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Anatomy and Physiology of Domestic Animals
Veterinary Science 135

URINARY SYSTEM

The many metabolic processes in an animal's body result in numerous by-products. Some of these substances are still useful to the body and are recycled, but others are of no further use and may actually be toxic if allowed to accumulate - these unneeded substances are waste products.

I. Chief metabolic waste products

A. CO2 and H2O from carbohydrate and fat metabolism

B. Urea from protein breakdown

C. Bile salts and pigments from RBC destruction

D. Various salts from tissue breakdown and excess intake

II. Main routes of waste excretion

A. Lungs - CO2 and H2O vapor

B. Sweat glands - H20, salts, small amount of urea

C. Digestive tract - Bile salts and pigments

D. Urinary system - Most important route of waste excretion. Removes urea, salts, H2O, and other soluble wastes from the blood and transports them out of the body.

URINARY SYSTEM

I. General terminology

II. Parts of the urinary system

A. 2 Kidneys

B. 2 Ureters

C. 1 Urinary bladder

D. 1 Urethra

III. Kidneys

A. General functions

1. Blood filtration

2. Fluid balance regulation

3. Acid-base balance regulation

4. Hormone production

B. Location

C. Gross appearance

1. Shape

2. Hilus

3. Renal pelvis

4. Cortex

5. Medulla

D. Nephrons

1. Renal corpuscle

a. Location

b. Function

c. Poles

d. Glomerulus

e. Bowman's capsule

i. Visceral layer

ii. Parietal layer

iii. Capsular space

2. Proximal convoluted tubule

3. Loop of Henle

4. Distal convoluted tubule

(5. Collecting tubules)

E. Nerve supply

F. Blood supply

1. Renal artery

2. Arterioles

3. Afferent arterioles of glomeruli

4. Glomerular capillaries

5. Efferent arterioles of glomeruli

6. Peritubular capillary network

7. Venules

8. Renal vein

G. Mechanisms of renal action

1. Filtration

a. Location

b. Mechanism

c. Glomerular filtrate

2. Reabsorption

a. Importance

b. Location

c. Examples of substances reabsorbed

3. Secretion

a. Importance

b. Location

c. Examples of substances secreted

IV. Ureters

A. Structure

B. Function

V. Urinary bladder

A. Function

B. Control of urination

1. Urine accumulation

2. Muscle contraction

3. Sphincter muscle control

VI. Urethra

A. Female

1. Structure

2. Function

B. Male

1. Structure

2. Function

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