urethral sphincter - involuntary smooth muscle
External urethral sphincter - voluntarily inhibits urination, relaxes when one
urinates

Urinary Bladder and Urethra - Male

Males 20 cm in length
Three named regions

Prostatic urethra - passes

through the prostate

gland
Membranous urethra through the urogenital
diaphragm
Spongy (penile) urethra
passes through the length
of the penis

Figure 23.16a

Urinary Bladder and Urethra - Female

In females - length of 34 cm
The smooth triangular region of the base is is called the
trigone - many bladder infections persist in this region

Urethra

Epithelium of urethra
Transitional epithelium at the proximal end
(near the bladder)
Stratified and pseudostratified columnar
mid urethra (in males)
Stratified squamous epithelium at the distal
end (near the urethral opening)

Micturition

Bladder can hold 250 - 400ml

Greater volumes stretch
bladder walls initiates
micturation reflex:
Urination coordinated by
micturition reflex
Initiated by stretch receptors in

wall of bladder
Urination requires coupling
micturition reflex with relaxation
of external urethral sphincter

Blood Flow Through the Kidney