Anatomy of urinary tract

• The Anatomy of urinary tract is the system through which urine is produced, transported, stored, and eliminated from the body.

Upper urinary tract:

1. Kidneys

   • Function: Filter blood and produce urine.
   • Structure: A pair of bean-shaped organs located on either side of the spine, below the ribcage.
   • Nephrons: Each kidney contains about 1 million nephrons, which perform filtration, reabsorption, secretion, and excretion.

2. Ureters

   • Function: Transport urine from the kidneys to the bladder.
   • Structure: Two muscular tubes, each about 10-12 inches (25-30 cm)
   • Mechanism: Use peristalsis (involuntary muscular contractions) to move urine along their length.

Lower Urinary Tract

1. Urinary Bladder

   • Function: Acts as a reservoir for storing urine.
   • Location: In the pelvic cavity, behind the pubic symphysis.
   • Structure: Made of detrusor muscle that contracts during urination.
   • Capacity: Typically holds 400-600 mL of urine.

2. Urethra

   • Function: Carries urine from the bladder to the outside of the body.
   • Control: Has two sphincters, the internal and external urethral sphincters, that control urine release.
   • Structure: Varies in length between males and females.

• In males, the urethra is about 8 inches (20 cm) long and passes through the prostate gland, the urogenital diaphragm, and the penis. The male urethra has three sections: the prostatic urethra, the membranous urethra, and the spongy (penile) urethra.
• In females, the urethra is much shorter, approximately 1.5 inches (4 cm) long, and extends from the bladder to the vaginal vestibule. The female urethra has a single section called the urethral meatus.

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