Chapter 25: Urinary system Flashcards
What are the four organs that make up this system?
Kidneys, ureters, urinary bladder, and urethra
What are the 7 functions of the urinary system?
1) maintain fluid and electrolyte balance
2) remove metabolic wastes
3) maintain acid - base balance
4) secretes renin to control BP
5) secretes erythropoietin (RBC synthesis)
6) carries out gluconeogenesis during prolonged fasting
7) activates vit D to regulate Ca absorption in DT
Briefly explain what gluconeogenesis is.
It is the production of glucose from non-carb substances like protein and fats
Where do blood, lymph, nerves, and ureters enter the kidneys?
at the hilium
Are the kidneys retroperitoneal?
yes
What are the three layers of supportive tissues for the kidneys. Briefly describe what their function is.
RENAL FASCIA: outer layer
- dense fibrous CT
function - anchors kidneys to body wall
ADIPOSE CAPSULE: middle layer
- perirenal fat
function - cushions and protects
RENAL (FIBROUS) CAPSULE: innermost
- attached to kidney surface
function - prevents spread of infection
What are the three regions of the kidney?
cortex (outer)
medulla (middle)
renal pelvis (inner)
Describe the cortex of the kidneys
- lighter in colour
- granular layer (b/c of gromeruli)
- contains most of the nephrons
Describe the medulla of the kidneys
consists of 8 lobes
each LOBE:
- contains a renal PYRAMID; these are collecting ducts which drain into papillae
- renal COLUMNS run between lobes and carry blood vessels
Describe the renal pelvis of the kidneys
funnel shaped structure that collects urine from the major calyces and drains into the ureter
What type of tissue makes up the walls of the renal pelvis, calyces, and ureter? What does this allow for?
smooth muscle to allow for peristalsis
Describe the flow of urine
nephrons -> collecting ducts -> papillae -> minor calyx -> major calyx -> renal pelvis -> ureter -> urinary bladder -> urethra -> into toilet (hopefully haha)
How much blood do the renal arteries supply the kidney per minute? What fraction of cardiac output does this represent?
about 1200 mL
1/4 of cardiac output
Describe the flow of blood through the kidneys.
aorta -> renal artery -> segmental arteries -> lobar arteries -> interlobar arteries -> arcuate arteries -> cortical radiate arteries -> afferent arteries -> glomeruli capillary loops -> efferent arteriole -> peritubular capillaries -> cortical radiate vein -> arcuate vein -> interlobar vein -> renal vein -> inferior vena cava
Describe the nerve supply for the kidneys.
by the renal fibers
innervated by SYMPATHETIC vasomotor fibers: regulate blood flow through the nephron by controlling renal arteriole diameter
What is a nephron? How many are there in each kidney?
it is the structural and functional unit of the kidney
approximately 1 million
What are the 2 major parts of a nephron and the structures that form them.
1) RENAL CORPUSCLE:
Glomerular (Bowman’s) capsule + glomerulus
2) RENAL TUBULE:
proximal convoluted tubule -> loop of henle -> distal convoluted tubule
What is a collecting duct in the kidneys?
it is a structure that collects urine from many different nephrons
Describe the structure of the glomerular capsule.
Consists of 2 different layers with a space in between them (space is where the filtrate forms).
Outer PARIETAL layer:
- simple squamous epithelium
Inner VISCERAL layer:
- cover gromerular capillaries
- lined with PODOCYTES have foot processes that form filtration slits
Describe the structure of the glomerulus.
it is a cluster of leaky capillaries
- endothelium is fenestrated: many pores to allow substances to pass
What is the driving force behind filtration in the kidneys?
hydrostatic pressure
Describe the structure of the proximal convoluted tubule.
Simple CUBOIDAL epithelium with microvilli
- contain many mitochondria to drive active transport
function:
- drains filtrate from cavity of gromerular capsule
- reabsorption and secretion
What part of the kidney are proximal convoluted tubules found?
in the cortex (low salt)
Describe the structure of the loop of henle
DSCENDING limb: thin segment
- simple squamous epithelium
ASCENDING limb: thick segment
- cuboidal epithelium
all extend into medulla, juxtamedullary extend very deep into medulla
Describe the structure of the distal convoluted tubule
made of cuboidal epithelium with few microvilli
- function is more secretion than reabsorption
confined to the renal cortex
What are the collecting ducts of the kidneys?
they are tubules that receive urine from many nephrons
fuse together to deliver urine through the papilla to minor calyx
What are the 2 different types of cells in the collecting ducts of the kidneys? What is their function
INTERCALATED cells: have microvilli
- acid-base balance
PRINCIPAL cells: no microvilli
- water and salt balance
What are the two possible locations of the nephrons?
CORTICAL: entirely in cortex except for loop of henle
85% of nephrons
role: excretion and regulation
JUXTAMEDULLARY: very close to junction of regions
15% of nephrons
role: concentration or dilution of urine
Describe the peritubular capillaries.
they are a capillary bed that receive blood from efferent arteriole and surround renal tubules
- are porous and low in pressure (facilitates absorption)
- absorb fluid and solutes from filtrate
- secrete some substances into filtrate
What are the vasa recta of the kidneys?
they are peritubular capillaries that surround juxtamedullary nephrons and extend deep into medulla
What is the juxtagromerular apparatus (JGA)?
a sensory structure located just outside the glomerulus where efferent and afferent arterioles and ascending limb of loop of henle meet.
What are the two types of cells in the juxtagromular apparatus (JGA)?
Granular JG cells
Macula densa cells
Describe the granular JG cells of the JGA including location and function
smooth muscle cells
- located in afferent arteriole
- act as mechanoreceptors: respond to dec in BP
- granules release renin to inc BP (REGULATION of systemic BP)
Describe the macula densa cells including location and function.
located in ascending limb of loop of henle
- act as osmoreceptors
low solute content or filtrate flow -> release of vasodilator -> inc blood flow -> inc GFR
FUNCTION: regulates rate of filtrate formation
What are the three processes involved in urine formation?
1) Glomerular filtration
2) Tubular reabsorption
3) Tubular secretion
How many times in a day do the kidneys filter the body’s entire plasma volume?
60 times
What does tubular reabsorption return?
all glucose and amino acids
99% of water
salt
and other components
How can blood pressure in the gromerulus be altered?
through vasoconstriction/dilation of the afferent arteriole
Describe the filtration membrane
consists of the visceral gromerular capsule layer (podocytes) with foot process
fenestrated endothelium of the gromerular capillaries
and the gel-like basement membrane that fuses the two
what is the function of the filtration membrane?
allow passage of: water and solutes smaller than most plasma proteins (< 5 nm)
prevent passage of: blood cells, plasma proteins, macromolecules
Ho much greater is gromerular blood pressure than in other capillaries
55 mm Hg
Why is it important that plasma proteins not be filtered out of the blood.
because they are vital to retain the blood’s high osmotic pressure and therefore the blood’s ability to reabsorb water
What does NFP stand for?
net filtration pressure
describe the pressure components that net filtration pressure is dependent upon
GROMERULAR hydrostatic pressure (HPg)
- main force that moves fluid from glomerulus into capsule
2 opposing forces: move back into glomerulus
COLLOID osmotic pressure of glomerular blood (OPg)
CAPSULAR hydrostatic pressure of filtrate (HPc)
there is a 4th force that is considered 0 since there should be no proteins in flitrate, but in abnormal conditions could change (ex diabetes insipidus)
OPc - colloid osmotic pressure of capillaries
How is net filtration pressure calculated?
NFP = HPg - (OPg + HPc)
Briefly explain what glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is and its relationship with NFP
it is total gromerular filtrate formed in mL/min
directly proportional to NFP