Kidney 1 Flashcards
What is the functional unit of the kidney?
Nephron
What are the X2 main parts of the nephron?
1) renal corpuscle
2) tubule
What are the main components of the renal corpuscle?
1) glomerulus = tangle of capillaries
2) Bowmans capsule = supporting structure of epithelia
Which type of arteriolar enters the glomerulus and which exits?
Afferent = arrives
Efferent = exits
What is the process by which plasma entering the glomerulus via the afferent arteriole enters the bowmans space?
What percentage of plasma undergoes this process?
Filtration
20%
What are the X3 layers of the filtration interface?
1) fenestrated capillary endothelium
2) basement membrane with fixed polyanions
3) podocytes with filtration slits
What is the structure of podocytes?
A central body with long extending foot processes
What are some examples of filtration slit proteins?
Nephrin
Podocin
What are the parts of the nephron?
Go through them step by step.
1) glomerulus
2) bowmans capsule
3) proximal convoluted tubule
4) proximal straight tubule
5) descending thin limb of loop of Henle
6) ascending thin limb of loop of Henle
7) ascending thick limb of loop of Henle
8) distal convoluted tubule (to include macula densa cells)
9) collecting ducts
What are the X2 types of nephron?
What are the distinguishing features of each?
What percentage of each type are there?
1) cortical nephrons
= 85% of nephrons
= renal corpuscle is in outer 2/3 of the cortex
= have a short loop of Henle which may not even reach the medulla
2) juxtamedullary nephrons
= 15% of nephrons
= renal corpuscle is in inner 1/3 of the cortex
= have a long loop of Henle
What is the significance of having the X2 types of nephrons?
They are important in the production of concentrated urine
What is the name of the group of cells found in the distal convoluted tubule and the afferent arteriole which help regulate filtration rate and blood pressure?
Juxtaglomerular apparatus
Which X2 specialised cells make up the juxtaglomerular apparatus?
Where are each of these located?
1) macula densa cells = on the distal convoluted tubule
2) juxtaglomerular cells = on the afferent arteriole
What do the juxtaglomerular cells do?
Secrete renin, which hydrolyses angiotensinogen to angiotensin 1
What do the macula densa cells do?
Monitor sodium levels
What does the juxtaglomerular apparatus imply about the arrangement of certain structure in the nephron?
That the distal convoluted tubule passes between the afferent and efferent arteriole
Which smooth muscle cells (not part of the juxtaglomerular apparatus) aid with the surface area available for filtration?
Where are these cells found?
The mesangial cells located around the glomerular capillaries
What is unusual about the blood supply to the nephron?
It has X2 arteriole a (afferent and efferent) with the efferent continuing to form a capillary bed around the renal tubules.
What is the name of the capillary bed formed by the efferent arteriole around the renal tubules?
What are these capillaries called when in the region around the loop of Henle
The peritubular capillary bed
The VASA RECTA
What are the main X3 renal processes?
1) glomerular filtration
2) tubule re-absorption
3) tubular secretion
What is the name of the filtered fluid found in the bowmans space?
Ultrafiltrate