Urogenital System

Because the reproductive and excretory systems are so integrated in the turtle, it is useful to consider them as a single urogenital system. The products of both the reproductive and excretory system empty into the common urogenital sinus, the cloaca. Notice that the bladder system of the turtle is very distinctive. The primary urinary bladder, which empties into the cranial portion of the cloaca, is bilobed when expanded. On either side of the cloaca are accessory urinary bladders (Lawson 1979).

The kidneys of the turtle are from the metanephros, as in all amniotes (Kardong 1998). Unlike the mammalian kidney, however, the kidneys of the turtle are flattened and lie against the shell (Dawson 1998).