Anatomy and functions of kidneys Flashcards
What are the different parts of a kidney?
Renal capsule
Renal cortex
Renal medulla
Renal pelvis
What is the renal capsule?
Fibrous connective tissue surrounding the kidney
What is the function of the renal capsule?
To protect the kidneys
What is the renal cortex?
Outer region of kidney
What is the renal medulla?
Inner region of kidney
What does the renal medulla contain?
8-10 renal pyramids
Where do the renal pyramids extend from and to?
Base of renal pyramid is from border between cortex and medulla
Apex of pyramid joins to minor calyx
What is the apex of the renal pyramids called?
Papilla
What is a renal lobe?
Renal pyramid and the adjacent cortex
What is the renal pelvis made up of?
Multiple major calyces joining together
What is a major calyx made up of?
Multiple minor calyces joining together
What comes after the renal hilum?
Renal sinus
What is the renal sinus?
Opening in kidney where neurovascular structures and renal pelvis enter and leave the kidney
What is the functional unit of the kidney?
Nephron
What are the different parts of a nephron?
Glomerulus
Tubule
What part of the kidney is the glomerulus located in?
Renal cortex
What is a glomerulus?
A tuft of glomerular capillaries
What surrounds the glomerulus?
Bowman’s capsule
What do the glomerulus and Bowman’s capsule together form?
Renal corpuscle
What are the parts of a tubule of a nephron?
Proximal convoluted tubule
Loop of henle
Distal convolued tubule
Collecting duct that is shared with other nephrons
What part of the kidney is the proximal tubule located in?
Renal cortex
What are the different parts of the loop of Henle?
Descending limb
Ascending limb
What are the different parts of the ascending limb?
Proximal part is the thin ascending limb
Distal part is the thick ascending limb
What is the difference between the thin ascending limb and the thick ascending limb?
Thin ascending limb has a thinner wall, larger lumen
Thick ascending limb has a thicker wall, smaller lumen
What part of the kidney is the loop of Henle located in?
Renal cortex
Renal medulla
What part of the kidney is the distal tubule located in?
Renal cortex
adjacent to glomerulus
What does the distal convoluted tubule contain?
Macula densa
What is the macula densa?
Group of specialised epithelial cells in wall of distal part of thick ascending limb
What part of the kidney are the collecting ducts located in?
Renal medulla
What do the collecting ducts empty into?
Minor calyces
How many types of nephrons are there?
Two
What are the two types of nephron?
Cortical nephron
Juxtamedullary nephron
What are the factors that differentiate cortical nephrons from juxtamedullary nephrons?
Part of cortex they’re located in
Size of glomerulus
Length of loop of Henle
How deep the loop of Henle is in the medulla
Blood supply of loop of Henle
Sympathetic nerve innervation
Where are cortical nephrons located? Where are the juxtamedullary nephrons located?
Outer part of cortex
Inner part of cortex, adjacent to medulla
What are the relative sizes of the glomeruli of the cortical nephrons and the juxtamedullary nephrons?
Cortical nephrons have smaller glomeruli
Juxtamedullary nephrons have larger glomeruli
How long is the loop of Henle in cortical nephrons? How long is it in juxtamedullary nephrons?
In cortical nephrons, the loop of Henle is short
In juxtamedullary nephrons, the loop of Henle is long
Where does the loop of Henle travel in cortical nephrons? Where does it travel in juxtamedullary nephrons?
In cortical nephrons, the loop of Henle just dips into the medulla
In juxtamedullary nephrons, the loop of Henle penetrate deeply into the medulla
What is the blood supply of the loop of Henle in cortical nephrons? What is it in juxtamedullary nephrons?
Cortical nephrons loop of Henle are supplied by peritubular capillaries
Juxtamedullary nephrons loop of Henle are supplied by vasa recta
What are vasa recta?
Capillaries that lie side by side with the loop of Henle’s descending and ascending limbs
Are cortical nephrons or juxtamedullary nephrons more common in the kidney?
Cortical nephrons are much more common
Do cortical nephrons or juxtamedullary nephrons receive more sympathetic nerve innervation?
Cortical nephrons receive more sympathetic nerve innervation
What shape are the kidneys?
Bean-shaped
What are the basic functions of the kidneys?
Excretion of waste, drugs
Regulation of water, electrolytes
Regulation of blood pressure
Regulation of acid-base balance
Endocrine functions
What are some examples of waste products excreted by the kidneys?
Urea
Creatinine
Bilirubin
What are some examples of hormones produced by the kidneys?
Erythropoietin
1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D
