8. Renal system Flashcards
What are the 3 major regions of the kidney?
The hilum, cortex, and medulla.
What is the hilum?
The hilum is located medially and serves as the point of entrance and exit for the renal artery, renal vein, and ureter.
In which part of the kidney does plasma filtration (ultrafiltration) occur?
In the glomerulus.
Describe the Bowman capsule.
It consists of an inner visceral layer and an outer parietal layer. The space between these layers, the urinary space, is continuous with the renal tubule.
What are podocytes and where are they located?
Positively charged proteins that are located in the visceral layer (inner) of the Bowman capsule. With their positive charge they repel proteins; when podocytes are damaged, there can be massive proteinuria.
Where does vasopressin has its effect on?
AKA antidiuretic hormone (ADH) it has its effect on the collecting tubules, where it influences to become more permebale to water.
What does the distal convoluted tubule absorb?
Sodium and Choloride.
What are the 3 components of the juxtaglomerular apparatus?
Juxtaglomerular cells, polkissen cells and the macula densa.
Which cells secrete renin?
It is secreted by the juxtaglomerular cells which are myoepithelial cells in afferent arteriole.
What do polkissen cells do?
Their function is unknow. They are located between the afferent and efferent arterioles at the vascular pole of the glomerulis, adjacent to the macula densa.
Which cells produce erythropoietin?
Mesangial cells.
