The urogenital system includes the urinary organs (organa urinaria) and the genitals (organa genitalia).

They are closely related anatomically and functionally.

Urinary organs

Let’s start with the urinary system. It performs three main functions.

1. Elimination of metabolic products from body fluids
2. Release of these waste products into the environment
3. Regulation of the volume and concentration of dissolved substances in the blood.

This system includes the following organs:

1. Organs of excretion

• The kidneys (ren or nephros), which are paired organs that excrete urine.

2. Organs forming the urinary tract

• Minor calices (calyces renales minores), which collect urine from the renal papillae and flow into one of the major calices

• Major calices (calyces renales majores), which form a renal pelvis, usually in the amount of two

• The renal pelvis (pelvis renalis), which collects urine from major calices and passes into the ureter below the hilum of the kidney.

• Ureters (ureter), which are paired, tubular organs extending from the renal pelvis and following the peritoneum into the lesser pelvis to the bottom of the urinary bladder.

• The urinary bladder (vesica urinaria), which is a reservoir for the accumulation of urine. The latter is periodically excreted through the urethra.

• The urethra (urethra), which is a tube connecting the excretory ducts in men or opening into a single common space in women.

Genitalia

Let’s briefly consider the male and female genitalia.

The genital system of men and women differs significantly in structure, but at the stage of the embryo, the anlage of these organs is the same in both sexes. During the development of the embryo, the formation of male organs occurs, while the development of female rudiments stops, or vice versa, depending on gender.

Male genitalia

Male genitalia (organa genitalia masculina) are divided into external and internal.

The external genitals include:

• The penis (penis)

• The male urethra (urethra masculina)

• The scrotum (scrotum)

The internal genitals include the following:

• Testis (testis)

• Epididymidis (epididymis)

• Ductus deferens (ductus deferens)

And accessory sex glands:

• Seminal vesicle (vesicula seminalis)

• The prostate (prostate)

• Bulbourethral gland (glandula bulbourethralis)

The male genital system has the following functions:

• Generative: generation of male germ cells called spermatozoa.
• Endocrine: synthesis of male sex hormones.
• Hormonal regulation of reproductive function.
• Ejaculatory: delivery of seminal fluid to a female genital tract

Female genitalia

Female genitalia (organa genitalia feminina) are also divided into internal and external based on their localization

The internal genitals include:

1. Ovaries (ovaria)

2. The uterus (uterus)

3. Uterine tubes (tubae uterinae)

4. The vagina (vagina)

The external genitals include:

1. The mons pubis (mons pubis)

2. Labia majora (labia majora pudendi)

3. Labia minora (labia minora pudendi)

4. Greater vestibular glands (glandulae vestibulares majores)

5. Lesser vestibular glands (glandulae vestibulares minores)

6. Bulb of the vestibule (bulbus vestibuli)

7. The clitoris (clitoris)

8. The hymen (hymen)

9. The mammary gland (mamma)

The female genital system has the following functions:

• Generative: generation of female germ cells called oocytes.
• Endocrine: synthesis of female sex hormones.
• Hormonal regulation of reproductive function.
• Childbearing.

The detailed structure of each of the organs of the urogenital system is analyzed in the corresponding notes.

Dictionary

Urinary System: Overview

Urogenital system

systema urogenitale

Urogenital apparatus

apparatus urogenitalis

Urinary organs

organa urinaria

Genitals

organa genitalia

Kidney

ren

Ureter

ureter

Urinary bladder

vesica urinaria

Urethra

urethra

Penis

penis

Male urethra

urethra masculina

Scrotum

scrotum

Testis

testis

Epididymis

epididymis

Ductus deferens

ductus deferens

Seminal vesicle

vesicula seminalis

Prostate

prostata

Bulbourethral gland

glandula bulbourethralis

Female genitalia

organa genitalia feminina

Ovary

ovarium

Uterus

uterus

Uterine tube

tuba uterina

Vagina

vagina

Mons pubis

mons pubis

Labia majora

labia majora pudendi

Labia minora

labia minora pudendi

Greater vestibular glands

glandulae vestibulares majores

Lesser vestibular glands

glandulae vestibulares minores

Bulb of the vestibule

bulbus vestibuli

Clitoris

clitoris

Hymen

hymen

Mammary gland

mamma