Ch 10 - Homeostasis Flashcards
What are the main functions of the excretory system?
regulation of blood pressure, blood osmolarity, acid-base balance, and removal of nitrogenous waste
What do kidneys do?
produce urine
What is the pathway for urine?
- made in kidneys
- flows into the ureter at the renal pelvis
- collected in the bladder until it is excreted through the urethra
What are the structures in the kidneys?
- contain a cortex and a medulla
- each kidney has a hilum, which contains a renal artery, renal vein, and ureter
How does blood flow through kidneys?
- kidneys have a portal system with 2 capillary beds in series
- blood from the renal artery flows into afferent arterioles, which form glomerulus in Bowman’s capsule (the first capillary bed)
- blood then flows through the efferent arterioles to the vasa recta (the second capillary bed), which surrounds the nephron, before leaving the kidney through the renal vein
What is the detrusor muscle?
- muscular lining of the bladder
- under parasympathetic control
What is the difference between the internal and external urethral sphincter of the detrusor muscle?
- in: consists of smooth muscle and is under involuntary (parasympathetic) control
- ex: consists of skeletal muscle and is under voluntary control
What is filtration?
- the movement of solutes from blood to filtrate at Bowman’s capsule
- the direction and rate is determined by Starling forces, which account for the hydrostatic and oncotic pressure differentials between the glomerulus and Bowman’s space
What is secretion?
the movement of solutes from blood to filtrate anywhere other than Bowman’s capsule
- blood to filtrate (remove HUNK)
- increase protein intake = increase NH3, urea secretion
- decreased blood pH = increase H+ secretion
- excess waste too large for glomerulus
What is reabsorption?
the movement of solutes from filtrate to blood
What is the proximal convoluted tubule (PCT)?
- the site of bulk reabsorption of glucose, amino acids, soluble vitamins, salt, and water (controls solute identity)
- also the site of secretion for H ions, K ions, NH4+, and urea
What is the descending limb of the loop of Henle?
- permeable to water but not salt; therefore, as the filtrate moves into the more osmotically concentrated renal medulla, water is reabsorbed from the filtrate
- the vasa recta and nephron flow in opposite directions, creating a countercurrent multiplier system that allows maximal reabsorption of water
What is the ascending limb of the loop of Henle?
- permeable to salt but not water; therefore, salt is reabsorbed both passively and actively
- the diluting segment is in the outer medulla; because sault is actively reabsorbed in this site, the filtrate actually becomes hypotonic compared to the blood
What is the distal convoluted tubule (DCT)?
a responsive to aldosterone and is a site of salt reabsorption and waste produce excretion, like the PCT
What is the collecting duct?
responsive to both aldosterone and ADH and has variable permeability, which allows reabsorption of the right amount of water depending on the body’s needs
How are the kidneys under hormonal control?
when blood pressure (and volume) are low, 2 different hormonal systems are activated (aldosteron and ADH)
What is aldosterone and how does it affect blood pressure and osmolarity?
- a steroid hormone regulated by the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system that increases sodium reabsorption in the DCT and collecting tube, thereby increasing water absorption
- this results in an increased blood volume (and pressure), but no change in osmolarity
What is ADH and how does it affect blood pressure and osmolarity?
- peptide hormone synthesized by the hypothalamus and release by the posterior pituitary
- its release is stimulated not only by low blood volume but also by high blood osmolarity
- its increases the permeability of the collecting duct to water, increasing water reabsorption
- this results in an increased blood volume (and pressure) and a decreased blood osmolarity
How can the kidney regulate pH?
by selective reabsorption or secretion of bicarbonate or H ions
What is the role of skin?
acts as a barrier protecting us from the elements and invasion of pathogens
What are the 3 major layers of the skin?
hypodermis (subcutaneous layer), dermis, and epidermis
What 5 layers compose the epidermis?
Come, Let’s Get Sun Burned
- stratum basale/spinosum/granulosum/lucidum/corneum
- stratum basale contains stem cells that proliferate to form keratinocytes
- keratinocyte nuclei are lost in the stratum granulosum, and many thin layers form the stratum corneum
What do melanocytes produce?
melanin, which protects the skin from DNA damage caused by UV radiation; melanin is passed to keratinocytes
What are langerhans cells?
special macrophages that serve as antigen-presenting cells in the skin