B3 Urinary System Flashcards
What does the urinary system consist of?
Kidneys, ureters, bladder, urethra.
Name the blood vessels attached to the kidneys.
Renal artery and renal vein.
Name the two main functions of the kidney.
Excretion and osmoregulation.
Define excretion
The removal of potentially toxic metabolic waste made in the cells.
Define osmoregulation.
The homeostatic control of body water.
Name part 1
Aorta
Name part 2
Renal artery
Name part 3
(Left) kidney
Name part 4
The bladder
Name part 5
The urethra
Name part 6
Vena cava
Name part 7
The renal vein
Name part 8
Ureter
Name part 1
Cortex
Name part 2
Renal pelvis
Name part 3
Medulla
Name part 4
Renal artery
Name part 5
Renal vein
Name part 6
Ureter
What is the function of the renal vein?
It carries blood FROM the kidney
What is the function of the urethra?
Carries urine out of the bladder.
What is the function of the bladder?
Stores urine.
What is the function of the ureter?
Carries urine from the kidneys to the bladder.
What is the function of the renal artery?
Carries blood TO the kidney
What is a nephron?
A microscopic filtration unit found in the kidney
Name part X
Renal artery
Name part D
Glomerulus
Name part E
Bowman’s capsule
Name part C
Distal convoluted tubule
Name part A
Collecting duct
Name part F
Loop of Henle
Name part B
Proximal convoluted tubule
Name part Y
Renal vein
What leaves the blood during ultrafiltration?
Small molecules, eg glucose, ions (sodium and chloride), water, urea, amino acids.
Which is wider - the efferent or afferent arteriole?
The afferent arteriole is wider.
What is selectively reabsorbed in the proximal convoluted tubule?
All of the glucose and amino acids. Most of the water and salt (sodium and chloride ions)
What is the function of the Loop of Henle?
To create a high concentration of salts in the tissue fluid of the medulla.
What is the ascending Loop of Henle permeable to?
Sodium ions, chloride ions (NOT water)
What is the descending Loop of Henle permeable to?
Water (NOT sodium ions or chloride ions)
What are the main roles of the distal convoluted tubule?
Control blood pH by adding or removing hydrogen ions. Make final adjustments to the water and salts that are reabsorbed.
Which gland releases ADH?
The pituitary gland.
When is ADH released?
When the water content of the blood is too low.
Describe the effect of ADH.
ADH makes the cells of the collecting ducts develop AQUAPORINS. This makes the collecting duct permeable to water. As the filtrate passes down the collecting duct most of the water is reabsorbed back into the blood by osmosis. This is because of the high concentration of solutes (ions/salt) in the medulla.
What does renin do?
Converts angiotensinogen to angiotensin I
Which enzyme converts angiotensin I to angiotensin II?
Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE)
When would the kidney release renin?
When the blood pressure drops.
What does the hormone aldosterone do?
Causes more sodium ions to be reabsorbed into the blood (so more water enters the blood, and blood pressure rises)
Why might someone need dialysis?
Their nephrons are not working so they need to remove potentially toxic waste products from their body.
What moves into the dialysis fluid, and why?
Urea, because there is no urea in the dialysis fluid. This means there is a higher concentration of urea in the blood than in the fluid so the urea diffuses out of the blood.
What type of medication would someone have to take if they have had a kidney transplant?
Immunosuppressant drugs
