NUR 155 Urinary and Bowel Elimination
Study Guide | Galen College of Nursing
Section I: Urinary System Anatomy & Physiology
1. Which structure is responsible for filtering blood to form urine?
A. Urethra
B. Bladder
C. Nephron
D. Ureter
Rationale: The nephron is the functional unit of the kidney and is responsible
for filtering blood, reabsorbing needed substances, and secreting waste products to
form urine. The urethra, bladder, and ureters are part of the urinary tract but do not
filter blood.
2. The nurse understands that the normal adult bladder capacity is
approximately:
A. 100–200 mL
B. 400–600 mL
C. 800–1,000 mL
D. 1,200–1,500 mL
Rationale: The normal adult bladder capacity is approximately 400–600 mL.
The urge to void typically occurs when the bladder contains 150–250 mL of urine,
and severe discomfort occurs around 400–600 mL.
3. Which hormone is responsible for regulating water reabsorption in the
kidneys?
A. Aldosterone
B. Antidiuretic hormone (ADH)
C. Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP)
D. Erythropoietin
, Rationale: ADH, also known as vasopressin, is released by the posterior
pituitary gland and promotes water reabsorption in the distal tubules and collecting
ducts of the kidneys. Aldosterone regulates sodium and potassium balance, ANP
promotes sodium excretion, and erythropoietin stimulates red blood cell
production.
4. The nurse identifies which structure as the tube that carries urine from the
kidney to the bladder?
A. Urethra
B. Ureter
C. Nephron
D. Collecting duct
Rationale: The ureter is the tube that carries urine from the renal pelvis of the
kidney to the urinary bladder. The urethra carries urine from the bladder to the
outside of the body.
5. Which of the following are functions of the urinary system? (Select all that
apply.)
A. Regulating fluid and electrolyte balance
B. Producing erythropoietin
C. Regulating blood pressure
D. Producing bile
E. Excreting metabolic waste products
Rationale: The urinary system regulates fluid and electrolyte balance,
produces erythropoietin (which stimulates RBC production), regulates blood
pressure through the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, and excretes metabolic
waste products such as urea, creatinine, and uric acid. Bile is produced by the liver,
not the urinary system.
,6. The nurse recalls that the normal glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is
approximately:
A. 30 mL/min
B. 60 mL/min
C. 125 mL/min
D. 250 mL/min
Rationale: The normal GFR is approximately 125 mL/min, meaning about
180 liters of filtrate is produced daily. Most of this filtrate is reabsorbed, resulting
in approximately 1–2 liters of urine output per day.
7. Which part of the kidney contains the renal corpuscles where filtration
occurs?
A. Renal medulla
B. Renal cortex
C. Renal pelvis
D. Renal pyramid
Rationale: The renal cortex is the outer portion of the kidney and contains the
renal corpuscles (glomerulus and Bowman's capsule) where blood filtration occurs.
The renal medulla contains the loops of Henle and collecting ducts.
8. The nurse explains to a patient that the urge to urinate is typically felt when
the bladder contains:
A. 50–100 mL
B. 150–250 mL
C. 300–400 mL
D. 500–600 mL
Rationale: The urge to void is typically felt when the bladder contains
approximately 150–250 mL of urine. At 400–600 mL, the patient experiences
significant discomfort and the bladder is at capacity.
, 9. Which of the following factors can affect urinary elimination? (Select all
that apply.)
A. Age
B. Fluid intake
C. Medications
D. Eye color
E. Psychological factors
Rationale: Age, fluid intake, medications, and psychological factors all affect
urinary elimination. Older adults experience decreased bladder tone and GFR.
Diuretics increase urine output, while anticholinergics can cause retention. Anxiety
and stress can affect voiding patterns. Eye color has no effect on urinary
elimination.
10. The nurse identifies which muscle as the voluntary muscle that controls
urination?
A. Detrusor muscle
B. Internal urethral sphincter
C. External urethral sphincter
D. Trigone muscle
Rationale: The external urethral sphincter is a voluntary muscle that allows
conscious control of urination. The internal urethral sphincter is involuntary, and
the detrusor muscle is the smooth muscle of the bladder wall.
11. What is the primary function of the loop of Henle?
A. Filtration of blood
B. Concentration of urine
C. Secretion of potassium
D. Production of erythropoietin
Study Guide | Galen College of Nursing
Section I: Urinary System Anatomy & Physiology
1. Which structure is responsible for filtering blood to form urine?
A. Urethra
B. Bladder
C. Nephron
D. Ureter
Rationale: The nephron is the functional unit of the kidney and is responsible
for filtering blood, reabsorbing needed substances, and secreting waste products to
form urine. The urethra, bladder, and ureters are part of the urinary tract but do not
filter blood.
2. The nurse understands that the normal adult bladder capacity is
approximately:
A. 100–200 mL
B. 400–600 mL
C. 800–1,000 mL
D. 1,200–1,500 mL
Rationale: The normal adult bladder capacity is approximately 400–600 mL.
The urge to void typically occurs when the bladder contains 150–250 mL of urine,
and severe discomfort occurs around 400–600 mL.
3. Which hormone is responsible for regulating water reabsorption in the
kidneys?
A. Aldosterone
B. Antidiuretic hormone (ADH)
C. Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP)
D. Erythropoietin
, Rationale: ADH, also known as vasopressin, is released by the posterior
pituitary gland and promotes water reabsorption in the distal tubules and collecting
ducts of the kidneys. Aldosterone regulates sodium and potassium balance, ANP
promotes sodium excretion, and erythropoietin stimulates red blood cell
production.
4. The nurse identifies which structure as the tube that carries urine from the
kidney to the bladder?
A. Urethra
B. Ureter
C. Nephron
D. Collecting duct
Rationale: The ureter is the tube that carries urine from the renal pelvis of the
kidney to the urinary bladder. The urethra carries urine from the bladder to the
outside of the body.
5. Which of the following are functions of the urinary system? (Select all that
apply.)
A. Regulating fluid and electrolyte balance
B. Producing erythropoietin
C. Regulating blood pressure
D. Producing bile
E. Excreting metabolic waste products
Rationale: The urinary system regulates fluid and electrolyte balance,
produces erythropoietin (which stimulates RBC production), regulates blood
pressure through the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, and excretes metabolic
waste products such as urea, creatinine, and uric acid. Bile is produced by the liver,
not the urinary system.
,6. The nurse recalls that the normal glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is
approximately:
A. 30 mL/min
B. 60 mL/min
C. 125 mL/min
D. 250 mL/min
Rationale: The normal GFR is approximately 125 mL/min, meaning about
180 liters of filtrate is produced daily. Most of this filtrate is reabsorbed, resulting
in approximately 1–2 liters of urine output per day.
7. Which part of the kidney contains the renal corpuscles where filtration
occurs?
A. Renal medulla
B. Renal cortex
C. Renal pelvis
D. Renal pyramid
Rationale: The renal cortex is the outer portion of the kidney and contains the
renal corpuscles (glomerulus and Bowman's capsule) where blood filtration occurs.
The renal medulla contains the loops of Henle and collecting ducts.
8. The nurse explains to a patient that the urge to urinate is typically felt when
the bladder contains:
A. 50–100 mL
B. 150–250 mL
C. 300–400 mL
D. 500–600 mL
Rationale: The urge to void is typically felt when the bladder contains
approximately 150–250 mL of urine. At 400–600 mL, the patient experiences
significant discomfort and the bladder is at capacity.
, 9. Which of the following factors can affect urinary elimination? (Select all
that apply.)
A. Age
B. Fluid intake
C. Medications
D. Eye color
E. Psychological factors
Rationale: Age, fluid intake, medications, and psychological factors all affect
urinary elimination. Older adults experience decreased bladder tone and GFR.
Diuretics increase urine output, while anticholinergics can cause retention. Anxiety
and stress can affect voiding patterns. Eye color has no effect on urinary
elimination.
10. The nurse identifies which muscle as the voluntary muscle that controls
urination?
A. Detrusor muscle
B. Internal urethral sphincter
C. External urethral sphincter
D. Trigone muscle
Rationale: The external urethral sphincter is a voluntary muscle that allows
conscious control of urination. The internal urethral sphincter is involuntary, and
the detrusor muscle is the smooth muscle of the bladder wall.
11. What is the primary function of the loop of Henle?
A. Filtration of blood
B. Concentration of urine
C. Secretion of potassium
D. Production of erythropoietin
