Kidney - general info Flashcards
What is the basic unit of the kidney?
the nephron
What is the kidney composed of?
renal corpuscle, tubules, interstitium, vessels, and the renal pelvis
What is the renal corpuscle composed of?
glomerulus, urinary space, bowman’s capsule, and afferent and efferent arterioles
What is the interstitium of the kidney?
the fibrous connective tissue that holds it all together
In what species is the nephron not permanently developed when born?
the dog and cat
What parts of the renal corpuscle regulate blood flow?
macula densa and juxtaglomerular cells
What is the filtration apparatus of the glomerulus made up of?
endothelium, basement membrane, and podocytes
What structural characteristic does the endothelium of the filtration apparatus have to allow things to flow in and out?
fenestrations
What charge is the basement membrane of the glomerulus?
net negative charge
What are the podocytes made up of?
slit pore diaphragm and pedicels
What is the slit pore diaphragm?
the final component of the filtration apparatus
What is podocalyxin?
a negatively glycoprotein that covers the pedicels
What is the function of the kidney?
rid metabolic wastes, regulate body water volume, maintain ion balances, acid/base balance, and endocrine function
What effect does an increase in ADH have on the collecting duct?
it increases the absorption of H2O created concentrated urine
What effect does a decrease in ADH have on the collecting duct?
it decreases absorption of H2O creating dilute urine
What is the glomerular filtration rate?
the rate at which ultrafiltrate is produced
What is glomerular filtration dependent on?
renal blood flow
What does the glomerular filtration rate determine?
the rate at which compounds are cleared from blood
What are the types of azotemia?
pre-renal, renal, and post-renal
What is the general cause of pre-renal azotemia?
decreased renal blood flow
What is the general cause of renal azotemia?
lesion to the kidney
What is the general cause of post-renal azotemia?
obstruction
What percentage of nephrons are extra than needed for normal function?
60-70%
