Kidneys at Work

Question 1

Urinary System: Main Structures

Answer 1

• Two kidneys (filter, reabsorb essential nutrients and excrete waste from blood)
• Adrenal glands (secrete hormones that act on kidneys)
• Ureters (transports urine from the kidneys to the bladder for storage)
• Bladder (stores urine until it is excreted)
• Urethra (transports urine from the bladder to outside the body when urinating)

Question 2

Glomerular Filtration Rate

Answer 2

A measure of how much blood the kidneys are filtering per minute.

Question 3

GFR Rates

Answer 3

• Normal: 125mL/min
• Impairment: 60-100mL/min
• Mild renal failure: 30-60mL/min
• Moderate-severe renal failure: 15-30mL/min
• End-stage: <15mL/min

Question 4

Sieve Holes in Glomerulus

Answer 4

Too small for protein molecules to filter through them, so when protein is found in the urine it means the holes have gotten bigger or opened up and filtration is not occurring properly.