Chapter 25- The urinary system Flashcards
How much fluid does the kidneys filter per day?
200 liters of fluid filtered from blood by kidneys every single day. The kidneys are responsible for maintaining the composition of the body’s extracellular fluids by filtering the blood.
Functions of the kidneys (5)
- Regulate total body water volume and concentration of solutes in water
- Regulate concentration of ions in ECF
- Acid base balance
- Remove toxins, metabolic waste, and other foreign substances
- Hormone production- EPO and renin
Location of the kidneys
Each kidney lies between the parietal peritoneum and dorsal body wall. Kidneys are retroperitoneal organs- during fetal development, they move behind the parietal peritoneum. Extend from T12- L3
Medial portion of the kidneys
Medial portion is concave. Also contains the renal hilum- ureters, renal blood vessels, lymphatics, and renal nerve supply enter here
Where are the adrenal glands located?
Adrenal gland sits immediately superior to each kidney. Not associated with the function of the kidneys, however, if something affects the kidneys, it will usually affect the adrenal glands
Supporting external structures of the kidneys include (3)
- Renal fascia
- Perineal fat capsule
- Fibrous capsule
Renal fascia
Dense connective tissue. Function- anchors kidneys to surrounding structures
Perineal fat capsule
Fat mass surrounding kidneys. Function- cushions kidneys from physical trauma- kidneys not protected by rib cage like some other organs
Fibrous capsule
Thin, transparent capsule. Function- prevents disease from spreading to kidneys from other parts of the body
3 major internal regions of kidneys
- Renal cortex
- Renal medulla
- Renal pelvis
Renal cortex
Function- provides area for glomerular capillaries and blood vessel passage, EPO produced here. All cells responsible for EPO production are found in the cortex
Renal medulla
Contains renal pyramids- packed with capillaries and urine collecting tubules. There are 7 renal pyramids separated by renal columns
Kidney lobe
Consists of the renal pyramid and surrounding columns
Renal pelvis
Funnel shaped tube continuous with ureters. The pelvis branches to form major calyces (calyx), which lead into minor calyces. The function of renal calyces is urine collection and emptying into pelvis
How much blood goes to the kidney per minute
1200 ml
Renal arteries (4)
- Segmental arteries (5)
- Interlobar arteries- travel between kidney lobes
- Arcuate arteries- arch over bases of pyramids
- Cortical radiate arteries- supply cortical tissue
Renal veins (5)
Renal veins trace arterial blood supply.
- Cortical radiate veins
- Arcuate veins
- Interlobar veins
- Renal veins
- Segmental veins aren’t really referenced
Renal plexus
Autonomic nerve fibers and ganglia- sympathetic vasomotor fibers regulate blood supply to each kidney
Sympathetic nervous system function in the kidneys
Sympathetic vasomotor fibers regulate blood supply to each kidney. Function- adjusts diameter of renal arterioles, influences nephron activity. More blood is directed to kidneys in response to excess water- this is how blood vessel diameter affects urine formation. During times of stress, blood flow to the kidneys decreases so it can be diverted to other areas of the body- we don’t need to be making urine during a dangerous/stressful situation.
Nephron
The nephron is the functional unit of the kidney. Function- responsible for forming filtrate and eventually urine in the kidneys
Filtration definition
The mass movement of solutes and water from the plasma into the renal corpuscle and renal tubules. Remember- the kidneys filter blood
Reabsorption definition
The process by which nephrons remove water and solutes from the filtrate formed from filtration and return it to the blood. 99% of filtrate is reabsorbed by the body.
Secretion definition
Process by which excess ions and waste that have been reabsorbed are now put back into the filtrate. Filtration and reabsorption are passive processes, so some things are naturally reabsorbed- they need to be put back in the filtrate so they can actually be gotten rid of
Each nephron contains (2 structures)
- Renal corpuscle
2. Renal tubule
Renal corpuscle
Renal corpuscle filters blood to form filtrate
Renal tubule
Renal tubule reabsorbs what is needed by the body from the filtrate and secretes more substances into the filtrate. Filtrate is the raw material from which urine is formed
Where is the renal corpuscle located?
In the renal cortex
Subdivisions of the renal corpuscle (2)
- Glomerulus
2. Glomerular capsule
Glomerulus
Cluster of blood vessels, like a capillary bed- only capillary bed that is both fed and drained by arterioles. Glomerular capillaries are very porous, have large fenestrations. The part filtering out through the fenestrations is called the filtrate- only blood cells and large proteins are left
Glomerular capsule
Double layered structure that completely surrounds glomerular capillaries. Inner layer has podocytes with foot processes
Where are the renal tubules located?
Begins in renal cortex, extends into renal medulla, then returns to renal cortex
Renal tubules subdivisions (4)
- Proximal convoluted tubule (PCT)
- Nephron loop (loop of Henle)
- Distal convoluted tubule
- Collecting ducts
Proximal convoluted tubule (PCT)
Leads immediately off from glomerulus. Large cuboidal epithelial cells with dense microvilli- increases the surface area
Nephron loop (loop of Henle) descending loop
Portion continuous with PCT. High permeability to water, low permeability to solutes
Nephron loop (loop of Henle) ascending loop
Continuous with DCT. High permeability to solutes, low permeability to water. Water can’t move from inside the limb to surrounding space- having each side have different permeabilities lets us form concentrated urine if we need to
Distal convoluted tubule
Located in cortex, composed of small cuboidal epithelia. Smaller diameter than PCT, contain no microvilli
Collecting ducts
Ducts pass through cortex and medulla. Each collecting duct receives filtrate from tubules of multiple nephrons- filtrate becomes urine in the collecting ducts. Collecting ducts fuse together, dump urine into minor calyces
Important cell types in collecting ducts (2)
- Principal cells
2. Intercalated cells
Principal cells
Maintain sodium balance in the body
Intercalated cells
Helps maintain acid base balance- can secrete or reabsorb ions (hydrogen and bicarbonate)
Types of nephrons (2)
- Cortical nephrons
- Juxtamedullary nephrons
Length of nephron loop is the biggest difference
Cortical nephrons location
Located almost entirely in the cortex, a small portion of the nephron loop is found in renal medulla
Juxtamedullary nephrons
Nephron loops for these nephrons are very long, increasing the surface area, and deeply invade the renal medulla. During dehydration, these nephrons will form concentrated urine with low water content
Glomerulus capillaries pressure
Maintains high pressure to increase filtrate production
Peritubular capillaries
Low pressure capillaries arising from efferent arteriole. Cling to renal tubules- reabsorb water and solutes from tubule cells. Empty into venules- filtered blood returns to circulation
Vasa recta
Efferent arterioles of juxtamedullary nephrons- run parallel to long nephron loop. Help form concentrated urine
Juxtaglomerular complex
Portion of nephron where distal ascending limb lies against arterioles. Not directly involved in urine formation. Function- regulate blood pressure and filtration rate of the glomerulus. There are 3 cellular modifications at this point of contact
3 cellular modifications at this point of contact (juxtaglomerular complex)
- Macula densa
- Granular cells (juxtaglomerular cells)
- Extraglomerular mesangial cells
Macula densa
Chemoreceptor cells. Function- monitor NaCl content of filtrate entering distal convoluted tubule, and stimulate a change in diameter of afferent arteriole if sodium is too low or too high. High sodium- constriction of afferent tubules. Filtrate slows down so you maximize the amount of time you have to reabsorb sodium
Granular cells (juxtaglomerular cells)
Specialized smooth muscle cells found in arteriolar walls of afferent arteriole, and can sense blood pressure in the afferent arteriole. Also stimulated by macula densa cells. Contain granules that secrete renin
What increases renin release?
Low sodium concentration and low pressure in the arteriole. Low pressure= low filtrate formation= low urine production. With low pressure, you filter less blood- want to optimize filtrate formation
Extraglomerular mesangial cells
Packed between tubule and arterioles, function unclear
Main steps involved in urine formation (3)
- Glomerular filtration
- Reabsorption
- Secretion