anatomy

Question 1

describe the blood supply of the kidney

Answer 1

renal artery carries blood to the kidney
renal vein carries blood away
these are separated by the glomerular and peritubular capillary beds

Question 2

what is the renal hilium

Answer 2

region of the kidney where renal artery, vein and ureter pass

Question 3

what are the renal calyces (calyx)

Answer 3

chambers of the kidney through which urine passes

Question 4

what is the nephron and where is it situated

Answer 4

the smallest functional unit of the kidney, situated in the renal cortex and the medulla

Question 5

8 parts of the nephron

Answer 5

1. glomerulus
2. bowman’s capsule
3. proximal convoluted tubule
4. descending loop of Henle
5. ascending loop of Henle
6. Distal convoluted tubule
7. connecting and cortical collecting tubules
8. collecting duct

Question 6

what are the 3 layers that separate the glomerulus and bowman’s capsule are why are they needed

Answer 6

glomerular capillary wall
basement membrane
inner layer of bowman’s capsule
ensures only very small particles can pass through to the bowman’s space

Question 7

what is the glomerulus

Answer 7

a capillary network that is the main site of filtration

Question 8

blood supply to glomerulus

Answer 8

receives arteriole branches from the renal artery
afferent arteriole brings blood in
efferent arteriole takes blood out

Question 9

what is the renal corpuscle

Answer 9

glomerulus and bowman’s capsule

Question 10

describe the glomerular capillary wall

Answer 10

a single layer of flattened epithelial cells

perforated with fenestrations

Question 11

describe the basement membrane

Answer 11

acellular network of collagen and glycoproteins,

glycoproteins are negatively charged to repel negative proteins including albumin (smallest plasma protein)

Question 12

describe the inner layer of the Bowman’s capsule

Answer 12

made up of Podocytes which are a special kind of epithelial cell with foot like projections that wrap around capillaries of glomerulus
filtration slits between Podocytes which filter blood

Question 13

what is the function of the renal tubules

Answer 13

they convert glomerular filtrate into urine

Question 14

what are the forces involved in glomerular filtration

Answer 14

hydrostatic pressure and colloid osmotic pressure

Question 15

describe hydrostatic pressure

Answer 15

the pressure exerted by fluid on the capillary walls of the glomerulus or walls of the bowman’s capsule

Question 16

what increases GFR

Answer 16

increased blood pressure and hydrostatic pressure in the glomerulus caused by vasodilation of afferent arteriole / vasoconstriction of efferent arteriole

Question 17

what is colloid osmotic pressure

Answer 17

the pressure exerted by albumin colloids on the glomerulus

the proteins generate oncotic pressure that tries to hold water back in the glomerulus

Question 18

what 3 things does GFR depend upon

Answer 18

1. net filtration pressure (difference between hydrostatic and colloid osmotic pressure )
2. glomerular surface area
3. permeability of glomerular membrane