The urinary tract is located in the abdomen and pelvis Pelvis The pelvis consists of the bony pelvic girdle, the muscular and ligamentous pelvic floor, and the pelvic cavity, which contains viscera, vessels, and multiple nerves and muscles. The pelvic girdle, composed of 2 "hip" bones and the sacrum, is a ring-like bony structure of the axial skeleton that links the vertebral column with the lower extremities. Pelvis: Anatomy and consists of the kidneys Kidneys The kidneys are a pair of bean-shaped organs located retroperitoneally against the posterior wall of the abdomen on either side of the spine. As part of the urinary tract, the kidneys are responsible for blood filtration and excretion of water-soluble waste in the urine. Kidneys: Anatomy, ureters, urinary bladder Bladder A musculomembranous sac along the urinary tract. Urine flows from the kidneys into the bladder via the ureters, and is held there until urination. Pyelonephritis and Perinephric Abscess, and urethra. The structures permit the excretion of urine Urine Liquid by-product of excretion produced in the kidneys, temporarily stored in the bladder until discharge through the urethra. Bowen Disease and Erythroplasia of Queyrat from the body. Urine Urine Liquid by-product of excretion produced in the kidneys, temporarily stored in the bladder until discharge through the urethra. Bowen Disease and Erythroplasia of Queyrat flows from the kidneys Kidneys The kidneys are a pair of bean-shaped organs located retroperitoneally against the posterior wall of the abdomen on either side of the spine. As part of the urinary tract, the kidneys are responsible for blood filtration and excretion of water-soluble waste in the urine. Kidneys: Anatomy through the ureters to the urinary bladder Bladder A musculomembranous sac along the urinary tract. Urine flows from the kidneys into the bladder via the ureters, and is held there until urination. Pyelonephritis and Perinephric Abscess and out through the urethra. The bladder Bladder A musculomembranous sac along the urinary tract. Urine flows from the kidneys into the bladder via the ureters, and is held there until urination. Pyelonephritis and Perinephric Abscess acts as a reservoir Reservoir Animate or inanimate sources which normally harbor disease-causing organisms and thus serve as potential sources of disease outbreaks. Reservoirs are distinguished from vectors (disease vectors) and carriers, which are agents of disease transmission rather than continuing sources of potential disease outbreaks. Humans may serve both as disease reservoirs and carriers. Escherichia coli for urine Urine Liquid by-product of excretion produced in the kidneys, temporarily stored in the bladder until discharge through the urethra. Bowen Disease and Erythroplasia of Queyrat until micturition is appropriate. Regulation of micturition relies on the CNS and the spinal cord Spinal cord The spinal cord is the major conduction pathway connecting the brain to the body; it is part of the CNS. In cross section, the spinal cord is divided into an H-shaped area of gray matter (consisting of synapsing neuronal cell bodies) and a surrounding area of white matter (consisting of ascending and descending tracts of myelinated axons). Spinal Cord: Anatomy.
Last updated: 9 Mar, 2022
Kidneys Kidneys The kidneys are a pair of bean-shaped organs located retroperitoneally against the posterior wall of the abdomen on either side of the spine. As part of the urinary tract, the kidneys are responsible for blood filtration and excretion of water-soluble waste in the urine. Kidneys: Anatomy go through 3 embryologic stages:
Stages of renal development:
pronephros
Pronephros
The primordial kidney that develops from the intermediate mesoderm in the embryos of vertebrates, and is succeeded by the mesonephros. In higher vertebrates and humans, the pronephros is a vestigial and transient structure.
Development of the Urogenital System,
mesonephros
Mesonephros
One of a pair of excretory organs (mesonephroi) which grows caudally to the first pair (pronephroi) during development. Mesonephroi are the permanent kidneys in adult amphibians and fish. In higher vertebrates, proneprhoi and most of mesonephroi degenerate with the appearance of metanephroi. The remaining ducts become wolffian ducts.
Development of the Urogenital System and
metanephros
Metanephros
Development of the Urogenital System
By the 3rd week, the
pronephros
Pronephros
The primordial kidney that develops from the intermediate mesoderm in the embryos of vertebrates, and is succeeded by the mesonephros. In higher vertebrates and humans, the pronephros is a vestigial and transient structure.
Development of the Urogenital System, a segmented structure made out of a duct with a series of tubules branching off toward the midline of the
embryo
Embryo
The entity of a developing mammal, generally from the cleavage of a zygote to the end of embryonic differentiation of basic structures. For the human embryo, this represents the first two months of intrauterine development preceding the stages of the fetus.
Fertilization and First Week (1 on each side), is formed. The
pronephros
Pronephros
The primordial kidney that develops from the intermediate mesoderm in the embryos of vertebrates, and is succeeded by the mesonephros. In higher vertebrates and humans, the pronephros is a vestigial and transient structure.
Development of the Urogenital System does not develop beyond a rudimentary state and undergoes
regression
Regression
Corneal Abrasions, Erosion, and Ulcers. Caudal to the
pronephros
Pronephros
The primordial kidney that develops from the intermediate mesoderm in the embryos of vertebrates, and is succeeded by the mesonephros. In higher vertebrates and humans, the pronephros is a vestigial and transient structure.
Development of the Urogenital System (in the thoracic and lumbar area), the
mesonephros
Mesonephros
One of a pair of excretory organs (mesonephroi) which grows caudally to the first pair (pronephroi) during development. Mesonephroi are the permanent kidneys in adult amphibians and fish. In higher vertebrates, proneprhoi and most of mesonephroi degenerate with the appearance of metanephroi. The remaining ducts become wolffian ducts.
Development of the Urogenital System (a tubular structure) begins to form by the 4th week, while the
pronephros
Pronephros
The primordial kidney that develops from the intermediate mesoderm in the embryos of vertebrates, and is succeeded by the mesonephros. In higher vertebrates and humans, the pronephros is a vestigial and transient structure.
Development of the Urogenital System is still regressing. The
mesonephros
Mesonephros
One of a pair of excretory organs (mesonephroi) which grows caudally to the first pair (pronephroi) during development. Mesonephroi are the permanent kidneys in adult amphibians and fish. In higher vertebrates, proneprhoi and most of mesonephroi degenerate with the appearance of metanephroi. The remaining ducts become wolffian ducts.
Development of the Urogenital System is an elongated organ, connected to the pronephric duct via the
mesonephric duct
Mesonephric duct
A pair of excretory ducts of the middle kidneys of an embryo, also called mesonephric ducts. In higher vertebrates, wolffian ducts persist in the male forming vas deferens, but atrophy into vestigial structures in the female.
Kidneys: Anatomy. Caudally, it continues as the mesonephric (wolffian) duct and connects to the
cloaca
Cloaca
A dilated cavity extended caudally from the hindgut. In adult birds, reptiles, amphibians, and many fishes but few mammals, cloaca is a common chamber into which the digestive, urinary and reproductive tracts discharge their contents. In most mammals, cloaca gives rise to large intestine; urinary bladder; and genitalia.
Development of the Abdominal Organs. The
mesonephros
Mesonephros
One of a pair of excretory organs (mesonephroi) which grows caudally to the first pair (pronephroi) during development. Mesonephroi are the permanent kidneys in adult amphibians and fish. In higher vertebrates, proneprhoi and most of mesonephroi degenerate with the appearance of metanephroi. The remaining ducts become wolffian ducts.
Development of the Urogenital System also eventually regresses. A few tubules remain, later becoming the
efferent
Efferent
Neurons which send impulses peripherally to activate muscles or secretory cells.
Nervous System: Histology ducts of the
epididymis
Epididymis
The convoluted cordlike structure attached to the posterior of the testis. Epididymis consists of the head (caput), the body (corpus), and the tail (cauda). A network of ducts leaving the testis joins into a common epididymal tubule proper which provides the transport, storage, and maturation of spermatozoa.
Testicles: Anatomy in men. The ureteric bud develops from the duct. The
metanephros
Metanephros
Development of the Urogenital System, the urine-producing organ, forms by the 5th week, with the ureteric bud meeting the
metanephric blastema
Metanephric blastema
Wilms Tumor.
Ascent of the kidneys Kidneys The kidneys are a pair of bean-shaped organs located retroperitoneally against the posterior wall of the abdomen on either side of the spine. As part of the urinary tract, the kidneys are responsible for blood filtration and excretion of water-soluble waste in the urine. Kidneys: Anatomy and development of the structures of the urinary tract
Image by Lecturio.Development of the kidney and
bladder
Bladder
A musculomembranous sac along the urinary tract. Urine flows from the kidneys into the bladder via the ureters, and is held there until urination.
Pyelonephritis and Perinephric Abscess
A: The
metanephros
Metanephros
Development of the Urogenital System forms by the 5th week, with the ureteric bud meeting the
metanephric blastema
Metanephric blastema
Wilms Tumor, and the
mesonephros
Mesonephros
One of a pair of excretory organs (mesonephroi) which grows caudally to the first pair (pronephroi) during development. Mesonephroi are the permanent kidneys in adult amphibians and fish. In higher vertebrates, proneprhoi and most of mesonephroi degenerate with the appearance of metanephroi. The remaining ducts become wolffian ducts.
Development of the Urogenital System regresses.
B: The
mesonephric duct
Mesonephric duct
A pair of excretory ducts of the middle kidneys of an embryo, also called mesonephric ducts. In higher vertebrates, wolffian ducts persist in the male forming vas deferens, but atrophy into vestigial structures in the female.
Kidneys: Anatomy fuses with the
cloaca
Cloaca
A dilated cavity extended caudally from the hindgut. In adult birds, reptiles, amphibians, and many fishes but few mammals, cloaca is a common chamber into which the digestive, urinary and reproductive tracts discharge their contents. In most mammals, cloaca gives rise to large intestine; urinary bladder; and genitalia.
Development of the Abdominal Organs, with a portion of the duct becoming part of the posterior
bladder
Bladder
A musculomembranous sac along the urinary tract. Urine flows from the kidneys into the bladder via the ureters, and is held there until urination.
Pyelonephritis and Perinephric Abscess. During gestational week 7, the
cloaca
Cloaca
A dilated cavity extended caudally from the hindgut. In adult birds, reptiles, amphibians, and many fishes but few mammals, cloaca is a common chamber into which the digestive, urinary and reproductive tracts discharge their contents. In most mammals, cloaca gives rise to large intestine; urinary bladder; and genitalia.
Development of the Abdominal Organs is divided by the urogenital membrane/septum into ventral (
urogenital sinus
Urogenital Sinus
Congenital Malformations of the Female Reproductive System) and dorsal (
rectum
Rectum
The rectum and anal canal are the most terminal parts of the lower GI tract/large intestine that form a functional unit and control defecation. Fecal continence is maintained by several important anatomic structures including rectal folds, anal valves, the sling-like puborectalis muscle, and internal and external anal sphincters.
Rectum and Anal Canal: Anatomy) components. The
urogenital sinus
Urogenital Sinus
Congenital Malformations of the Female Reproductive System gives rise to the
bladder
Bladder
A musculomembranous sac along the urinary tract. Urine flows from the kidneys into the bladder via the ureters, and is held there until urination.
Pyelonephritis and Perinephric Abscess (cranially) and the urethra (caudally).
Description:
Function:
The function of the ureters is to transport urine Urine Liquid by-product of excretion produced in the kidneys, temporarily stored in the bladder until discharge through the urethra. Bowen Disease and Erythroplasia of Queyrat from the renal pelvis Renal pelvis Kidneys: Anatomy to the urinary bladder Bladder A musculomembranous sac along the urinary tract. Urine flows from the kidneys into the bladder via the ureters, and is held there until urination. Pyelonephritis and Perinephric Abscess.
Route of ureters:
3 sites of narrowing:
Vasculature and lymphatic drainage:
Innervation:
Diagram of the gross anatomy of the urinary system, showing the kidney, renal pelvis Renal pelvis Kidneys: Anatomy, ureter, urinary bladder Bladder A musculomembranous sac along the urinary tract. Urine flows from the kidneys into the bladder via the ureters, and is held there until urination. Pyelonephritis and Perinephric Abscess, and urethra.
Image: “Illu urinary system” by Arcadian. License: Public DomainUreteral wall structure from the lumen toward the outside:
Cross-sectional histologic view of the ureter:
Various tissue types within the ureter are illustrated. Note the outermost adventitial layer, deep to which are found the muscular layer,
loose connective tissue
Loose connective tissue
Connective Tissue: Histology, and interior lumen lined with urothelium.
Description:
Parts:
Spatial relations:
Peritoneal spaces within the female pelvis Pelvis The pelvis consists of the bony pelvic girdle, the muscular and ligamentous pelvic floor, and the pelvic cavity, which contains viscera, vessels, and multiple nerves and muscles. The pelvic girdle, composed of 2 “hip” bones and the sacrum, is a ring-like bony structure of the axial skeleton that links the vertebral column with the lower extremities. Pelvis: Anatomy:
In the female pelvis Pelvis The pelvis consists of the bony pelvic girdle, the muscular and ligamentous pelvic floor, and the pelvic cavity, which contains viscera, vessels, and multiple nerves and muscles. The pelvic girdle, composed of 2 “hip” bones and the sacrum, is a ring-like bony structure of the axial skeleton that links the vertebral column with the lower extremities. Pelvis: Anatomy, note the bladder Bladder A musculomembranous sac along the urinary tract. Urine flows from the kidneys into the bladder via the ureters, and is held there until urination. Pyelonephritis and Perinephric Abscess’s close proximity to the anterior vaginal wall. Also note the difference in urethral length of the female urethra. This shorter length (compared to the male urethra) and proximity to the vaginal opening, increases the possibility of infection.
Image by BioDigital, edited by LecturioPeritoneal spaces within the male
pelvis
Pelvis
The pelvis consists of the bony pelvic girdle, the muscular and ligamentous pelvic floor, and the pelvic cavity, which contains viscera, vessels, and multiple nerves and muscles. The pelvic girdle, composed of 2 “hip” bones and the sacrum, is a ring-like bony structure of the axial skeleton that links the vertebral column with the lower extremities.
Pelvis: Anatomy:
In the male
pelvis
Pelvis
The pelvis consists of the bony pelvic girdle, the muscular and ligamentous pelvic floor, and the pelvic cavity, which contains viscera, vessels, and multiple nerves and muscles. The pelvic girdle, composed of 2 “hip” bones and the sacrum, is a ring-like bony structure of the axial skeleton that links the vertebral column with the lower extremities.
Pelvis: Anatomy, note the
bladder
Bladder
A musculomembranous sac along the urinary tract. Urine flows from the kidneys into the bladder via the ureters, and is held there until urination.
Pyelonephritis and Perinephric Abscess’s close proximity to the
rectum
Rectum
The rectum and anal canal are the most terminal parts of the lower GI tract/large intestine that form a functional unit and control defecation. Fecal continence is maintained by several important anatomic structures including rectal folds, anal valves, the sling-like puborectalis muscle, and internal and external anal sphincters.
Rectum and Anal Canal: Anatomy.
Vasculature and lymphatic drainage:
Innervation:
Microscopic description of the wall structure (from the lumen toward the outside):
Coronal
Coronal
Computed Tomography (CT) cross section of the
bladder
Bladder
A musculomembranous sac along the urinary tract. Urine flows from the kidneys into the bladder via the ureters, and is held there until urination.
Pyelonephritis and Perinephric Abscess:
The magnified histologic section (b) illustrates the innermost
transitional epithelium
Transitional epithelium
Surface Epithelium: Histology,
lamina propria
Lamina propria
Whipple’s Disease, and submucosa.
Transitional epithelium Transitional epithelium Surface Epithelium: Histology found in the urinary bladder Bladder A musculomembranous sac along the urinary tract. Urine flows from the kidneys into the bladder via the ureters, and is held there until urination. Pyelonephritis and Perinephric Abscess
Image: “urinary bladder Bladder A musculomembranous sac along the urinary tract. Urine flows from the kidneys into the bladder via the ureters, and is held there until urination. Pyelonephritis and Perinephric Abscess, urothelium, haemalum-eosin stain” by Polarlys. License: CC BY 2.5Description:
Structure segments:
The male urethra extends from the internal urethral orifice in the bladder Bladder A musculomembranous sac along the urinary tract. Urine flows from the kidneys into the bladder via the ureters, and is held there until urination. Pyelonephritis and Perinephric Abscess neck Neck The part of a human or animal body connecting the head to the rest of the body. Peritonsillar Abscess to the external urethral orifice of the penile glans and receives the ejaculatory ducts Ejaculatory Ducts Paired ducts in the human male through which semen is ejaculated into the urethra. and the prostatic ducts Prostatic ducts .
Image: “ Benign Benign Fibroadenoma prostatic hyperplasia Hyperplasia An increase in the number of cells in a tissue or organ without tumor formation. It differs from hypertrophy, which is an increase in bulk without an increase in the number of cells. Cellular Adaptation” by Unknown Illustrator. License: Public DomainCross section of the prostate Prostate The prostate is a gland in the male reproductive system. The gland surrounds the bladder neck and a portion of the urethra. The prostate is an exocrine gland that produces a weakly acidic secretion, which accounts for roughly 20% of the seminal fluid. demonstrating its relation to the prostatic urethra Prostatic urethra , urethral sphincter, seminal vesicles Seminal vesicles A saclike, glandular diverticulum on each ductus deferens in male vertebrates. It is united with the excretory duct and serves for temporary storage of semen. and bulbourethral gland
Image by BioDigital, edited by LecturioNeurovasculature and lymphatic drainage:
Histology:
Description:
Parts:
Neurovasculature and lymphatic drainage:
Histology:
Events of micturition involves:
Detrusor muscle
Detrusor muscle
Urinary Incontinence contraction (
ANS
ANS
The ans is a component of the peripheral nervous system that uses both afferent (sensory) and efferent (effector) neurons, which control the functioning of the internal organs and involuntary processes via connections with the CNS. The ans consists of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems.
Autonomic Nervous System: Anatomy, particularly the
parasympathetic system
Parasympathetic system
The craniosacral division of the autonomic nervous system. The cell bodies of the parasympathetic preganglionic fibers are in brain stem nuclei and in the sacral spinal cord. They synapse in cranial autonomic ganglia or in terminal ganglia near target organs. The parasympathetic nervous system generally acts to conserve resources and restore homeostasis, often with effects reciprocal to the sympathetic nervous system.
Autonomic Nervous System: Anatomy), opening of the internal urethral sphincter (sympathetic innervation) and opening of the external urethral sphincter.