Urinary system – consists of the paired kidneys and  Loop of Henle (or nephron loop), in the medulla,

ureters, the bladder, and the urethra. with a thin descending and a thin ascending limb;
Kidney – Produces urine, renin and
Ureter – transport urine toward the urinary bladder  Distal tubule, consisting of a thick straight part
Urinary bladder – temporarily stores urine prior to ascending from the loop of Henle back into the
elimination cortex and a convoluted part
Urethra – conducts urine to exterior  Completely in the cortex
Adrenal Gland – (Aldosterror)  The collecting tubule is not part of the nephron.

1. Kidneys The renal corpuscle consists of a tuft of capillaries,

The parenchyma of each kidney has: called the glomerulus, surrounded by a double layer of
 An outer renal cortex, a darker stained region with epithelial cells, called the glomerular (Bowman's)
many round corpuscles and tubule cross sections, capsule. The inner or visceral layer of the capsule
and; consists of unique and highly modified branching
 An inner renal medulla consisting of mostly of epithelial cells, called podocytes. The podocytes are
aligned linear tubules and ducts. adjacent to and completely invest the glomerular
capillaries. The outer or parietal layer of the glomerular
 the renal medulla in humans consists of 8-15 conical capsule consists of simple squamous epithelium.
structures called renal pyramids, all with their bases
meeting the cortex (at the corticomedullary junction) The Juxtaglomerular apparatus
and separated from each other by extensions of the  A specialized structure formed by the distal
cortex called renal columns. convoluted tubule and the glomerular afferent
 each pyramid plus the cortical tissue at its base and arteriole. It is located near the vascular pole of the
extending along its sides constitutes a renal lobe. - glomerulus and its main function is to regulate blood
parallel ducts and tubules extending from the pressure and the filtration rate of the glomerulus.
medulla into the cortex comprise the medullary rays;
 the tip of each pyramid, called the renal papilla,
projects into a minor calyx that collects urine formed 2. URETER and URINARY BLADDER
by tubules in one renal lobe. The mucosa of these organs is lined by the uniquely
stratified urothelium or transitional epithelium
Cells of this epithelium are organized as three layers:
o Each kidney is bean shaped, with concave hilum  A single layer of small basal cells resting on a very
where the ureter and the renal artery and vein enter. thin basement membrane;
The ureter divides and subdivides into several major  An intermediate region containing from one to
and minor calyces, around which is located the several layers of cuboidal or low columnar cells; and
renal sinus containing adipose tissue.  A superficial layer of large bulbous or elliptical
umbrella cells, sometimes binucleated, which are
o Attached to each minor calyx is a renal pyramid, a highly differentiated to protect the underlying cells
conical region of medulla delimited by extensions of against the potentially cytotoxic effects of
cortex. The cortex and hilum are covered in fibrous hypertonic urine.
capsule.
The bladder's lamina propria and dense irregular
connective tissue of the submucosa are highly
Kidneys each contain 1-4 million functional units vascularized. The bladder in an average adult can hold
(parenchyma) called nephrons or uriniferous tubules. 400-600 mL of urine, with the urge to empty appearing
at about 150-200 mL. The muscularis consists of three
The major divisions of each nephron are: poorly delineated layers, collectively called the detrusor
 Renal corpuscle, an initial dilated part enclosing a muscle, which contract to empty the bladder this consists
tuft of capillary loops and the site of blood filtration; of three muscular layers. The thick muscularis of the
always located in the cortex; ureters moves urine toward the bladder by peristaltic
 Proximal tubule, a long convoluted part, located contractions and produces prominent mucosal folds
entirely in the cortex, with a shorter straight part that when the lumen is empty.
enters the medulla;
  The kidneys help maintain the acid-base balance by
excreting hydrogen ions into the urine and
reabsorbing bicarbonate from the urine.
ii. Steps of Renin Production of Kidney
(Secretory Function of Kidneys)
The Renin-Angiotensin System and Blood Pressure
Control

 The renin-angiotensin system or RAS regulates

blood pressure and fluid balance in the body. When
blood volume or sodium levels in the body are low,
or blood potassium is high, cells in the kidney
release the enzyme, renin.
 Renin converts angiotensinogen, which is produced
in the liver, to the hormone angiotensin I. An
enzyme known as ACE or angiotensin-converting
enzyme found in the lungs metabolizes angiotensin
I into angiotensin II. Angiotensin II causes blood
vessels to constrict and blood pressure to increase.
 Angiotensin II stimulates the release of the
Bladder – the urinary bladder is lined with transitional hormone aldosterone in the adrenal glands, which
epithelium underlined by a collagenous lamina propria. causes the renal tubules to retain sodium and water
A submucosa of elastic fiber and a muscular layer of and excrete potassium.
three coats of smooth muscle permit expansion of the  Together, angiotensin II and aldosterone work to
structure. raise blood volume, blood pressure and sodium
levels in the blood to restore the balance of sodium,
i. Fluid Balance in the Body (Regulatory potassium, and fluids. If the renin-angiotensin
Function of Kidneys) system becomes overactive, consistently high blood
pressure results.
 Fluid balance is an aspect of homeostasis in human
body in which the amount of water needs to be
controlled, through osmoregulation and behavior,
such that the concentrations of electrolytes (salts in
solution) in the various body fluids are kept within
healthy ranges.
iii. Excretory function of kidneys