Urinary system - Overview (English)

The urinary system consists of the kidneys, ureters, urinary bladder and urethra. The kidney is a bilateral, bean-shaped retroperitoneal organ. Urine excreted by the kidneys is collected by bilateral fibromuscular tubes known as the ureters, and transported to the urinary bladder. The upper half of each ureter is found in the abdomen, while the lower half is found in the pelvis. The urinary bladder is a hollow muscular organ located behind the pubic bones. Its function is to collect and store urine until it is ready for micturition/urination. The urethra is a muscular organ through which the urine is eliminated from the body.