Blood Supply & Nephrons

Question 1

What is the main function of the kidneys?

Answer 1

To filter/clean blood and adjust its composition

Question 2

How do arterioles supply each kidney with blood?

Answer 2

Through the renal artery

Question 3

What are the branches of the segmental artery divided into?

Answer 3

Interlobar arteries

Question 4

From the cortical radiate vein, through what parts does the blood have to travel to exit the kidney? (3)

Answer 4

1. Accurate veins
2. Interlobar veins
3. Renal veins

Question 5

Define: nephrons

Answer 5

The structural and functional units of the kidneys

Question 6

How many nephrons are in each kidney and what is their main function? (2)

Answer 6

1. Over a million tiny nephrons

2. Responsible for forming urine

Question 7

What are the 2 main structures of each nephron? (2)

Answer 7

1. Renal corpuscle

2. Renal tubule

Question 8

How long is the renal tubule?

Answer 8

3cm long

Question 9

List the 3 regions of the renal tubule in order of entry from the glomerular capsule. (3)

Answer 9

1. Proximal convoluted tubule (PCT)
2. Nephron loop (loop of Henle)
3. Distal convoluted tubule (DCT)

Question 10

Define: glomerulus

Answer 10

Short answer: knot of capillaries

Long answer: A cluster of capillaries around the end of a kidney tubule, where waste products are filtered from the blood.

Question 11

Define: Bowman’s capsule

Answer 11

Cup-shaped hollow that completely surrounds the glomerulus; glomerular capsule

Question 12

What is the inner visceral layer of the bowman’s capsule made out of?

Answer 12

Podocytes: highly-modified, octopus-like cells

Question 13

What is unique about podocytes?

Answer 13

Podocytes have long branching processes called foot processes that intertwine with one another and cling to its glomerulus

Question 14

Where in the renal tubule are the tubule cells exposed to filtrate?

Answer 14

Proximal convoluted tubules

Question 15

How are the proximal convoluted tubules structurally suitable for exchange of filtrate?

Answer 15

Proximal convoluted tubules are covered in dense microvilli → increases surface area

Question 16

How many collecting ducts are there in each nephron and what is their main purpose? (2)

Answer 16

1. Thousands per nephron

2. Collects fluid from several nephrons and conveys it to the renal pelvis

Question 17

What gives the kidneys a “striped” appearance?

Answer 17

The collecting ducts that each receive urine from many nephrons that run downward through the medullary pyramids → striped appearance

Question 18

What part of the kidneys deliver the final urine products and to where do they deliver them to? (3)

Answer 18

1. Collecting ducts
2. Calyces
3. Renal pelvis

Question 19

What is the afferent arteriole, which arises from a cortical artery, called? (1)

Answer 19

1. Feeder vessel

Question 20

How does the efferent arteriole receive blood?

Answer 20

Through the glomerulus