Free Urinary System MCQs with Answers
40 Urinary System MCQs from Anatomy and Physiology for Nursing, each with the correct answer and a written explanation of why it is correct. Free and unlimited, with no account needed.
The urinary system includes the kidneys, ureters, urinary bladder and urethra, with emphasis on nephron structure and urine formation. It explains glomerular filtration, tubular reabsorption, tubular secretion, water and electrolyte regulation, acid base balance, and the roles of ADH and aldosterone in maintaining homeostasis.
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- A. Glomerulus and Bowman capsule
- B. Proximal tubule and loop of Henle
- C. Distal tubule and collecting duct
- D. Renal pelvis and ureter
Explanation: The renal corpuscle consists of the glomerulus surrounded by Bowman capsule, where blood filtration begins.
Correct answer: Glomerulus and Bowman capsule- A. Proximal convoluted tubule
- B. Descending loop of Henle
- C. Distal convoluted tubule
- D. Collecting duct
Explanation: The proximal convoluted tubule performs extensive reabsorption of useful substances and water back into the blood.
Correct answer: Proximal convoluted tubule- A. Reduced ADH release and dilute urine
- B. Increased ADH release and concentrated urine
- C. Reduced aldosterone release and concentrated urine
- D. Increased filtration and increased urine volume
Explanation: Dehydration stimulates ADH release, which increases water permeability in the late distal tubule and collecting ducts.
Correct answer: Increased ADH release and concentrated urine- A. Increasing sodium reabsorption and potassium secretion
- B. Increasing glucose filtration and calcium secretion
- C. Decreasing sodium reabsorption and potassium retention
- D. Blocking water reabsorption in collecting ducts
Explanation: Aldosterone promotes sodium reabsorption and potassium secretion mainly in the distal tubule and collecting duct.
Correct answer: Increasing sodium reabsorption and potassium secretion- A. Glomerular filtration
- B. Tubular reabsorption
- C. Tubular secretion
- D. Urinary elimination
Explanation: Tubular secretion transfers selected substances from the blood into the nephron lumen for removal in urine.
Correct answer: Tubular secretion- A. Increase the intravenous fluid rate
- B. Check the tubing for kinks and obstruction
- C. Administer a prescribed diuretic
- D. Remove the catheter and insert another
Explanation: The nurse first checks for a simple mechanical obstruction, such as a kinked tube or a bag positioned above the bladder.
Correct answer: Check the tubing for kinks and obstruction- A. Excreting hydrogen ions and conserving bicarbonate
- B. Excreting bicarbonate and conserving hydrogen ions
- C. Reducing urea formation and retaining phosphate
- D. Increasing glucose secretion and reducing sodium loss
Explanation: The kidneys help correct acidosis by secreting hydrogen ions into tubular fluid and reabsorbing or generating bicarbonate.
Correct answer: Excreting hydrogen ions and conserving bicarbonate- A. Moderate dilation of the afferent arteriole
- B. Moderate constriction of the afferent arteriole
- C. Increased permeability of the filtration membrane
- D. Increased blood flow into the glomerulus
Explanation: Constriction of the afferent arteriole reduces blood flow and pressure entering the glomerulus, so filtration falls.
Correct answer: Moderate constriction of the afferent arteriole- A. It creates a medullary gradient that supports water conservation
- B. It stores urine before voluntary bladder emptying
- C. It filters plasma before it enters Bowman capsule
- D. It prevents sodium movement throughout the nephron
Explanation: The loop of Henle contributes to the medullary concentration gradient through different water and solute permeabilities in its limbs.
Correct answer: It creates a medullary gradient that supports water conservation10. A nurse teaches a patient about normal urine formation. Which statement shows correct understanding?
- A. Filtration moves substances from tubules into the blood
- B. Reabsorption returns selected substances to the blood
- C. Secretion moves all plasma proteins into urine
- D. Excretion occurs before filtration in the nephron
Explanation: Tubular reabsorption returns needed water and solutes from the tubular fluid to the blood.
Correct answer: Reabsorption returns selected substances to the blood- A. Glomerulus, distal tubule, proximal tubule, collecting duct
- B. Bowman capsule, proximal tubule, loop of Henle, distal tubule
- C. Proximal tubule, Bowman capsule, distal tubule, loop of Henle
- D. Bowman capsule, loop of Henle, proximal tubule, collecting duct
Explanation: Filtrate enters Bowman capsule after passing through the glomerulus, then flows through the proximal tubule, loop of Henle, distal tubule…
Correct answer: Bowman capsule, proximal tubule, loop of Henle, distal tubule- A. The ureter contains a wide internal lumen
- B. The ureter enters the bladder obliquely
- C. The ureter has a continuous external sphincter
- D. The ureter is lined by simple squamous epithelium
Explanation: The ureter passes obliquely through the bladder wall, so bladder pressure compresses it during filling and urination.
Correct answer: The ureter enters the bladder obliquely- A. It decreases water permeability in collecting ducts
- B. It increases water permeability in collecting ducts
- C. It prevents sodium filtration at the glomerulus
- D. It increases glucose secretion into tubular fluid
Explanation: Antidiuretic hormone increases water permeability in the late distal tubule and collecting ducts by promoting aquaporin insertion.
Correct answer: It increases water permeability in collecting ducts- A. Encourage the patient to drink more water
- B. Place the patient on cardiac monitoring and notify the provider
- C. Ask the patient to walk to improve renal circulation
- D. Document the result and repeat it at the next routine check
Explanation: Severe hyperkalaemia with ECG changes can cause life-threatening cardiac dysrhythmias, so circulation and cardiac monitoring take…
Correct answer: Place the patient on cardiac monitoring and notify the provider- A. Sodium ions
- B. Water molecules
- C. Large plasma proteins
- D. Small glucose molecules
Explanation: The filtration barrier normally prevents most large plasma proteins from entering the filtrate.
Correct answer: Large plasma proteins- A. The pain is caused by stretching of the renal capsule
- B. The pain results from spasms and distension of the ureter
- C. The pain is caused by irritation of the urinary sphincter
- D. The pain results from overfilling of the urinary bladder
Explanation: A stone can obstruct the ureter, causing smooth muscle spasm and distension above the obstruction.
Correct answer: The pain results from spasms and distension of the ureter- A. Urine volume increases and urine becomes dilute
- B. Urine volume decreases and urine becomes concentrated
- C. Urine volume increases and urine becomes concentrated
- D. Urine volume remains unchanged and urine becomes dilute
Explanation: Higher antidiuretic hormone levels increase water reabsorption from the collecting ducts.
Correct answer: Urine volume decreases and urine becomes concentrated- A. Renal pelvis
- B. Ureter
- C. Urinary bladder
- D. Renal cortex
Explanation: The urinary bladder is a muscular reservoir that stores urine until micturition occurs.
Correct answer: Urinary bladder- A. The urine is pale yellow in colour
- B. The patient reports mild thirst
- C. The urine output remains markedly reduced
- D. The patient asks when oral fluids can restart
Explanation: Persistent urine output below about 0.5 mL/kg/hour may indicate reduced renal perfusion, obstruction or acute kidney injury and should be…
Correct answer: The urine output remains markedly reduced- A. It moves substances from blood into the nephron lumen
- B. It returns useful substances from tubular fluid to the blood
- C. It forms the initial filtrate from plasma in the glomerulus
- D. It moves urine from the kidneys into the urinary bladder
Explanation: Tubular reabsorption returns water and needed substances such as glucose, amino acids and selected electrolytes from tubular fluid to the…
Correct answer: It returns useful substances from tubular fluid to the bloodUrinary System MCQs: common questions
Are these Urinary System MCQs free?
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How many Urinary System MCQs are on this page?
There are 40 Urinary System MCQs in the Anatomy and Physiology for Nursing bank, shown ten to a page with the correct answer and an explanation on each.
Does every Urinary System MCQ have an explanation?
Yes. Each Urinary System question shows the correct option and a written explanation of why it is correct, so a wrong answer teaches you something rather than just being marked wrong.
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