Kidneys and Ureters Flashcards
What are the primary functions of the kidneys?
Regulation of electrolyte balance, acid-base balance, blood pressure, and blood filtration.
What is the renal hilum?
Indentation on the medial border of the kidney where the renal vessels and ureter enter and exit.
What is the renal cortex?
Outer region of the kidney containing nephrons.
What is the renal medulla?
Inner region of the kidney containing renal pyramids.
What is the renal pelvis?
Funnel-shaped structure that collects urine from the renal pyramids and funnels it into the ureter.
What are nephrons?
Functional units of the kidney responsible for urine formation.
What are the two main parts of a nephron?
Renal corpuscle and renal tubule.
What is the glomerulus?
Network of capillaries where blood filtration occurs.
What is Bowman’s capsule?
Double-walled capsule surrounding the glomerulus.
What is the renal tubule?
Long, twisted tube where urine formation occurs.
What are the three sections of the renal tubule?
Proximal convoluted tubule, loop of Henle, and distal convoluted tubule.
What is the proximal convoluted tubule (PCT)?
First segment of the renal tubule responsible for reabsorption and secretion.
What is the loop of Henle?
U-shaped portion of the renal tubule.
What are the two parts of the loop of Henle?
Descending limb and ascending limb.
What is the distal convoluted tubule (DCT)?
Last segment of the renal tubule responsible for fine-tuning electrolyte balance.
What is the collecting duct?
Structure that receives urine from multiple nephrons and carries it to the renal pelvis.
What is the juxtaglomerular apparatus (JGA)?
Specialized structure involved in regulating blood pressure and filtration rate.
What are the functions of the juxtaglomerular apparatus?
Regulating blood pressure, glomerular filtration rate, and renin secretion.
What is the renal corpuscle?
Combination of the glomerulus and Bowman’s capsule.
What are podocytes?
Specialized cells in Bowman’s capsule involved in filtration.
What is renal blood flow?
Volume of blood flowing through the kidneys per unit of time.
What is the renal artery?
Blood vessel that supplies oxygenated blood to the kidneys.
What is the renal vein?
Blood vessel that carries deoxygenated blood away from the kidneys.
What is the ureter?
Tube connecting the kidney to the bladder.
What is the trigone of the bladder?
Triangular area in the bladder delineated by the openings of the ureters and urethra.
What is the detrusor muscle?
Smooth muscle layer of the bladder responsible for contraction during urination.
What is the urethra?
Tube connecting the bladder to the exterior of the body.
What is the internal urethral sphincter?
Smooth muscle sphincter at the bladder neck.
What is the external urethral sphincter?
Skeletal muscle sphincter under voluntary control.
What is renal autoregulation?
Intrinsic ability of the kidneys to maintain a relatively constant glomerular filtration rate.
What is the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS)?
Hormonal system involved in regulating blood pressure and fluid balance.
What is the role of aldosterone in renal function?
Increases sodium reabsorption and potassium excretion in the kidneys.
What is the role of antidiuretic hormone (ADH) in renal function?
Increases water reabsorption in the kidneys.
What is glomerular filtration rate (GFR)?
Volume of fluid filtered from the glomeruli into the Bowman’s capsule per unit of time.
What factors affect GFR?
Blood pressure, blood volume, and resistance in the renal arterioles.
What is renal clearance?
Volume of plasma from which a substance is completely removed by the kidneys per unit of time.
What is the significance of renal clearance in clinical practice?
Indicates kidney function and efficiency of substance clearance.
What is tubular reabsorption?
Movement of substances from the renal tubules back into the bloodstream.
What substances are typically reabsorbed in the renal tubules?
Glucose, amino acids, and electrolytes.
What is tubular secretion?
Movement of substances from the bloodstream into the renal tubules.
What substances are typically secreted in the renal tubules?
Hydrogen ions, potassium ions, and drugs.
What is the countercurrent mechanism?
Mechanism by which the nephron establishes a concentration gradient in the medulla.
How does the countercurrent mechanism contribute to urine concentration?
Facilitates reabsorption of water and concentration of urine.
What is the role of the vasa recta in the countercurrent mechanism?
Maintains the concentration gradient without washing out solutes.
What is the micturition reflex?
Reflex that controls the storage and emptying of urine from the bladder.
What is the role of the pontine micturition center in micturition?
Brain region that coordinates the micturition reflex.
What is the voluntary control of micturition?
Ability to consciously initiate or inhibit urination.
What is the role of the sympathetic nervous system in micturition?
Inhibits detrusor muscle contraction and stimulates internal urethral sphincter contraction.
What is the role of the parasympathetic nervous system in micturition?
Stimulates detrusor muscle contraction and relaxes internal urethral sphincter.
What is renal physiology?
Study of the function of the kidneys.
