Kidney

Question 1

What are the 4 main functions of the kidney?

Answer 1

• Regulation body fluid volume
• Regulate body fluid composition
• Excrete metabolic waste & toxins
• Endocrine functions

Question 2

What structures does the cortex contain?

Answer 2

Corpuscles

PCT + DCT

Question 3

What structures does the medulla contain?

Answer 3

Straigh tubules

Loop of henle

Question 4

How much of the cardiac output supplies the kidney?

Answer 4

20%

Question 5

What is the passage of blood supply to the kidney?

Answer 5

Renal artery –> interlobular arteries –> arcuate arteries –> afferent arterioles –> glomerular capillaries –> efferent arterioles

Question 6

Why is it important to have high pressure up until the end of the efferent arteriole?

Answer 6

For filtration at glomerulus

Question 7

What are the two components of the nephron and what do they do?

Answer 7

• Renal corpuscle - filters blood to produce filtrate

- Uriniferous tubule - drains + modifies filtrate to produce urine

Question 8

What two structures make up the renal corpuscle?

Answer 8

• Bowman’s capsule

- Glomerulus

Question 9

What are the 2 poles of bowman’s capsule?

Answer 9

• Vascular pole - at arteriole end

- Urinary pole - where uriniferous tubule exits

Question 10

What are the 3 components of the filtration barrier & what are their important properties?

Answer 10

• Capillary membrane - fenestrations determine size
• Basement membrane - negative charge - determines charge
• Epithelial cells (podocytes) - foot processes & filtration slits

Question 11

What produces EPO & what does it do?

Answer 11

Interstitial cells of cortex & outer medulla - acts as growth factor that stimulates RBC production in bone marrow

Question 12

Why can kidney disease cause bone disease?

Answer 12

Kidney produces 1alpha-hydroxylase which converts precursor to vitamin D which aids Ca2+ absorption.