Flashcards
(34 cards)
What is the composition of a capsule in the kidney?
Collagen fibers, smooth muscle fibers, blood capillaries
The capsule provides structural support and protection to the kidney.
What does the parenchyma of the kidney consist of?
Millions of nephrons, branches of renal arteries, veins, lymphatics, and nerves
Parenchyma is the functional tissue of the kidney.
What is the basic structural and functional unit of the kidney?
Nephron
Nephrons are responsible for filtering blood and producing urine.
What are the two main parts of a nephron?
- Renal corpuscle
- Renal tubule
The renal corpuscle includes the glomerulus and Bowman’s capsule.
Define the renal corpuscle.
Capillary ball covered by podocyte & surrounded by simple squamous epithelial capsule
The renal corpuscle is the initial filtering component of the nephron.
What is the primary function of a nephron?
Regulate the concentration of water and soluble substances, eliminate wastes, regulate blood volume and pressure, control electrolyte levels, and regulate blood pH
These functions are essential for maintaining homeostasis.
What hormones regulate nephron functions?
- Antidiuretic hormone
- Aldosterone
- Parathyroid hormone
These hormones play crucial roles in fluid and electrolyte balance.
What are the components of the juxtaglomerular apparatus?
- Macula densa
- Extraglomerular mesangial cells
- Juxtaglomerular cells
This apparatus regulates nephron function and blood pressure.
What is the structure of the proximal convoluted tubule?
Lined with simple cuboidal epithelium & prominent brush border
The brush border increases surface area for reabsorption.
What is the significance of the loop of Henle?
It has thick and thin ascending and descending portions, crucial for urine concentration
The loop of Henle plays a key role in creating a concentration gradient in the medulla.
Fill in the blank: The _______ is a narrow, innermost tip of the pyramid in the kidney.
Papilla
The papilla allows urine to flow from the kidney to the calyx.
What are the layers of the ureter wall?
- Mucosa
- Muscular coat
- Fibrosa
These layers facilitate the transport of urine from the kidneys to the bladder.
True or False: The male urethra is shorter than the female urethra.
False
The male urethra is longer and divided into three sections.
What is the function of the detrusor muscle?
Controls the contraction of the urinary bladder
The detrusor muscle is under autonomic nervous control, facilitating urine expulsion.
What is the capacity of a healthy urinary bladder?
About 500 mL
This capacity can vary based on individual physiology and hydration status.
What type of epithelium lines the urinary bladder?
Urothelium (transitional epithelium)
Urothelium allows for expansion and contraction of the bladder.
What are the layers of the urinary bladder wall from inside out?
- Lining epithelium
- Lamina propria
- Muscularis propria
- Serosa/Adventitia
These layers work together to provide structure and function to the bladder.
What is the role of interstitial cells of Cajal in the bladder?
Function as pacemaker cells and nerve signal transducers
These cells help regulate the contraction of smooth muscle in the bladder.
What happens to the urothelium when the bladder fills?
Reorganizes from five to seven layers thick to two or three layers thick
This ability to change thickness allows for bladder expansion without damage.
What are the umbrella cells in the urothelium characterized by?
Dome-shaped cells that become flat in a distended bladder
Umbrella cells may also be multinucleated.
What layers compose the urothelium?
Superficial umbrella cells, multi-cell-layered intermediate layer, single-cell basal layer
The number of layers in the intermediate layer depends on bladder distension.
What is the main feature of the basal layer of the urothelium?
Contains mononucleated, cuboidal cells with mitotic capability
This layer shows great regenerative capacity despite a gradual turnover rate.
What is the lamina propria?
A sub-urothelial layer containing various components
The specific contents are discussed in the “Structure” section.
What ultrastructural feature do umbrella cells demonstrate?
Plaques or asymmetrical unit membrane associated with actin filaments
Actin filaments extend from the plaques to the cytoplasm of umbrella cells.
