Chapter 25: Urinary System Flashcards
Kidneys
major excretory organs
Urinary Bladder
the temporary storage reservoir for urine
Ureters
transport urine from the kidneys to the bladder
Urethra
transports urine out of the body
Kidney functions
- removal of toxins, metabolic wastes, and excess ions from the blood
- regulation of blood volume, chemical composition, and pH
- Gluconeogenesis during prolonged fasting
- Endocrine functions:
- Renin
- Erythropoietin (EPO)
-Activation of vitamin D
Endocrine functions
- Renin: regulation of blood pressure and kidney function
- Erythropoietin (EPO): regulation of RBC production
Internal Anatomy: Renal Cortex
A granular superficial region
Internal Anatomy: Renal Medulla
-The cone-shaped pyramids separated by renal columns
Internal Anatomy: Renal pelvis
The funnel-shaped tube within the renal sinus, continuous with the ureter
Nephrons
-Structural and functional units that form urine
- Two main parts:
1. Renal Corpuscle: capsule (Bowman’s) and glomerulus
- Renal Tubule: proximal and distal convoluted tubule, nephron loop & collecting duct
Nephrons: 2 types
-> Cortical nephrons:
85% of nephrons; almost entirely in the cortex
- > Juxtamedullary nephrons: *Long loops of Henle deeply invade the medulla
- Important in the production of concentrated urine
Nephron Capillary beds:
1. Glomerulus
Afferent arteriole-> glomerulus-> efferent arteriole (only place in body)
- Specialized for filtration. Blood pressure is high bc:
- Arterioles are high pressure
- afferent arterioles are larger in diameter than efferent arterioles
Nephron capillary beds:
2. Peritubular capillaries
- low pressure, porous, meandering
- associated with cortical nephron
Nephron capillary beds:
3. Vasa recta
- long and straight vessel loops of Henle
- juxtamedullary nephrons
- formation of concentrated urine
Cortical nephron
- has short loop of henle and glomerulus
- efferent arteriole supplies peritubular capillaries
juxtamedullary nephron
- has long loop of henle and glomerulus
- efferent arteriole supplies vasa recta
Renal tubule
- glomerular capsule
- proximal convoluted tubule: functions in reabsorption and secretion
- Loop of henle: descending and ascending limbs
- distal convoluted tubule: secretion
- collecting ducts: receives filtrate from many nephrons
juxtaglomerular complex (JGC)
- 1 per nephron
- important in regulation of filtrate formation and blood pressure
- involves modified portions of the
- distal portion of the ascending limb of the loop of henle
- afferent (sometime efferent) arteriole
juxtaglomerular complex (JGC): GRANULAR CELLS
- wall of afferent arteriole
- mechanoreceptors (monitor BP)
- secrete enzyme renin