Chapter 23 Flashcards
What are the six principal organs of the urinary system?
2️⃣ kidneys
2️⃣ ureters
1️⃣ urinary bladder
1️⃣ urethra
What are two spatial relationships of the urinary tract in males and females?
The urinary tract relates to the vagina and uterus in females and the prostate in males.
Name four functions of the kidneys other than urine formation.
- Filter blood and excrete toxic metabolic wastes
- Regulate blood volume, pressure, and osmolarity
- Regulate electrolyte and acid-base balance
- Secrete erythropoietin for red blood cell production
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Here’s a fun and silly mnemonic to help you remember these four kidney functions:
“Funky Rhinos Eat Eggs”
• F = Filter blood and excrete toxic metabolic wastes
• R = Regulate blood volume, pressure, and osmolarity
• E = Electrolyte and acid-base balance regulation
• E = Erythropoietin secretion for red blood cell production
Just imagine some funky rhinos eating giant eggs while wearing sunglasses—because rhinos clearly have awesome kidneys!
What is erythropoietin, and what does it do?
A hormone secreted by the kidneys that stimulates red blood cell production, supporting oxygen-carrying capacity.
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Erythropoietin (or EPO for short) is a hormone made by your kidneys. Its main job is to tell your bone marrow (where blood cells are made) to make more red blood cells.
Why is that important? Because red blood cells are what carry oxygen throughout your body. More red blood cells = more oxygen getting to your muscles, brain, and other tissues so they can work properly.
So, if your body senses you don’t have enough oxygen (like if you’re anemic or at a high altitude), your kidneys will release more erythropoietin to make more red blood cells and boost your oxygen levels.
What do the kidneys do to help regulate calcium homeostasis?
They participate in the synthesis of calcitriol.
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Your kidneys help regulate calcium levels in your body by helping to make a hormone called calcitriol.
Calcitriol is the active form of vitamin D, and one of its main jobs is to help your intestines absorb more calcium from the food you eat. Without enough calcitriol, even if you eat foods rich in calcium, your body wouldn’t absorb as much of it into your bloodstream.
So, the kidneys are like an assistant chef helping to prepare the final ingredient (calcitriol) that makes sure your body can “digest and use” the calcium properly. This is important for keeping your bones strong and your muscles and nerves working correctly.
Without your kidneys making calcitriol, your calcium levels could drop too low, which could weaken your bones and cause other problems.
What is a metabolic waste?
A waste substance produced by the body during metabolism.
What is the most toxic nitrogenous waste, and how is it handled by the liver?
Ammonia is the most toxic; the liver converts it into urea, which is less toxic.
Name four major nitrogenous wastes and their sources.
- Ammonia (from amino acid deamination)
- Urea (from ammonia and carbon dioxide)
- Uric acid (from nucleic acid metabolism)
- Creatinine (from creatine phosphate breakdown)
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“All Ugly Unicorns Can’t-Prance”
• A = Ammonia (from amino acid deamination)
• U = Urea (from ammonia + CO2)
• U = Uric acid (from nucleic acid metabolism)
• C = Creatinine (from creatine phosphate breakdown)
Story to go with it:
“All Ugly Unicorns Can’t-Prance” because they are weighed down by all the waste products they carry around!
What is blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and what can an elevated level indicate?
The level of nitrogenous waste in the blood; elevated BUN may indicate renal insufficiency.
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Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) is a way to measure how much waste (specifically, urea) is floating around in your blood. Urea is a waste product made when your body breaks down proteins, and your kidneys are responsible for filtering it out and getting rid of it in urine.
If your BUN level is high, it can mean that your kidneys aren’t doing their job well and waste is building up in your blood. This might be a sign of kidney trouble, like renal insufficiency, which means your kidneys aren’t working as well as they should.
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Think of your kidneys like garbage collectors for your body. Proteins are like groceries you bring home, but cooking them creates trash (waste) like urea. Normally, the kidneys (garbage collectors) come by and take out the trash (urea) before it piles up.
If your BUN is high, it’s like the garbage collectors are on strike, and now trash is piling up in the streets (your bloodstream). Too much trash = a sign that something is wrong with the garbage service (your kidneys)!
What is excretion?
The process of separating wastes from body fluids and eliminating them.
Name the four organ systems that carry out excretion and what they excrete.
- Respiratory system - CO2, other gases, water
- Integumentary system - water, salts, urea, lactate
- Digestive system - water, salts, lipids, bile pigments, cholesterol, etc.
- Urinary system - metabolic wastes, toxins, drugs, salts, H+ ions, water
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Your body has four “clean-up crews” (organ systems) that each help take out different types of “trash” (waste) your body doesn’t need:
- Respiratory system (your lungs): They “breathe out the bad stuff” like carbon dioxide (CO2), extra gases, and some water vapor.
- Integumentary system (your skin): Your skin sweats out water, salt, urea (waste from breaking down protein), and lactate (stuff from muscle activity).
- Digestive system (your intestines): Your poop removes extra water, salts, fats, bile pigments (which help break down fats), cholesterol, and more.
- Urinary system (your kidneys and bladder): Your pee clears out metabolic waste (trash from your cells), toxins, drugs, salts, acid (H+ ions), and water.
Mnemonic:
“Rats In Dark Uniforms”
• R - Respiratory = CO2, gases, water
• I - Integumentary = water, salts, urea, lactate
• D - Digestive = water, salts, fats, bile stuff
• U - Urinary = waste, toxins, drugs, salts, acid, water
Like a squad of sneaky rats in dark uniforms cleaning up your body!
Where are the kidneys located in relation to the vertebrae?
Between vertebrae T12 and L3, with the right kidney slightly lower than the left.
What does “retroperitoneal” mean regarding the kidneys?
The kidneys lie behind the peritoneum along with the ureters, urinary bladder, renal artery and vein, and adrenal glands.
What is the hilum of the kidney?
A slit on the medial surface that admits renal nerves, blood vessels, lymphatics, and the ureter.
Name the three layers of connective tissue protecting the kidney.
Renal fascia, perirenal fat capsule, and fibrous capsule.
What is the renal parenchyma and what does it encircle?
The glandular tissue that forms urine; it encircles the renal sinus.
What are the two zones of the renal parenchyma?
The renal cortex and renal medulla.
What is a renal pyramid and what structure is found at its tip?
A conical structure in the medulla; the renal papilla is found at its tip.
What structures make up a kidney lobe?
One pyramid and its overlying cortex.
What is the flow of urine from the minor calyces to the urethra?
Minor calyx → Major calyx → Renal pelvis → Ureter → Urinary bladder → Urethra.
What is the order of arterial renal circulation starting from the renal artery?
Renal artery → Segmental artery → Interlobar artery → Arcuate artery → Cortical radiate artery → Afferent arteriole → Glomerulus → Efferent arteriole.
What is the glomerulus and where is it located?
A ball of capillaries inside the glomerular capsule.
What two types of nephron microcirculation exist after the efferent arteriole?
Peritubular capillaries (cortical nephrons) and vasa recta (juxtamedullary nephrons).
What is the renal corpuscle made of?
The glomerulus and the glomerular (Bowman) capsule.