Urinary System

Alea Skye Olivas Urinary Tract Tissue Body System Organs and Tissues (Anatomy): what are the major organs and tissues involved for the system. This is the structure/anatomy of the system, what it is made of. List them here. • Kidneys • cortex (outer layer): dense capillary network and nephrons filtering structures • medulla (inner layer): renal pyramids and collecting ducts • renal pelvis: funnel like cavity collecting urine before ureter • fibrous capsule and adipose layer for protection • around one million nephrons composed of specialized tissue • glomerulus: fenestrated capillaries (endothelial tissue) • Bowmans capsule: double-walled epithelial cup surrounding glomerulus • proximal convoluted tubule: cuboidal epithelium with microvilli • loop of henle • Distal convoluted tubule • collecting duct • Ureters • smooth muscle walls with mucosal lining (transitional epithelium) and fibrous connective tissue outer layer • Urinary bladder • detrusor muscle (smooth muscle layers) • mucosa lined with transitional epithelium for expansion • trigone: triangular base area where ureters enter and urethra exits • Urethra • mucosal lining: transitional to stratified squamous epithelium near external opening • smooth muscle and sphincters (internal smooth muscle involuntary, external skeletal muscle voluntary) • Renal arteries • bring oxygenated blood to kidneys, branched from abdominal aorta • renal veins • return filtered blood to inferior vena cava • afferent/efferent arterioles • control glomerular filtration pressure • renal nerves • regulate blood flow and secretion via sympathetic fibers • Fibrous renal capsule • dense connective tissue around kidneys for protection • perirenal fat (adipose capsule): cushions and stabilizes kidneys • renal fascia: anchors kidneys to posterior abdominal wall • transitional epithelium (urothelium) specialized mucosal lining in ureters, bladder, urethra. stretches without tearing • smooth muscle • drive peristaltic movement and bladder contraction • connective tissue (lamina propria): supports blood vessels and nerves in walls of urinary organs Major Functions (Physiology): What are the major functions of this system? What does this system do? List them here. • filtration of blood in the kidneys • enter the glomerulus, glomerular membrane acts as a selective filter. water, ions, glucose, and waste pass into Bowmans capsule then forming the filtrate (pre-urine) • blood cells nd proteins are too large to pass through so they stay in circulation • afferent and efferent arterioles regulate pressure and filtration rate • process removes toxins and metabolic waste from blood. urine begins to form • reabsorption (selective recovery of useful substances • as filtrate moves through the tubules, essential substances are reabsorbed back into the bloodstream • water, glucose, amino acids, and ions are reclaimed according to the bodies needs • proximal convoluted tubule is a major site of reabsorption • loop of henle reabsorbs waters and salts • distal convoluted tubule fine tunes electrolyte balance under hormone control • process prevents loss of valuable substances and maintains stable internal chemistry • secretion: active removal of additional wastes • extra waste, drugs, and hydrogen/potassium ions are actively secreted from blood into the tubules for excretion. fine adjustment of pH and toxin levels • distil convoluted tubule and collecting duct are at work here • process balances pH (acid-base homeostasis) and eliminates substance not filters initially • regulation of fluid, electrolyte, and pH balance • kidneys adjust blood composition by monitoring: • water volume: through antidiuretic hormone ADH • sodium and potassium levels: through aldosterone • acid-base balance • blood pressure through renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system RAAS • nephrons and juxtaglomerular apparatus are crucial here • process maintain homeostasis, stable blood composition, volume, and pressure • Excretion: elimination of urine • processed filtrate becomes urine which contains: urea, uric acid, creatinine, salts, and water • urine passes from collecting ducts to renal pelvis to ureters to bladder • bladder fills between 400 to 600mL and stretch receptors signal the urge to pee called micturition reflex • coordinated detrusor muscle contract and sphincter relaxation allow for urination • this process is the final eliminations of wastes, regulating the bodies water and chemical composition Relevant Herbal Actions (and 3-5 herbal examples that fall under): What are the primary herbal actions that come to mind with this system? • diuretic • dandelion leaf Taraxacum officinale • nettle Urtica dioica • parsley Petroselinum crispum • corn silk Zea mays • antiseptic and antimicrobial • Uva ursi Arctostaphylos uva-ursi • Juniper Junipeus communis • Oregan Grape Mahonia aquifolium • demulcent • corn silk Zea mays • marshmallow root Althaea officinalis • plantain Plantago major • astringent • Uva ursi Arctostaphylos uva-ursi • Yarrow Achillea millefolium • Witch Hazel Hamamelis virginiana • anti-inflammatory • Goldenrod Solidago canadensis • Turmeric Curcuma longa • Licorice Glycyrrhiza glabra • anti-lithic • Celery seed Apium graveolens • corn silk Zea mays • alterative • burdock Arctium lappa • nettle Urtica dioica • Red clover Trifolium pratense • antispasmodic • Cramp bark Viburnum opulus • Kava Piper methysticum • Wild Yam Dioscorea villosa • Chamomile Matricaria chamomilla • analgesic • Meadowsweet Filipendula ulmaria • Willow bark Salix alba • lymphatic • Cleavers Galium aparine • Red root Ceanothus americanus • trophorestorative • Nettle seed Urtica dioica • Astragalus Astragalus membranaceus • Cordyceps Cordyseps sinensis • adaptogen • Reishi Ganoderma lucidum • Astragalus Astragalus membranaceus • Cordyceps Cordyseps sinensis • hemostat • Yarrow Achillea millefolium • Shepherd’s purse Capsella bursapastoris • plantain plantago major Which actions are important in creating balance? • trophorestorative • alterative • adaptogen • lymphatic • hepatic • demulcent • anti-inflammatory • antioxidant • nutritive Which actions are enhancing and which are compensatory? Enhancing • trophorestorative • adaptogen • alterative • lymphatic • hepatic • demulcent • anti-inflammatory • nutritive Compensatory • diuretic • antiseptic • antispasmodic • analgesic • anti-lithic • astringent Top 10 (or more): List your top 10 herbs for this system. • Nettle Urtica dioica • Astragalus root Astragalus membranaceus • marshmallow root Althaea officinalis • Cleavers Galium aparine • corn silk Zea mays • Uva ursi Arctostaphylos uva-ursi • Goldenrod Solidago canadensis • Cramp bark Viburnum opulus • dandelion Taraxacum officinale • Meadosweet Filipendula ulmaria • Celery seed Apium graveolens • Hydrangea Hydrangea arborescens • Yarrow Achillea millefolium • Agrimony Agrimonia eupatoria • Oregon Grape Root Mahonia aquifolium • Coltsfoot Tussilago farfara • Usnea Usnea barbata • Khella Amni visnaga • Kava Kava Piper methysticum • Gotu Kola Centella asiatica • Horsetail Equisetum arvense • Juniper Juniperus communis • Thuja Thuja occidentalis • Ocotillo Fouquieria splendens • Codonopsis Codonopsis lanceloata • Cordycepts Cordysceps sinensis • Licorice root Glycyrrhiza glabra • Mullein root Verbascum thapsus • Schisandra Schisandra chinensis • Saw Palmetto Serenoa repens • Horse chesnut Aesculus hippocatanum • Gravel root Eupatorium purpureum • Stone root Collinsonia canadensis