L32 - Gross Structure of the Kidney

Question 1

Roles of the Urinary System

Answer 1

• Filter out excess water and salts, waste from metabolites, toxins and drugs.
• Endocrine roles: RbC production and Blood pressure.

Question 2

In order to be effective urinary system needs:

Answer 2

Delivery (blood)
Selective filtration
Filtrate recovery mechanism
System to return filtered fluid
System to remove filtrate
protection
Ability to communicate
adaptable

Question 3

Structure of Urinary System

Answer 3

2 kidneys
2 Ureters
Urinary Bladder
regulatory nerves and muscles
Medial surface of kidney concave notch called Hilum, contains blood vessels, lymphatics, nerves, ureter

Question 4

Location of the Kidneys

Answer 4

Below liver
T12 - L3
11th and 12th ribs protect
On posterior abdominal wall
Covered on anterior side by peritoneum
Retroperitoneal
protected and supported by fat

Question 5

Structure of the kidney allows

Answer 5

Blood to be brought into close proximity with nephron for filtering
A pathway for urine to be removed from the kidney

Question 6

Gross Structure of the Kidney

Answer 6

Three regions: Cortex, medulla and pelvis

Surrounded by fibrous capsule

Question 7

Inner Medulla

Answer 7

divided into pyramids

Each medullary pyramid ends in papilla

Question 8

Outer Cortex

Answer 8

Continuous layer containing renal columns

Question 9

Cortex and medulla

Answer 9

Multiple functional lobes

5-11 lobes for kidney, depending on person

Question 10

Structure of urine drainage from kidney

Answer 10

Urine drains from each papilla and collects in the calyx
Calcyes join to form renal pelvis
Pelvis narrows as it exits the hilum to become the ureter

Question 11

Bloods Supply to Kidney

Answer 11

Urine produced by filtering waste of blood into nephron
Filtration occurs in the cortex of the kidney
Renal arteries arise from the abdominal aorta
Arteries get smaller and smaller until they reach the cortex.

Question 12

What happens to blood in the cortex

Answer 12

Cortex to afferent arteriole to glomerulus (collection fo capillaires specialised for filtration)
Blood then travels via efferent arteriole, through peritubular capillaries (reabsorption) then through veins

Question 13

Blood flow supply into cortex after being filtered:

Answer 13

Abdominal aorta –> renal artery –> Series of arteries –> afferent arteriole –> glomerular capillary

Question 14

Blood supply away from the cortex after being filtered:

Answer 14

Glomerular capillary –> efferent arteriole –> peritubular capillaries –> series of veins –> renal vein –> inferior vena cava

Question 15

Nerve Supply

Answer 15

• Network of autonomic nerves and ganglia called renal plexus
• Sympathetic nerves act to adjust diameter of renal arterioles and thus regulate blood

Question 16

What is a nephron

Answer 16

Microscopic functions unit of the kidney
Bulk of the kidney made p of nephrons
filters blood
selectively reabsorbs and secretes
produces urine