Exam 2: Urinary System Flashcards
What are all the organs included in the Urinary system?
- Kidneys (2)
- Ureters (2)
- Urinary Bladder (1)
- Urethra (1)
What are the 4 general functions of the kidney?
- regulate water and electrolyte balance
- excretion of nitrogenous wastes and some water and electrolytes
- excretion of some other materials (i.e. drugs)
- secrete renin
What are the 6 general parts of the kidney?
- Capsule
- Hilum
- Renal pelvis
- major calyces
- minor calyces
- renal sinus
What is the capsule of the kidney made of?
dense irregular CT
it is thin and fibrous
What is the hilum of the kidney?
is concave and medial Where: - nerves in - ureters exit - blood and lymph enter and exit
What is the widening of the ureter called?
renal pelvis
What are the broad spaces w/in the kidney to collect urine and direct to renal pelvis? How many are there per kidney?
major calyces, 2-3 per kidney
What are the smaller collecting areas from each major calyx? What do they contain?
minor calyces–> contain renal papilla = tip of each renal pyramid
What is the area surrounding the pelvis, major calyces, and minor calyces? What does it contain?
renal sinus; contains adipose
What are the two general regions of the parenchyma within the kidney?
- Cortex
2. Medulla
What three things does the Cortex of the kidney contain?
- Renal corpuscles
- Tubules
- Medullary Rays
What do the medullary rays of the cortex of the kidney extend from? What do they contain?
extend from medulla into cortex
contain primarily portions of the Loop of Henle and collecting tubules
What does the medulla region of the kidney contain?
- Renal pyramids
2. Renal columns
How many renal pyramids are in each kidney?
8-12/kidney (in medulla)
has parallel nephrons and collecting ducts
What are the areas separating the renal pyramids in the kidney? What does it contain?
renal columns (found in renal medulla) Has: - blood vessels, - urinary tubes, and - fibrous CT
How many nephrons does each kidney contain?
~ 1 million
What are the 5 parts of a nephron and in order from where capillaries first interact with it?
- Renal Corpuscle
- Proximal Convoluted Tubules (PCT)
- Loop of Henle
- Distal Convoluted Tubule (DCT)
- Connecting Tubule
Where is the renal corpuscle located?
always in the cortex
What is the general function of the renal corpuscle?
blood filtration
What are the 3 parts of a renal corpuscle?
- Bowman’s (glomerular) capsule
- Glomerulus
- Mesangial Cells
How many layers does the Bowman’s Capsule have and what are they?
(found in Renal Corpuscle)
- Parietal Layer
- Visceral Layer
What type of epithelium is the parietal layer of the Bowman’s Capsule made of?
simple squamous epithelium
Where in the nephron are podocytes found?
in Visceral layer of Bowman’s capsule, part of the Renal corpuscle
What is the visceral layer of the Bowman’s Capsule mad of?
internal layer of podocytes
What are modified epithelial cells contain pedicels?
podocytes (in Visceral layer of Bowman’s Capsule)
What are the secondary podocyte cell processes covering the glomerular capillaries and creating filtration slits?
pedicels (in visceral layer of Bowman’s Capsule)
What is the space between the parietal and visceral layers of the Bowman’s capsule?
Urinary (capsular) space
What does the Urinary (capsular) space receive?
(part of the renal corpuscle)
receives the filtrated fluid from capillaries
What is the fenestrated capillary network inside the visceral layer of Bowman Capsule called?
Glomerulus (is a “tuft of capillaries”)
What type of basement membrane does the glomerulus have?
a thick basement membrane
What is the function of the glomerulus?
blocks large proteins
What makes the glomerulus unique about its placement?
located b/w 2 arterioles so muscle in tunica media can create an increased capillary pressure to enhance filtration
(contraction will increase filtration)
What are the special cells found w/in the renal corpuscles and are thought to replace regular CT cells?
Mesangial cells (are pericyte-like)
Where are Mesangial cells often present?
in areas lacking podocytes (all w/in the renal corpuscle)
What are the functions of Mesangial cells?
- structural support (of capillaries)
- adjust capillary pressure for good filtration
- phagocytosis of interfering materials
What are the first set of tubules after the renal corpuscle?
Proximal convoluted tubules (PCT)
What type of epithelium as the proximal convoluted tubules made of?
simple cuboidal with many long microvilli
Where are the proximal convoluted tubules located?
cortex of the kidney
What comes after the proximal convoluted tubules?
Loop of Henle (4 parts)
What are the four parts of the Loop of Henle?
- Proximal straight tubule
- thin descending limb
- thin ascending limb
- thick ascending limb
What type of epithelium is the proximal straight tubule made of?
simple cuboidal (NO microvilli)