chapter 18 the urinary system Flashcards
What does the urinary system consist of?
two kidneys, two ureters, the urinary bladder and the urethra
Functions of the urinary system?
-formation and removal of urine
-regulation of the volume of blood by excretion or conservation of water
-regulation of the electrolyte content of the blood
-regulation of the acid-base balance of blood
Where are the kidneys located?
upper abdominal cavity on either side of the vertebral column behind the peritoneum
what is the renal fascia?
fibrous connective tissue that helps hold the kidneys in place
what is the hilus?
passageway for ureters, vessels and nerves
What is the renal cortex?
outer tissue layer of the kidney and is made of corpuscles and convoluted tubules
What is the renal medulla?
inner tissue layer of the kidney made of loops of Henle and collecting tubules
what are the renal pyramids?
wedge shaped pieces
tip of each pyramid is its apex or papilla
what is the renal pelvis?
cavity formed by the expansion of the ureter within the kidney at the hilus
includes calyces- enclose the papillae of the renal pyramids
How does urine flow?
from the renal pyramids into the calyces, then to the renal pelvis and out into the ureter
What is the nephron?
the structural and functional unit of the kidney
each kidney contains approximately 1 million nephrons
has 2 major portions: renal corpuscle, renal tubule
what is the renal corpuscle?
consists of a glomerulus surrounded by a bowmans capsule
what is the glomerulus?
a capillary network that arises from an afferent arteriole and empties into an efferent arteriole
What is the bowmans capsule?
the expanded end of a renal tubule, encloses the glomerulus
inner layer made of podocytes which creates pores which makes the layer permeable
outer layer has no pores and is not permeable
What is the space between the inner and outer layers of bowmans capsule?
contains renal filtrate which is the fluid that is formed from the blood in the glomerulus and eventually becomes urine
What is the renal tubule?
comes from bowmans capsule and consists of:
proximal convoluted tubule
loop of Henle
distal convoluted tubule
Where does the distal convoluted tubule empty into?
a collecting tubule
What do the collecting tubules do?
they unite to form a papillary duct that empties urine into a calyx of the renal pelvis
What are the renal tubules surrounded by?
peritubular capillaries, which arise from the efferent arterioles
What is urine made out of?
blood plasma
pathway of blood flow through the kidney
enter the renal artery, through the afferent arterioles into the glomeruli to efferent arterioles, to peritubular capillaries to a series of veins. renal vein empties blood into the inferior vena cava
What processes do the formation of urine involve?
glomerular filtration, tubular reabsorption and tubular secretion
What happens in glomerular filtration?
blood pressure forces plasma, dissolved substances, and small proteins out of the glomeruli and into the bowmans capsules
fluid is no longer plasma but renal filtrate
What is the blood pressure in the glomeruli?
50 to 60 mm hg
relatively higher than other capillaries
What is the blood pressure in bowmans capsules?
very low
20% to 25% of the blood that enters glomeruli is forced out and becomes renal filtrate in bowmans capsules
What doesn’t become part of renal filtrate?
large proteins, and blood cells
What becomes part of renal filtrate?
waste products, vitamins and minerals are dissolved in blood plasma and become part of renal filtrate