Anatomy of the Urinary System and Suprarenal Glands

The urinary tract is located in the abdomen and pelvis and consists of the kidneys, ureters, urinary bladder, and urethra. The structures permit the excretion of urine from the body. Urine flows from the kidneys through the ureters to the urinary bladder and out through the urethra. The bladder acts as a reservoir for urine until micturition is appropriate. Regulation of micturition relies on the CNS and the spinal cord.

The kidneys are a pair of bean-shaped organs located retroperitoneally against the posterior wall of the abdomen on either side of the spine. As part of the urinary tract, the kidneys are responsible for blood filtration and excretion of water-soluble waste in the urine. The kidneys also play a major role in homeostatic processes, including electrolyte concentration, blood pressure, and acid–base regulation. Grossly, they consist of an outer cortex and inner medulla. Microscopic functional units known as nephrons filter the blood through a structure called the glomerulus, and this filtrate is then modified and concentrated as it moves through a complex tubular system. The renal arteries supply the kidneys via a central opening, known as the renal hilum, on its medial side; large renal veins empty directly into the vena cava.

The penis is the male organ of copulation and micturition. The organ is composed of a root, body, and glans. The root is attached to the pubic bone by the crura penis, which are the extremities of the corpora cavernosa. The body consists of the 2 parallel corpora cavernosa and the corpus spongiosum, which sits beneath the corpora cavernosa and through which the urethra passes. The glans is ensheathed by the prepuce or foreskin. The penis is homologous with the clitoris in females.

The adrenal glands are a pair of retroperitoneal endocrine glands located above the kidneys. The outer parenchyma is called the adrenal cortex and has 3 distinct zones, each with its own secretory products. The outer zona glomerulosa secretes mineralocorticoids (primarily aldosterone); the middle zona fasciculata secretes glucocorticoids (primarily cortisol); and the innermost zona reticularis secretes androgens. Beneath the cortex lies the adrenal medulla, which secretes catecholamines involved in the fight-or-flight response. The medullary cells function more like neurosecretory postsynaptic neurons rather than traditional endocrine cells. The adrenal glands have a rich vascular supply and complex relationships with their surrounding organs.