Kidneys Flashcards
Excretion
the removal of body waste products and toxins
Water potential
measure of potential energy of water, water always moves from high to low water potential
Osmoconformers
marine animals that allow body fluid to mirror environmental osmotic pressure (need to be isotonic)
use active transport to maintain ion concentration
Osmoregulators
animals (mostly mammals) that alter fluid levels by excreting water
Malpighian tubes
system of water and solute regulation in insects
Kidney
system of water and solute regulation in mammals
Urea
toxin created by metabolic pathways that can break down proteins and weak covalent bonds, and must be removed from body through urine
Only about 50% is reabsorbed to keep medullary osmolarity gradient
Main toxin found in mammal waste
Uric Acid
main toxin in insects and birds, excreted in solids and is the main waste product of metabolism
Nephron
the base unit of the kidney
Ultrafiltration
process that occurs in glomerulus of kidney, and occurs when hydrostatic pressure forced blood through the semi-permeable membrane to filter it
What are the water potentials in the process of filtering out blood?
Total water potential- 10mmHg out from glomerulus to Bowman’s capsule
Glomerulus- 55 mmHg out
Capsule- 15 mmHg in
Colloid pressure (pressure of the solids in the capsule)- 30 mmHg
Afferent arteriole
Entrance of the nephron, brings blood in to be filtered, contains following:
RBCs
Abs
Proteins
Hormones
WBCs
Vitamins
K+, Na+, Cl-, and glucose
Glomerulus
place in the nephron where filtration occurs
Bowman’s Capsule
(Ultrafiltration) capsule that covers the glomerulus, collects filtrate
Basement Membrane
fine mesh that restricts passage of blood cells and proteins in between glomerulus and bowman’s capsule
Efferent Arteriole
arteriole that removes blood from the nephron after being filtered
Filtrate Components
- Na+
- K+
- Cl-
- Vitamins
- Glucose
Proximal Convoluted Tubules (PCT)
(Selective Reabsorption) Extends from Bowman’s Capsule, where most of selective reabsorption takes place (glucose, amino acids, vitamins & hormones all reabsorbed here and abt 80% of ions and water)
Features of PCT cells
- Has microvilli to increase SA
- Contains lots of mitochondria
Which components of the filtrate are actively absorbed?
Minerals, ions, vitamins, and glucose
Which components of the filtrate are passively absorbed?
Water (follows salt passively through osmosis)
Loop of Henle
(Osmoregulation) area that establishes salt gradient in medulla
The loop of henle is long/short in desert conditions
long, because it allows for more water retention from a greater salt concentration
The descending limb of the loop of henle is permeable/impermeable to H2O and permeable/impermeable to NaCl
permeable to H2O, impermeable to NaCl