URINARY SYSTEM
It has the following parts:
1- Kidney: Right and left kidney present on the upper part of the posterior
abdominal wall extends from the last rib till the level of L3 vertebra.
Shape: Kidney is bean shaped, it has:
2 ends (upper and lower).
2 margins (lateral convex and medial concave containing the hilum).
2 surfaces (anterior and posterior) both one convex.
Hilum of kidney: the site where the renal artery enters and the renal vein and
ureter leave the kidney.
Size: 12 x 6 x 3 cm.
2- Ureter: It is a muscular tube about 25 cm long, extending from the hilum of the
kidney to the urinary bladder, transmitting the urine.
It has many sites of narrowing or constrictions: at its beginning, at its end (in the
wall of the urinary bladder) and two constrictions inbetween.
3- Urinary bladder: it is the reservoir of urine, the empty bladder is pyramidal in
shape present inside the pelvic cavity behind the symphysis pubis. It receives the
2 ureters and its urine leaves it through the urethra.
4- Urethra: The tube which carries the urine to outside the body
Female urethra: short and wide tube about 4 cm long, embedded in the
anterior wall of vagina.
Male urethra: It is about 20 cm long, has 3 parts:
a- Prostatic urethra: the widest part about 3 cm long lies within the prostate.
b- Membranous urethra: the narrowest part about 2 cm long.
c- Penile urethra: the longest part about 15 cm long lies within the penis.