How the Urinary System Removes Waste
The urinary system filters waste from the blood and produces urine in the kidneys; then it removes the urine from the body. Adults produce about a quart and a half of urine every day, but that amount can vary greatly depending on how much fluid and what types of foods are consumed and how much fluid is lost by sweating or breathing.
Two bean-shaped organs called the kidneys are found in the abdomen, near the back and just below the ribs. The kidneys are responsible for filtering the blood. The filtrate, as it moves through the kidney tubules, is modified to produce urine. The two kidneys lie behind the peritoneum on the posterior abdominal wall near the 12th thoracic and first three lumbar vertebrae. The right kidney is slightly lower than the left kidney. Each kidney and suprarenal gland is encased in a perinephric fat capsule, which is covered by a membranous renal fascia. Paranephric fat lies outside of the renal fascia.
Each kidney is shaped like a kidney bean (surprised?) with an anterior and posterior surface. The renal hilum is located at the medial border and allows the renal artery to enter the kidney and the renal vein to leave. It also allows the ureter to exit the kidney. The internal part of the kidney includes a section called the medulla surrounded by a covering called the cortex. The medulla contains minor calyces that merge to form major calyces. The innermost renal pelvis is formed by the merger of the major calyces.
The body needs a way to store the urine until you have a convenient time to urinate (remove urine from the body). Urine leaves the kidneys and travels down the ureters to the bladder is a thin-walled, bag-like organ that can hold up to two cups of urine.
The bladder is connected to the urethra, which is a tube that opens externally through an opening called the external meatus. Sphincter muscles keep urine from leaving the bladder until the person is ready to urinate. The female urethra is quite short, whereas the male urethra is longer and runs through the penis.
Sometimes in the process of filtering blood and forming urine, salt-and-mineral crystals form in the kidneys. These kidney stones can travel down the ureters and into the bladder. The stones vary in size, and in some cases passing kidney stones can be extremely painful. The stones can become lodged in the ureter, blocking the flow of urine and causing a back-up of urine in the kidney. Treatments include medications and the use of lithotripsy (shock waves) to reduce the size of the stone so that it is more easily passed.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryThis region of the body starts along the bottom of the ribcage and extends to the hips. It’s visible from the front.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryThese sympathetic (fight-or-flight) nerves of the abdomen carry the presynaptic fibers to the abdomen and pelvis.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryTo join together.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryMale sex hormones.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryAn arthritic disease of the vertebral joints that results in hyperkyphosis and may restrict lung expansion if the disease spreads superiorly. It may lead to fusion of intervertebral joints and spinal column rigidity.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryIn clinical anatomy, closer to the front of the body. For instance, the abdominal muscles are anterior to the spine.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryThe broad tendinous structure that attaches a muscle to another muscle.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryIn clinical anatomy, to form a joint.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryA ball-shaped head that fits into a bony socket. The shoulder and hip are ball-and-socket joints. This type of joint allows for free movement in several directions, including flexion, extension, abduction, adduction, medial and lateral rotation, and circumduction.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryOn both the left and right sides of the body, such as the eyes, the kidneys, and the arms and legs.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryA thin-walled, bag-like organ that can hold up to two cups of urine.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryA projection of bone that sticks out from the arch found in vertebrae.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryConnects the cerebrum with the spinal cord.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryFluid-filled sacs that help tendons glide over the bones and other tendons.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryAn inflammation of a bursa, which is usually the result of repetitive motion injuries.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryThe part of the heel you stand on.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryDiseases of the heart and blood vessels.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryThe joint surfaces in cartilaginous joints are covered with hyaline cartilage and have fibrocartilaginous discs between them. Like fibrous joints, cartilaginous joints can be immoveable.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryThe largest part of the brain; made up of the left and right cerebral hemispheres.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryThe neck region; starts below the head, ends at the thorax, and is visible from the front and rear from below the head to the shoulders.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryTo move in a circular motion; doing arm circles, is circumduction.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryJoints with an oval surface on one bone that articulates with an oval-shaped depression in another bone. The metacarpophalangeal joints in the fingers are examples of condyloid joints.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryOn opposite sides of the body. The right ear is contralateral to the left ear.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryA band of nerve fibers that allows the sides of the brain to communicate with the other.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryThe skull.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryThe receiving part of a neuron. The signal received at the dendrite is transmitted toward the cell body of the neuron in the form of an electrical impulse. The impulse is transmitted away from the cell body to another neuron, muscle, or gland by the axon.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryThe lower layer of the skin containing collagen and elastic fibers that give strength to the skin.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryThe central part of the brain, underneath the cerebrum.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryFarther from the trunk or from the point of origin. The elbow is distal to the shoulder.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryAn anatomical region that runs from immediately below the neck down to the area below the waist. It doesn’t include the shoulders. It’s visible from the rear.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryTo move your foot and toes up.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryThe first segment of the small intestine.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryThe spaces between the two layers of the dura matter that collect blood from veins on the surface of the brain.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryCartilage that contains elastic fibers in the matrix, so it’s more flexible than either hyaline or fibrocartilage; your ear has elastic cartilage.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryThe delicate layer that surrounds each individual nerve fiber in the peripheral nervous system.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryThe tough layer outermost layer of skin. It gets its toughness from a protein called keratin.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryThe thick layer of connective tissue that surrounds a bundle of fascicles in the peripheral nervous system.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryA muscular tube that extends from the pharynx to the stomach.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryTo move the bottom of your foot away from the midline of the body.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryIn clinical anatomy, a smooth joint-forming surface.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryA layer of fibrous connective tissue that covers muscle.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryThis cartilage has a larger number of collagen fibers and less matrix. It’s found in the discs in joint spaces including the temporomandibular joint, knee joint, and joints between the bodies of the vertebrae.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryThe bones of a fibrous joint are connected by fibrous tissue. They range from being immovable (like joints between the bones of the skull) to being slightly moveable (joints between the tibia and fibula in the legs).
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryOpenings.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryImaginary vertical planes that clinical anatomy uses to define regions of the body. They pass through the body at right angles to the midsagittal plane, so they divide the body into front and back. Frontal (coronal) planes can divide the body at any point, so you need to use a reference point to know where exactly the plane passes.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryA collection of nerve-cell bodies similar to the nuclei of the central nervous system, except that these ganglia are only found in the peripheral nervous system.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryThe gums.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryThe plural of hilum, and the hilum is the part of the lung where the bronchus and pulmonary artery enter and the pulmonary vein exits the lungs.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryA joint that allows flexion and extension (bending and straightening) of joints like the elbow and the knee.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryThis durable type of cartilage covers most of the bone surfaces in synovial joints. It’s also found in the nasal septum, rings of the trachea, and costal cartilages of the ribs, and it forms the epiphyseal plates of growing bones.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryAn abnormal increase in the thoracic curvature.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryA condition in which blood pressure remains elevated over time. Having high blood pressure increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, and kidney disease.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryCloser to the feet. The chin is inferior to the nose.
Clinical Anatomy GlossarySkin.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryIn between. The abdominal muscles are intermediate between the skin and the small intestines.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryThe septa divide muscles into various groups.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryTo move the bottom of your foot toward the midline of your body.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryThis part of the fascia covers deeper structures, such as muscles and ligaments.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryOn the same side of the body. For example, the right ear and the right eye are ipsilateral.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryA major structural component of the outer layers of skin.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryThese cells are constantly shed and replaced by cells from the lower layers of the epidermis. These cells have lost most of their internal structures and organelles.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryOrgans that filter the blood and produce urine.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryIn clinical anatomy, away from the body’s midline. For example, the little toe is lateral to the big toe.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryA bony prominence located proximal to the lateral condyle.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryTo move a body part around its long axis with the anterior surface moving away from the midline, like turning your whole lower extremity so your foot points out toward the side.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryThe jawbone.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryThe superior part of the sternum.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryChewing.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryA structural component made of water, collagen fibers, and crystallized calcium salts.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryCloser to the midline of the body. The big toe is medial to the little toe.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryA bony prominence proximal to the medial condyle.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryTo turn a body part around its long axis, with the anterior surface moving toward the midline, like when you turn your whole lower extremity so that your foot points inward.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryAt the midline of the body. For example, the nose is a median structure.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryThe compartment that takes up the middle portion of the thoracic cavity.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryOpen space inside the bone.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryCoverings of the brain. They protect the brain by housing a fluid-filled space, and they function as a framework for blood vessels.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryThe chemical reactions that convert food into energy.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryAn imaginary vertical plane that clinical anatomy uses to divide the body into left and right halves.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryContaining more than one nucleus.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryEmbryonic muscle cells.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryMuscle of the heart.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryMembranous lining of the nasal cavity that secretes mucus.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryThe part of the cranium that holds the brain.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryCells that build up bone.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryCells that break down bone.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryCells that maintain bone and collagen fibers.
Clinical Anatomy GlossarySmall, rounded protuberances.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryConstricts the bronchi, dilates blood vessels, and increases glandular secretions.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryKnee cap.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryDense connective tissue surrounding a bundle of nerve fibers called a fascicle in the peripheral nervous system.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryA covering of fibrous connective tissue.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryThe eustachian tube.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryJoints that include a bone shaped like a pivot and a ring made of bone or ligament. Pivot joints, such as the atlantoaxial joint of the cervical spine, have rotational movements.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryJoints with flat articular surfaces that allow for a sliding motion, such as the acromioclavicular joint of the shoulder.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryTo point your toes down.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryA diamond-shaped space posterior to the knee joint, bordered by several muscles, skin, the popliteal fascia, the femur, and the joint capsule.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryCloser to the rear. The spine is posterior to the abdominal muscles.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryA medial rotation of the forearm so that the palm faces posteriorly (toward the rear).
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryCloser to the trunk or closer to the point of origin. The shoulder is proximal to the elbow.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryBand-like structures that hold tendons in place while joints move.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryTo move backward.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryGastric folds that appear when the stomach muscle tissue is contracted.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryJoints that have the appearance of a saddle. The carpometacarpal joint at the base of the thumb is an example of a saddle joint.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryImaginary vertical planes that are parallel to the midsagittal plane and divide the body into unequal left and right portions. There are many possible sagittal planes, so you should always give a reference point where the plane passes through.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryThe shoulder blade.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryThe opening in the posterior portion of the pelvis formed by the sciatic notch of the ischium and the sacrospinous and sacrotuberous ligament.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryA rotation and lateral flexion of the spine that may twist and turn the thoracic cage.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryGlands connected to the hair follicles. They produce sebum, which is an oily substance that helps keeps the hair flexible.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryThe muscles responsible for making the skeleton move. They’re voluntary muscles because you can control whether the muscles move.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryForms the deepest layer of the skin. The cells of this layer continuously divide and form new keratinocytes to replace the ones that are constantly shed. This layer also contains melanocytes, which are the cells that produce skin coloring.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryDead, mature skin cells called keratinocytes. These cells are constantly shed and replaced by cells from the lower layers of the epidermis. These cells have lost most of their internal structures and organelles.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryThe area of the skin where keratin is formed. The cells in this layer also produce materials that prevent evaporation, which helps waterproof the skin.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryFound in thicker skin; helps reduce friction between the stratum corneum and the stratum granulosum. It’s composed of dead, flattened cells.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryContains keratin-producing cells that were formed in the stratum basale.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryArea below the skin; underneath the cutaneous layer and is sometimes called the hypodermis or superficial fascia.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryThe part of the fascia that lies between the body walls such as the thoracic wall and the membranes that line corresponding body cavities.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryCloser to the surface. For instance, the skin is superficial to the muscles.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryCloser to the top of the head. For example, the nose is superior to the chin.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryThe muscle that turns the eyeball inferiorly and laterally.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryLateral rotation of the forearm so the palm faces anteriorly.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryCauses bronchodilation and constricts the blood vessels.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryThe junction in the brain where nerve impulses pass.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryA typical synovial joint includes bones covered in hyaline cartilage and a joint cavity lined with a synovial membrane and filled with synovial fluid. A durable fibrous joint capsule surrounds the joint. Some synovial joints also have fibrocartilaginous discs between the bones.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryThe section of the body that starts immediately below the neck, at the clavicles, and ends along the bottom of the ribcage. It’s visible from the front.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryImaginary horizontal planes that pass through the body at right angles to the midsagittal and the frontal planes. They divide the body into upper and lower portions. You need to have a reference point to know exactly where a transverse plane lies.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryBony projection.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryThe eardrum.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryThe navel.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryTwo long tubes that lead to the urinary bladder.
Clinical Anatomy GlossaryToward the abdomen.
