The urinary system consists of the kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra and is responsible for the important bodily function of soluble waste production, storage and elimination.

The waste substances are produced in the kidney as blood filtrates, transported via the ureters to the bladder where it is stored and eventually eliminated through the urethra. This process also results in the salvaging of large amounts of water, sugars and ions from the blood filtrate which are returned to the blood. In addition, the kidneys play a role in controlling systemic blood pressure by the secretion of renin.

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize and distinguish the various regions of the urinary system.
• Understand the blood supply and significance of blood flow within the kidney.
• Understand the structural and functional organization of the kidney and its nephrons.
• Understand the structural basis and physiological basis of blood filtration in nephrons.
• Distinguish the different regions of a nephron and their functional significance

What are the driving forces that cause fluid to move from the capillary to Bowman’s space?

The dialysis tubing in a kidney dialysis machine is analogous to what part of the renal corpuscle?

The basic structure of the kidney.