Urinary System Structures

Figure 15.1a  Organs of the urinary system. (a) Anterior view of urinary organs of a female (most unrelated abdominal organs have been removed).

Rectum (cut)Uterus (part of femalereproductive system)

(a)

Figure 15.1a  Organs of the urinary system. (a) Anterior view of urinary organs of a female (most unrelated abdominal organs have been removed).

Inferior vena cavaAdrenal gland

Hepatic veins (cut)

Renal arteryRenal hilumRenal vein

Iliac crest

KidneyUreter

Urinary bladderUrethra

Aorta

Rectum (cut)Uterus (part of femalereproductive system)

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Figure 15.2b  Internal anatomy of the kidney. (b) Diagrammatic view of a coronally sectioned kidney, illustrating major blood vessels.

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Figure 15.2b  Internal anatomy of the kidney. (b) Diagrammatic view of a coronally sectioned kidney, illustrating major blood vessels.

Cortical radiate vein

Renalpyramid

Minor calyx

Renal column

Fibrous capsule

Renal cortex

Cortical radiate arteryArcuate veinArcuate arteryInterlobar veinInterlobar artery

Segmental arteries

Renal arteryRenal veinRenal pelvisMajor calyxUreter

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Figure 15.3  Structure of the nephron.

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Figure 15.3a  Structure of the nephron.

CortexMedulla

Renal pelvis

Renalcortex

Renalmedulla

Ureter

Corticalnephron Fibrous capsule

Collectingduct

Proximalconvoluted tubuleGlomerulusDistalconvoluted tubule

Juxtamedullarynephron

Loopof Henle

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Figure 15.3b  Structure of the nephron. (b) Detailed anatomy of a nephron and its associated blood supply.

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Figure 15.3b  Structure of the nephron. (b) Detailed anatomy of a nephron and its associated blood supply.

Distalconvolutedtubule(DCT)

Peritubularcapillaries

Proximal convolutedtubule (PCT)

Glomerular capillaries

Glomerular(Bowman’s) capsule

Efferent arterioleAfferent arteriole

Cells of thejuxtaglomerularapparatus

Cortical radiate arteryArcuate artery

Cortical radiatevein

Arcuatevein

Loop of HenleCollecting duct

(b)

Figure 15.4  The kidney depicted schematically as a single large, uncoiled nephron.

Urine

KEY:

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Figure 15.4  The kidney depicted schematically as a single large, uncoiled nephron.

Corticalradiatearteries

Afferent arteriolesGlomerularcapillariesEfferentarterioles

GlomerularcapsuleRest ofrenaltubule

Peritubularcapillaries

To corticalradiate veins

Urine

KEY:Glomerular Filtration: Water and solutes smaller than proteins are forced through the capillary walls and pores of the glomerularcapsule into the renal tubule.

Tubular Reabsorption: Water, glucose, amino acids, and needed ions are transported out of the filtrate into the tubule cells and thenenter the capillary blood.

Tubular Secretion: H+, K+, creatinine, and drugs are removed from the peritubular blood and secreted by the tubule cells into the filtrate.

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