Kidneys Flashcards
What are the functions of the kidneys?
Filter blood and produce urine from waste, excrete metabolism waste, control blood volume and ion concentration, maintain acid-base balance
What is the outer layer of the kidney?
Cortex
What is the inner layer of the kidney?
Medulla
What is the functional unit of the kidneys?
The nephron
What is the course of urine in the kidenys?
From collecting duct of nephron it goes into the pyramids which trains into 2-3 minor calyces which drain into the 2-3 major calyces. These drain into the renal pelvis which drains into the ureter which goes to the bladder.
What is a hilum?
Where structures leave or enter an organ
What structures are at the hilum of the kidneys?
Renal vein, renal artery, ureter, lymphatics and sympathetics.
In the nephron, what is the knot of capillaries called?
Glomeruli
What is the glomeruli capillaries encased in?
Bowman’s capsule
What happens to blood at glomeruli?
Anything smaller than 64 kDa is filtered
What is the structure formed from the glomeruli and Bowman’s capsule called?
Renal corpuscle
Describe the nephron in order
Renal corpuscle, proximal convoluted tubule, loop of Henle, distal convoluted tubule, collecting duct
What happens in proximal convoluted tubule?
Reabsorption of essential substances such as glucose
What happens in loop of henle?
Water reabsorption
What happens in distal convoluted tubule?
secretion of things not filtered in glomeruli
