THE RENAL CORTEX:
(1) Bowman’s capsule, (2) Urinary space, (3) Glomerulus, (4) Proximal Convoluted Tubule, (5) Distal convoluted Tubule

The URINARY BLADDER is a triangle-shaped, muscular bag where urine is stored temporarily and is discharged periodically via urethra during micturition. In the human body, this structure is located in the lower abdomen, just above and behind the pubic bone. The wall of the urinary bladder consists of three layers:
– An inner mucous membrane
– A thick coat of smooth muscle
– An outer serous layer

In the human body, the kidneys are surrounded by a RENAL CORTEX, a layer of tissue that is also covered by renal fascia (connective tissue) and the renal capsule. This structure is found in the outer region of the kidney, between the renal capsule and the renal medulla. Just like any other structure of the body, the renal cortex also has its own functions. Firstly, it provides a space for arterioles and venules from the renal artery and vein, as well as the glomerular capillaries, to perfuse the nephrons of the kidney. Aside from that, this structure is also where erythropoietin, a hormone necessary for the synthesis of new red blood cells, is produced.

THE URETER:
(1) Transitional Epithelium, (2) Smooth muscle layer, (3) Adventitia, (4) Inner longitudinal, (5) Outer longitudinal layer, (6) Middle Oblique layer, (7) Mucosal folds

The URETER is a mucomuscular tube. It carries urine from the renal pelvis (part of the kidney that collects the urine as it is produced) to the urinary bladder. In the human body, there are 2 ureters and each one is attached to each kidney. The upper half of the ureter is located in the abdomen while the lower half is located in the pelvic area. The wall of the ureter has the following layers which can be seen in the first diagram:
– Inner mucous membrane layer
– Middle smooth muscle layer
– Outer adventitial (fibrous coat layer)