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Urinary system

Learning objectives

After completing this study unit you will be able to:

  1. Identify the organs that comprise the urinary system.
  2. Learn their position in the abdominal and pelvic cavities.
  3. Get familiar with the main functions of the urinary organs individually, and the urinary system as a whole.

Watch videos

The urinary system is divided into two parts:

  • The upper part, that includes the kidneys and the ureters,
  • The lower part, that consists of the urinary bladder and the urethra.

The organs of the urinary system work together to remove excess fluid and other waste materials from the bloodstream, and also to store, transport and excrete urine from the body.

This video tutorial will introduce you to the main structures of the urinary system and their function in the body.

To improve your understanding of urinary system terminology, take a closer look at some commonly used roots, prefixes and suffixes in the video below which covers terminology of the urogenital system. 

Take a quiz

Solidify your knowledge and resolve any potential weak spots with our quiz.

For a broader topic focus, try out this fully customizable quiz:

Download the following PDF worksheets and learn the different parts of the urinary system!

BLANK WORKSHEET (PDF)LABELED WORKSHEET (PDF)

Browse atlas

Review each component of the urinary system individually with our atlas gallery.

Summary

Key facts about the urinary system
Function
Elimination of fluid and waste from body; regulation of blood volume, pressure, pH and electrolyte balance via urine production and excretion
Upper (abdominal) part Kidneys: Blood filtration, urine production; reabsorption of useful substances (electrolytes, amino acids); elimination of waste into urine
Ureters
: Urine transportation from kidneys to urinary bladder
Lower (pelvic) part Urinary bladder: Urine storage and urination control
Urethra
: Urine transportation from urinary bladder to outside of body (in males additional function is transportation of semen after ejaculation)

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