Kaplan Prep - Renal System (Kidneys) - problem set 1

Question 1

what four structures (two of the four are pairs) is the urinary system composed of?

Answer 1

The urinary system is composed of:
a pair of kidneys
two ureters
a urinary bladder
and the urethra.

Question 2

What four functions do the kidneys carry out?

Answer 2

The kidneys carry out:
filtration of wastes 
homeostasis of fluid
homeostasis of blood 
chemical makeup (of blood)

Question 3

What do the ureters look like?

Answer 3

Ureters look like (and are) tubes

Question 4

What do the ureters functionally do?

Answer 4

Transport urine from the kidney to the bladder

Question 5

What is the difference between what the bladder does with urine and what the urethra does with urine?

Answer 5

The bladder stores urine.

The urethra carries urine out of the body.

Question 6

What is the shape of the human kidney?

Answer 6

the human kidney is shaped like a bean

Question 7

What is the size of the human kidney?

Answer 7

the human kidney is about the size of a can of soup

Question 8

How much does the human kidney weigh?

Answer 8

the human kidney weighs about 5 ounces

Question 9

Describe the location of the right kidney

Answer 9

The right kidney is located in the lumbar region between the T-12 and L-3 vertebra.

Question 10

Why does the right kidney lie lower than the left kidney?

Answer 10

It lies lower than the left kidney because of the liver’s location just above the right kidney.

Question 11

What is the kidney sinus?

Answer 11

The renal sinus is the space within the kidney near the renal hilus.

Question 12

What is the importance of the kidney sinus?

Answer 12

It is the entry point of the:
ureters,
blood vessels,
and nerves.

Question 13

What are the names of the 3 layers that surround the kidney?

Answer 13

outer renal fascia (outermost layer)
adipose capsule
renal capsule

Question 14

Describe the renal capsule

Answer 14

The renal capsule is a tough fibrous outer skin

Question 15

What is the function of the renal capsule?

Answer 15

The renal capsule

protects the kidney from injury and infection.

Question 16

What is the function of the adipose capsule?

Answer 16

The adipose capsule is a fatty layer that protects the kidney from trauma.

Question 17

What is the function of the outer renal fascia

Answer 17

The outer renal fascia is dense fibrous connective tissue which keeps the kidney in place inside the abdominal cavity.

Question 18

Name the 3 sections of the kidney

Answer 18

renal cortex, renal medulla, and renal pelvis

Question 19

What structures are contained in the renal cortex?

Answer 19

the renal corpuscle (containing glomerular capsule and bowman’s capsule)
the proximal convoluted tubules
the distal convoluted tubules
blood vessels.

Question 20

What three structures are contained in the renal medulla?

Answer 20

the Loop of Henle,
the collecting ducts
and blood vessels.

Question 21

What structures are contained in the renal pelvis?

Answer 21

The renal pelvis connects to the ureter and has extensions called calyces which collect urine.

Question 22

What section or area of the kidney is the renal pelvis in?

Answer 22

the centermost section of the kidney

Question 23

What does the renal pelvis look like?

Answer 23

a funnel-shaped tube

Question 24

What does the renal pelvis CONNECT to?

Answer 24

The renal pelvis is a funnel shaped tube that CONNECTS to the ureter.

Question 25

Describe the function of the renal pelvis

Answer 25

Extensions of the pelvis called calyces collect urine which drains into the renal pelvis and then into the ureter.

Question 26

What volume of blood per minute flows to the kidney?

Answer 26

About 1200 ml of blood per minute of blood flows into the kidney

Question 27

Why is there such a large volume flowing to the kidney?

Answer 27

so that all of the blood can be filtered.

Question 28

Trace the flow of blood through the vessels of the kidney from renal artery into the glomerulus and back to the renal vein.

Answer 28

(1) Renal artery, (2) Segmental artery, (3) Lobar artery, (4) Interlobar artery, (5) Arcuate artery, (6) Interlobular artery, (7) Afferent arteriole, (8) Glomerular capillaries, (9) Efferent arteriole, (10) Peritubular or Vasa recta capillaries, (11) Interlobular vein, (12) Arcuate vein, (13) Interlobar vein, (14) Renal vein