5.2.5 The Mammalian Kidney: Structure

Question 1

Kidney Function

Answer 1

• Regulates water content of blood
• Excrete toxic waste products of metabolism (eg. urea)

Question 2

What are the structures I need to know for the kidney? Arteries, veins, etc. Then sections.

Answer 2

• Renal artery supplies kidney with oxygenated blood containing urea and salts
• Renal vein carries away deoxygenated blood without urea and salts from kidney
• Ureter (Carries urine from kidneys to bladder)
• Bladder (stores urine)
• Urethra (releases urine)
• Fibrous capsule is a tough layer protecting kidney
• Cortex (contains glomerulus and bowmans capsule, proximal convoluted tubule and distal convoluted tubule)
• Medulla (loop of henle and collecting duct)
• Renal pelvis (where ureter joins kidney)

Question 3

Glomerulus structure

Answer 3

• Glomerulus (supplied with blood by afferent arteriole from renal artery)
• Efferent arteriole carries blood through capillaries adjacent to nephron, which eventually flow into the renal vein