L23: Renal System I Flashcards
kidneys process blood by
removing substances from it and in a few cases adding substances to it
major renal functions
regulation of the volume, osmolarity, mineral composition, acidity of the body by excreting water and inorganic electrolytes in amounts adequate to achieve homeostasis
second renal function
excretion of waste products (urea, uric acid, creatinine, hemoglobin waste products)
urea is a waste product of
proteins
uric acid is a waste product of
nucleic acids
creatinine is a waste product of
muscle creatinine
third renal function
removal of foreign chemicals
fourth renal function
gluconeogenesis (synthesis of glucose from amino acids and other precursors)
fifth renal function
production of hormones and enzymes
what enzymes/hormones do kidney produce?
erythropoietin (erythrocyte production)
renin (blood pressure, sodium balance)
1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (calcium balance)
kidneys location
abdominal (peritoneal) cavity in the posterior abdominal wall
ureters
transport urine from kidneys to the bladder
the bladder
stores urine until voided from body
urethra
carries urine from bladder to the outside of the body
two major regions of kidneys
inner renal medulla and outer renal cortex
the site of ultrafiltration
outer renal cortex
kidneys receive ___% of the cardiac output
20-25%
kidneys constitute __% of the total body weight
0.4%
___ is critical to renal function
high rate of blood flow
renal arteries
branch off the abdominal aorta, supply blood to the kidneys
renal veins
carry blood from the kidneys to the inferior vena cava
each kidney has over __ million nephrons
1 million
the basic structural & functional unit of the kidney
nephron