Anatomy of the kidney Flashcards
What sheath surrounds the kidney?
Renal capsule
What are the two major layers of the kidney
Renal cortex
Renal medulla
What is contained in the renal cortex?
Blood vessels, lymph and connective tissue
What is contained in the renal medulla?
Nephrons
What superstructure is found in the renal medulla?
Pyramids
How many pyramids do each kidney have?
~12
How many nephrons are found in a pyramid?
~50,000
What does the medulla look like?
Striated
What gives the medulla its striated appearance?
Nephrons
What does the renal medulla drain into?
Minor calyx
What do minor calyx drain into?
Major calyx
What do major calyx drain into?
Renal pelvis
What does the renal pelvis drain into?
Ureter
What occurs where the renal pelvis changes to the ureter?
Narrowing of pelviureteric junction
Name 9 major parts of the nephron
Glomerular Bowman's capsule Afferent arteriole Efferent arteriole Proximal tubule Loop of Henle Distal tubule Collecting duct Peritubular capillaries
Describe the blood flow round the nephron
Afferent arteriole Glomerulus Efferent arteriole Peritubular capillaries Vein
Describe the flow of fluid once it had been filtered
Bowman's capsule Proximal tubule Loop of Henle Distal tubule Collecting duct
What happens at the glomerulus?
Blood is filtered into the Bowman’s capsule
Describe the route of the proximal tubule with regards to the arterioles
Passes between afferent and efferent
What is found at the junction between the afferent and efferent arterioles and the proximal tubule?
Juxtaglomerular apparatus
What two types of nephron do we have?
Juxtamedullary
Cortical
What is the difference between juxtamedullary and cortical nephrons?
Juxtamedullary have longer loops of Henle
Do we have more juxtamedullary or cortical nephrons?
Cortical (80%)
Is the afferent or efferent arteriole bigger?
Afferent
