L26 - kidney structure & blood filtration

Question 1

renal system

Answer 1

• kidneys
• ureter
• bladder
• urethra

Question 2

4 functions of the kidney

Answer 2

1. regulation of water, salts, acid-base balance
2. removal of metabolic waste
3. removal of foreign chemicals
4. gluconeogenesis (formation of glucose)
5. production of hormones/ enzymes

Question 3

what enzymes/hormones does the kidney produce?

Answer 3

• erythropoietin (rbc production)
• renin (controls bp + na balance)
• activates vitamin D (regulates ca)

Question 4

kidney anatomy

Answer 4

• outside is capsule
• then the cortex
• the little shell shapes are medulla
• the middle bit is the renal pelvis
• the tube thing is the ureter

Question 5

overview of nephron

Answer 5

• each nephron feel into collecting ducts
• which feed into ureter
• functional unit of kidney

Question 6

describe the cortex of the nephron

Answer 6

• top half
• glomerulus, bowmans capsule
• PCT
• DCT

Question 7

describe the medulla of the kidney

Answer 7

• loop of henle
• collecting duct

Question 8

describe order of nephron

Answer 8

1. glomerulus, bowmans capsule
2. PCT
3. descending loop of henle
4. ascending
5. DCT
6. collecting duct

Question 9

blood supply + the nephron

Answer 9

• afferent arteriole : blood with waste in
• efferent arteriole: clean blood out

Question 10

3 key functions of nephron

Answer 10

1. glomerular filtration
2. tubular secretion
3. tubular reabsorption

Question 11

process of glomerular filtration

Answer 11

• podocytes surround blood vessels within glomerulus
• sieve like structures
• allow free passage of small molecules from blood to kidney tubules

Question 12

how is the glomerular filtration rate regulated?

Answer 12

• fluid filtered through glomeruli by pressure of flow through blood vessels
• regulated by adjusting blood pressure either side of glomerulus
• so kindeys maintain water + salt balance

Question 13

what is the GFR?

Answer 13

volume of fluid filtered from glomeruli to bowman’s space per unit time

Question 14

control of GFR: reducing pressure

Answer 14

• reducing pressure in glomerulus reduces GFR
• constrict afferent vessels
• dilate the efferent
• reduces water + salt loos through excretion

Question 15

control of GFR: increasing pressure

Answer 15

• increases GFR
• constricting efferent vessels
• dilating afferent vessels
• increases salt + water excretion

Question 16

how much water does the average person contain?

Answer 16

40L

Question 17

is glucose excreted?

Answer 17

no its filtered out but then reabsorbed