Kidney

Question 1

Function of nephron

Answer 1

• produce ultrafiltrate from blood
• conserve water, electrolytes, metabolites
• remove metabolic waste
• control BP

Question 2

Anatomy of the kidney (outside to inside)

Answer 2

• capsule
• cortex
• medulla (pyramid = lobe)
• renal papilla + minor calyx
• renal artery/vein + ureter

Question 3

Function and structure of renal cortex

Answer 3

• produce filtrate of blood
• contains renal corpuscle

Question 4

Function and structure of renal medulla

Answer 4

• reabsorb electrolytes and water
• straight kidney tubules (descend/ascend)
• vasa recta (blood supply)

Question 5

Function and structure of renal papilla

Answer 5

• urine leaves medulla at papillae to travel to urinary bladder through the ureter
• papillary ducts

Question 6

The renal lobe and lobule

Answer 6

lobule = all nephrons drain into common collecting duct
- medullary ray in cortex at centre of lobule

lobe = contains many lobules
- pyramid + cortical region + 1/2 renal columns

Question 7

Connections of a nephron and flow of bile

Answer 7

renal corpuscle
glomerulus (capillaries inside renal corpuscle)
afferent arteriole (supply glomerulus)
interlobular + arcuate vessels (boundary of lobule)

Proximal convoluted tubule
Loop of Henle (thick descending, thin, thick ascending)
Distal convoluted tubule –> collecting duct

Question 8

Morphogenesis of Renal Corpuscle

Answer 8

• primitive renal tubule drawn to developing glomerulus
• glomerulus invaginate (visceral and parietal layer of Bowman’s capsule)
• epithelial cells –> podocytes

Question 9

Structure of Renal Corpuscle

Answer 9

• Vascular pole = distal convoluted tubule, macula densa, juxtaglomerular cells, afferent/efferent arterioles
• Glomerulus (capillary bed)
• Podocytes (visceral layer)
• Bowman’s capsule
• Urinary Space
• Urinary Pole = proximal convoluted tubule

Question 10

Structure of Podocytes

Answer 10

• primary process (feet on BM of endothelial cells)
• secondary process (actin + integrin)
• filtration slit diaphragm (nephrin) by size and charge

Question 11

Mesangial Cells

Answer 11

phagocytose and remove:
- trapped residues
- immune complexes