The structure and function of the renal pelvis

The renal pelvis is a funnel shaped cavity formed by the merger of the cups of the kidneys. Its function is to collect urine for further transport into the bladder.

Renal pelvis: structure and function

The kidneys play a major role in cleansing the system of the human body, their function is to cleanse the blood. Through the kidneys per day is approximately 1,500 liters of blood during this same time human body produces about two liters of urine. Before the fluid gets into the bladder, it accumulates in the renal pelvis. Pelvis are located within the kidneys and take up most of it. The body of the pelvis is a hollow organ composed of muscle tissue. The cavity of the pelvis has a funnel shape formed at the confluence of large and small cups of the kidneys. Inside it is lined with a thin mucous membrane.

In the walls of the pelvis is a layer of transverse and longitudinal smooth muscle fibers. Their function is to create cuts that extend into the ureter and advance in the urine urinary tract down. The walls of the renal pelvis and ureter are impermeable to urine, and substances dissolved in it, so the liquid cannot go outside the urinary system. The function of the renal pelvis is to collect urine from the kidney cups in order to further its transportation through the ureter into the bladder. In the pelvis going all urine formed in the kidney. Calyx and pelvis of the kidney constitute a unified system.

Pathology renal pelvis

To anomalies of development of the Cup-pelvis-plating system, is its complete duplication. In this case the kidney pelvis has two, both of them are connected to a separate ureters to the bladder. Also found a partial Cup doubling of the renal pelvis, and ureters, are connected to a single trunk fall into the bladder. Sometimes found three or more ureters. A person can live with such anomalies and do not know of their existence because they do not manifest any symptoms.

The expansion of the pelvis of the kidney is called "hydronephrosis". Pathology can be congenital or acquired. The reason for its development may be a kidney stone. Hydronephrosis kidney function is disrupted, a person may develop an infectious disease. The symptoms worse in case of violation of circulation of blood in the tissues of the kidneys. Most often hydronephrosis in women. Among the diseases of the pelvis of the kidney holds a special place cancer. A malignant tumor can develop in the epithelial cells lining the Cup-pelvis-plating system. It's called "transitional cell adenocarcinoma. Cancer of the renal pelvis and ureter are less common than cancer of the bladder or kidneys.