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[[Image:Burmese_python_kidneys2.jpg|200px|thumb|right|'''Kidneys of a [[Burmese Python|Burmese python]]''' ©RVC and its licensors, Peer Zwart and Fredric Frye. All rights reserved]]

[[Image:Burmese_python_kidneys2.jpg|200px|thumb|right|'''Kidneys of a [[Burmese Python|Burmese python]]''' © RVC]]

The urinary system of snakes consists of paired lobulated [[Kidney - Anatomy & Physiology|kidneys]] and ureters that empty into the dorsal urodeum.  

The urinary system of snakes consists of paired lobulated [[Kidney - Anatomy & Physiology|kidneys]] and ureters that empty into the dorsal urodeum.  

Paired kidneys are located in the dorsal caudal coelomic cavity with the right kidney cranial to the left. They are elongated, lobulated and somewhat triangular in cross section.  All reptiles have metanephric kidneys that are simpler than the mammalian counterpart. There are decreased number of glomeruli (some species are aglomerular) and there is no loop of Henle. They may have one or more renal arteries, and in some [[:Category:Snake Species|species]], there is a separate branch of the ureter draining each lobule. There may be a sexual segment in the caudal kidney that follows up the distal part of each tubule and empties into a collecting duct.  Since no urinary bladder is present, urine is not stored and ureters empty directy into the [[Cloaca|cloaca]].   

Paired kidneys are located in the dorsal caudal coelomic cavity with the right kidney cranial to the left. They are elongated, lobulated and somewhat triangular in cross section.  All reptiles have metanephric kidneys that are simpler than the mammalian counterpart. There are decreased number of glomeruli (some species are aglomerular) and there is no loop of Henle. They may have one or more renal arteries, and in some [[:Category:Snake Species|species]], there is a separate branch of the ureter draining each lobule. There may be a sexual segment in the caudal kidney that follows up the distal part of each tubule and empties into a collecting duct.  Since no urinary bladder is present, urine is not stored and ureters empty directy into the [[Cloaca|cloaca]].   

==Uric acid==

==Uric acid==

[[Uric acid]] is the main form of nitrogenous waste with lesser amounts of ammonia and urea depending on the species, the natural environment and degree of water conservation required. [[Uric acid]] is [[Lizard and Snake Excretion|excreted]] by tubular secretion rather than urea by glomerular filtration

[[Uric acid]] is the main form of nitrogenous waste with lesser amounts of ammonia and urea depending on the species, the natural environment and degree of water conservation required. [[Uric acid]] is [[Lizard and Snake Excretion|excreted]] by tubular secretion rather than urea by glomerular filtration

==Ureters and Cloaca==  

==Ureters and Cloaca==  

Snakes have no bladder.  The ureter enters the urodeum at a urogenital papilla and urine refluxes into the [[Snake Digestive System|colon]] for fluid conservation.

Snakes have no bladder.  The ureter enters the urodeum at a urogenital papilla and urine refluxes into the [[Snake Digestive System|colon]] for fluid conservation.

*Read the definition of [[Cloaca|cloaca]].

* '''For a definition of cloaca, see''' [[Cloaca|here]].

*For more information on excretion in reptiles, [[Lizard and Snake Excretion|see here]].

* '''For information on renal diseases, see''' [[Lizard and Snake Renal Disease]].

[[Category:Snake_Anatomy]]

[[Category:Snake_Anatomy]]

==Reference==

==Reference==

Mader, D.R. (2005). Reptile Medicine and Surgery. Saunders. pp. 49. ISBN 072169327X

Mader, D.R. (2005). Reptile Medicine and Surgery. Saunders. pp. 49. ISBN 072169327X