Urinary system: organs and functions (preview) - Human Anatomy | Kenhub

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The urinary system, including the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra, filters excess fluid and waste materials from the bloodstream, with the kidneys eliminating bodily fluids and producing urine for excretion through the ureters. The kidneys are located in the retroperitoneum, with the right kidney slightly lower than the left and the renal hilum serving as the entry and exit point for renal arteries, veins, and pelvis.

Insights

  • The urinary system consists of the kidneys, ureters, urinary bladder, and urethra, working together to filter blood, store urine, and remove waste. The kidneys, positioned in the retroperitoneum, are crucial organs protected by a fibrous capsule, with the adrenal glands located at their superior poles.
  • Kidneys play a vital role in eliminating excess fluid, salts, and protein byproducts to form urine, which is then carried through the ureters from the renal pelvis, emerging posterior to the renal vessels.

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Recent questions

  • What organs make up the urinary system?

    Kidneys, ureters, bladder, urethra.

  • Where are the kidneys located in the body?

    Retroperitoneum, protected by renal fibrous capsule.

  • What is the primary function of the kidneys?

    Eliminate excess fluid, salts, and waste products.

  • What is the role of the ureters in the urinary system?

    Transport urine from kidneys to bladder.

  • Where does urine get stored before excretion?

    Urinary bladder.

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Summary

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"Kidneys: Filtering and Excreting Waste Fluid"

  • The urinary system comprises the kidneys, ureters, urinary bladder, and urethra, working collectively to filter excess fluid and waste materials from the bloodstream, store, transport, and excrete urine. The kidneys, located in the retroperitoneum, are bean-shaped organs protected by the renal fibrous capsule, with the adrenal glands situated at their superior poles, functioning as part of the endocrine system. The renal hilum at the medial border of each kidney serves as the entry and exit point for the renal arteries, veins, and pelvis, with the right kidney positioned slightly lower than the left, posterior inferior to the liver.
  • The primary function of the kidneys is to eliminate excess bodily fluid, salts, and protein byproducts, producing urine that is then transported through the ureters, which emerge from the kidneys posterior to the renal vessels, continuing from the renal pelvis.
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