Medical Terminology Handouts

THE URINARY SYSTEM

ORGANS OF THE URINARY SYSTEM:

The urinary system consists of two kidneys, two ureters, the urinary bladder, and the urethra.
The kidneys are the principal organs of the urinary system, they help maintain homeostasis by
regulating fluid, electrolyte, and acid-base balance, and filtering out wastes that leave the body as
urine.
The kidneys are located on either side of the vertebral column, extending from the thoracic vertebra
T12 to the lumbar vertebra L3.
the kidneys are retroperitoneal structures. This means they are posterior to the parietal peritoneum.
The right kidney is slightly lower than the left.
On top of each kidney there is an adrenal gland.
Once the urine leaves the kidneys, urine travels through the ureters to the urinary bladder. The distal
ends of the ureters travel through the bladder wall and open at the floor of the urinary bladder. The
bladder serves as a reservoir for urine and aided by the urethra it expels urine out of the body.

REGIONS OF THE KIDNEY:

There are three regions of the Kidney

The Renal cortex – is the outer region

The Renal medulla – is located inside the cortex
The Renal pelvis – is an inner collecting tube
In the cross section, two distinct areas are visible: an outer area, the renal cortex, and a middle area,
the renal medulla. These structures contain portions of the microscopic filtering units of the kidney,
the nephrons. Near the medial border is the hilum (or hilus), an opening through which the renal
artery enters, and the renal vein exits the kidney.

Lesson 4 handouts: The urinary system

Medical Terminology Course, Faculty of Medicine, AAUP
Dr. Reham Khalaf-Nazzal, MD, PhD & Dr. Ramez Zaid, MD

1
Lesson 4 handouts: The urinary system
Medical Terminology Course, Faculty of Medicine, AAUP
Dr. Reham Khalaf-Nazzal, MD, PhD & Dr. Ramez Zaid, MD

2
 FUNCTIONS OF THE KIDNEY
1. The urinary system removes nitrogenous wastes from the blood so that it does not
accumulate and become harmful. Each day the kidneys process about 200 Liters of blood to
filter out two liters of urine.
2. The kidneys are also responsible for maintaining the proper balance of water, acids and
electrolytes (such as sodium and potassium).
3. The kidneys also secrete hormones such as renin and erythropoietin. The kidneys also help
in activating vitamin D that is necessary for the absorption of calcium from the intestine.

THE NEPHRON
Microscopic examination of kidney tissue reveals the presence of approximately 1 million nephrons.
These structures contain portions of the microscopic filtering units of the kidney, the nephrons.
Each nephron includes a renal corpuscle and a renal tubule.
The renal corpuscle is composed of a tuft of capillaries called the glomerulus and a modified, enlarged
extension of the renal
tubule known as the
Bowman (glomerular)
capsule that surrounds
the glomerulus. An
afferent arteriole carries
blood to the glomerulus,
and an efferent arteriole
carries blood from the
glomerulus.
The renal tubule consists
of four sections: the
proximal convoluted
tubule, followed by loop
of Henle, then the distal
tubule and, finally, the
collecting tubule. The
collecting tubule
transports newly formed
urine to the renal pelvis
for excretion by the
kidneys.

Lesson 4 handouts: The urinary system

Medical Terminology Course, Faculty of Medicine, AAUP
Dr. Reham Khalaf-Nazzal, MD, PhD & Dr. Ramez Zaid, MD

3
The Formation of urine consists of the following processes:
1. First, Filtration occurs in the renal corpuscle as water and small molecules in blood pass from the
glomerulus into the Bowman capsule.
2. Second, Reabsorption begins as filtrate travels through the tubule. Most of the water and small
molecules reenter the circulating blood
3. Secretion is the final stage of urine formation. Some waste products (such as ammonia) are actively
secreted into the renal tubules for removal in urine.

Lesson 4 handouts: The urinary system

Medical Terminology Course, Faculty of Medicine, AAUP
Dr. Reham Khalaf-Nazzal, MD, PhD & Dr. Ramez Zaid, MD

4
 KIDNEY STONES:
Stones may form in any part of the urinary tract. A condition named (urolithiasis), but most arise in
the kidney. This condition is named (nephrolithiasis).
the stones become larger, they commonly lodge in the ureters (ureterolithiasis), causing an intense,
throbbing pain (colic).
Treatment includes pulverizing the stone using concentrated ultrasound shock waves is called
extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy [ESWL]).
An alternative minimally invasive surgery is available. In this procedure, the surgeon makes a small
incision through the skin to create an opening into the kidney to remove the stone. This procedure is
named (percutaneous nephrolithotomy [PCNL]). If the stone is large, the surgeon breaks it into
smaller fragments using an ultrasonic probe (lithotriptor) to remove the smaller fragments more
easily.
The surgeon may also insert a nephrostomy tube to drain urine from the kidney during the healing
process.

Lesson 4 handouts: The urinary system

Medical Terminology Course, Faculty of Medicine, AAUP
Dr. Reham Khalaf-Nazzal, MD, PhD & Dr. Ramez Zaid, MD

5
 DIALYSIS
Hemodialysis, also known
as dialysis or kidney
dialysis, is a medical
procedure used to purify
the blood using a dialyzer, a
machine that functions as
an “artificial kidney”. It is a
treatment option for
people suffering from
kidney failure.

Peritoneal Dialysis
In which toxic substances
are removed from the body
by using the peritoneal
membrane as the filter by
perfusing (flushing) the
peritoneal cavity with a
warm, sterile chemical
solution.
Peritoneal dialysis is less
restrictive on the patient
than hemodialysis because
it allows for self-treatment
at home or while on trips.

Lesson 4 handouts: The urinary system

Medical Terminology Course, Faculty of Medicine, AAUP
Dr. Reham Khalaf-Nazzal, MD, PhD & Dr. Ramez Zaid, MD

6
List of tables

Lesson 4 handouts: The urinary system

Medical Terminology Course, Faculty of Medicine, AAUP
Dr. Reham Khalaf-Nazzal, MD, PhD & Dr. Ramez Zaid, MD

7
Lesson 4 handouts: The urinary system
Medical Terminology Course, Faculty of Medicine, AAUP
Dr. Reham Khalaf-Nazzal, MD, PhD & Dr. Ramez Zaid, MD

8
Lesson 4 handouts: The urinary system
Medical Terminology Course, Faculty of Medicine, AAUP
Dr. Reham Khalaf-Nazzal, MD, PhD & Dr. Ramez Zaid, MD

9
Lesson 4 handouts: The urinary system
Medical Terminology Course, Faculty of Medicine, AAUP
Dr. Reham Khalaf-Nazzal, MD, PhD & Dr. Ramez Zaid, MD

10
Lesson 4 handouts: The urinary system
Medical Terminology Course, Faculty of Medicine, AAUP
Dr. Reham Khalaf-Nazzal, MD, PhD & Dr. Ramez Zaid, MD

11