kidney Flashcards
What’re the 3 main areas of the kidney
- cortex
- medulla
- pelvis
What usually surrounds the kidney
protective layer of fat and a layer of fibrous connective tissue
What’s the kidney involved in
- excretion
- osmoregulation
What structures make up the kidney
millions of small nephrons
What do nephrons do
act as filtering units
Where does urine pass out of the kidney
down tubules called ureters
What happens when the bladder is full
the sphincter at the exit to the bladder opens and the urine passes out down the urethra
What happens in the cortex of the kidney
filtering of blood takes place
What’re the features of the cortex
dense capillary network
What does the capillary network in the cortex do
carry’s blood from the renal artery to the nephrons
What’s darker in colour the cortex or the medulla, of the kidney
cortex
What does the medulla contain
tubules of the nephrons
What do tubules of the nephrons form
pyramids of the kidney and the collecting ducts
What’s the pelvis of the kidney
the central chamber material
What happens in the central chamber material of the kidney
urine collects before passing out down the ureter
What are nephrons function in the kidney
filter the blood removing nitrogenous wastes and balancing mineral ions