Urinary System
The two primary functions of the urinary system are to produce and excrete urine. The urinary system regulates the constant levels of fluid in the body and levels of many important important chemicals. If the levels of chemicals in the blood stream reach levels of extreme a condition of toxicity is achieved and the body cannot function properly. Uremia is a condition when waste products of the body accumulate to toxix levels in te blood stream. The kidneys step in and play a vital role in maintaining electrolyte, water and acid balances in the body. The kidneys play a part in the negative feeback cycle that tries to keep the body in homeostasis. There are two kidneys in the body one on each side, along with two ureters and one bladder. Male and female urethras differ in design, the male also serves as a lumen for semen and for the female servers as canal for the ovum.
The right kidney is lower that the left kidney. The kidneys are located between the muscles of the back and the parietal peritoneum. Over 20% of the blood is pumped by the heart each minute through the kidneys. The outer portion of the kidney is called the renal cortex and the inner portion is called the renal medulla. Cortex is derived from the word meaning “bark” like the bark of the a tree. Inside the kidneys are the renal pyraminds which are triangular divisions of the renal medulla. The narrow, innermost end of the pyramind is called the renal papilla which follows through to the renal pelvis, an expansion of the upper end of a ureter.
The papilla of a pyramid opens into this division of the renal pelvis. The papilla of a pyramind opens into the division of the renal pelvis called the calyx. Here is an image of the entire male urinary tract, from kidneys to urethra.
male urinary tract system
