Structure of the Urinary System (Edexcel IGCSE Biology)

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The Urinary System: Structure

  • Two key functions of the urinary system are:
    • To filter waste products from the blood and expel it from the body as urine
    • To control the water levels of the body (osmoregulation)
  • The urinary system consists of two kidneys (found at the back of the abdomen) joined to the bladder by two tubes called the ureters
  • Another tube, the urethra, carries urine from the bladder to outside the body
  • Each kidney is also connected to:
    • The renal artery which comes from the aorta and delivers oxygenated blood to the kidney
    • The renal vein which delivers the deoxygenated blood from the kidney to the vena cava

excretory-system-in-humans

The urinary system in humans

Main structures of the urinary system table

The Urinary System table, IGCSE & GCSE Biology revision notes

Examiner Tip

Note the difference between the ‘ureter’ and the ‘urethra’. These two names are commonly confused by students so take care to learn them and know which tube is which – they are NOT interchangeable!

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Lára

Author: Lára

Expertise: Biology Lead

Lára graduated from Oxford University in Biological Sciences and has now been a science tutor working in the UK for several years. Lára has a particular interest in the area of infectious disease and epidemiology, and enjoys creating original educational materials that develop confidence and facilitate learning.