Urinary system: want to learn more about it?
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Urinary system
Learning objectives:
This study unit will help you to:
- Identify the organs that comprise the urinary system.
- Learn their position in the abdominal and pelvic cavities.
- Get familiar with the main functions of the urinary organs individually, and the urinary system as a whole.
Watch video
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.
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Browse atlas
Review each component of the urinary system individually with our atlas gallery.
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/fossa-navicularis-urethrae/vRTxi9GNjrbtEpuPg137w_Fossa_navicularis_urethrae_01.png "Navicular fossa of urethra (Fossa navicularis urethrae); Image: Samantha Zimmerman"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/detrusor-urinae-muscle/a0y3OO1oT2g4ZIgbxt9qw_M._detrusor_vesicae_02.png "Detrusor vesicae muscle (Musculus detrusor vesicae); Image: Irina Münstermann"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/musculus-sphincter-urethrae-externus-2/r3yXeBRPwoD08HPXCSuEeQ_External_urethral_sphincter.png "External urethral sphincter (female) (Musculus sphincter urethrae externus (femininus)); Image: Irina Münstermann"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/musculus-sphincter-urethrae-externus-4/Ji1WuW7ZjFoLyV3w6PHDg_M._sphincter_uhrethrae_externus_01.png "External urethral sphincter (male) (Musculus sphincter urethrae externus (masculinus)); Image: Samantha Zimmerman"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/musculus-sphincter-urethrae-internus/tdss0FRN2y23C5zSm6v5Q_M._sphincter_urethrae_internus_01.png "Internal urethral sphincter (Musculus sphincter internus urethrae); Image: Irina Münstermann"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/ostium-urethrae-externum/2osdfp348hH5eXFfrm0tfw_Ostium_urethrae_externum_01.png "External orifice of urethra (Ostium urethrae externum); Image: Samantha Zimmerman"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/abdominal-part-of-ureter/8A023XWFM7czLBaU2C1cQ_Ureter_pars_abdominalis_02.png "Abdominal part of ureter (Pars abdominalis ureteris); Image: Irina Münstermann"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/pars-pelvica-ureteris/FefCBZImNcH6upbZvba3g_Ureter_pars_pelvica_01.png "Pelvic part of ureter (Pars pelvica ureteris); Image: Irina Münstermann"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/interureteral-fold/N83qL8RxbxtALrjDXpRwPA_Plicia_interureterica_02.png "Interureteric crest (Plica interureterica); Image: Irina Münstermann"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/kidneys/vXinPDRtp62DoP7YjQkpAQ_kidneys.png "Kidney (Ren); Image: Irina Münstermann"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/trigonum-vesicae/oaAcMOP76l3BQbUoCmAaw_Trigonum_vesicae_01.png "Trigone of urinary bladder (Trigonum vesicae urinariae); Image: Irina Münstermann"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/urethra/Jt8j6K5T8hgiRCWZu4aA_Urethra_01.png "Urethra; Image: Irina Münstermann"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/vesica-urinaria/7psmn7hmvsK0BaFxDhZbA_Vesica_urinaria_01.png "Urinary bladder (Vesica urinaria); Image: Irina Münstermann"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/vesica-urinaria-3/lshjKMsazVt24ZHv5Jjjvw_Vesica_urinaria_01.png "Urinary bladder (Vesica urinaria); Image: Irina Münstermann"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/opening-of-duct-of-para-urethral-gland-1/z2s9dSJaOl3gAA8HVYkjwA_Opening_of_duct_of_para-urethral_gland_magnified.png "Opening of paraurethral gland (Ostium glandulae paraurethralis); Image: Paul Kim"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/ureter-18/RUknCaAQXZMm5E4g4JqtQ_Ureter.png "Ureter; Image: Irina Münstermann"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/ureteric-orifice/HNiown83FpdEG3EQNc8qOQ_Ureteric_orifice.png "Ureteric orifice (Ostium ureteris); Image: Irina Münstermann"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/internal-urethral-orifice/mPDF2Z9VhiMM4r8SOWUA8Q_Internal_urethral_orifice.png "Internal urethral orifice (Ostium internum urethrae); Image: Irina Münstermann"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/female-urethra-1/dADIxSOJJuRit9owgoH8g_Jt8j6K5T8hgiRCWZu4aA_Urethra_01.png "Female urethra (Urethra feminina); Image: Irina Münstermann"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/male-urethra-1/euGA6EVe1lyfPd2DbWt9VQ_ZUm0xDRIe55vKJA5AHUjcQ_Urethra_01.png "Male urethra (Urethra masculina); Image: Samantha Zimmerman"){kind=logo}
Summary
| 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) |
Well done!
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