L.49 Kidney Structure

Question 1

What type of organs are the kidneys?

Answer 1

Excretory organs

Question 2

Which bodily fluid do the kidneys process?

Answer 2

Blood

Question 3

How do the kidneys remove metabolic waste?

Answer 3

Via urine.

Question 4

What 2 components do the kidneys help maintain levels of?

Answer 4

fluid and electrolyte

Question 5

Kidneys (produce urine)
Travels via _______________ to
Bladder (stores urine)
Excreted via _______________

Answer 5

Ureters
Urethra

Kidneys (produce urine)
Travels via ureters to
Bladder (stores urine)
Excreted via urethra

Question 6

Name the kinds of pads which surround the kidneys

Answer 6

Renal fat pads

Question 7

Where does the renal artery arise from?

Answer 7

The abdominal aorta branches to create the renal artery.

Question 8

Where does the renal vein arise from?

Answer 8

The inferior vena cava branches to create the renal vein.

Question 9

What is the peritoneum?

Answer 9

The layer which separates the peritoneal cavity (containing digestive organs) from the kidneys and spine.

Question 10

What are the 3 main parts which make up the kidney?

Answer 10

1. Cortex
2. Medulla
3. Pelvis

Question 11

Give a description of the kidney cortex.

Answer 11

The cortex contains 85% of all kidney tubules (nephrons).

Question 12

Give a description of the kidney medulla

Answer 12

Concentrates urine to prevent excess fluid loss.

Question 13

Give a description of the kidney pelvis.

Answer 13

Collection area of urine to be funnelled into the ureter.

Question 14

Describe the level of vascularisation of the kidneys.

Answer 14

Highly vascularised.

Question 15

How much blood do the kidneys process per minute?

Answer 15

1.2L per minute

Question 16

What is the basic functional unit of the kidney?

Answer 16

Nephron

Question 17

Name the 2 types of nephrons.

Answer 17

Cortical nephrons

Juxtamedullary nephrons

Question 18

Give a feature of cortical nephrons

Answer 18

Short loop of henle

Question 19

Give a feature of juxtamedullary nephrons

Answer 19

Long loop of henle

Question 20

What is the function of the renal corpuscle?

Answer 20

Filtration and removal

Question 21

What is the function of the renal tubule?

Answer 21

Reabsorption and secretion

Question 22

Name the 2 components of the renal corpuscle

Answer 22

Glomerulus

Bowman’s capsule

Question 23

Name the 4 components of the renal tubule

Answer 23

Proximal convoluted tubule
Loop of Henle
Distal Convoluted tubule
Collecting duct

Question 24

Describe the structure of the glomerulus

Answer 24

A single layer of endothelial cells

Question 25

What does the glomerulus allow rapid filtration of?

Answer 25

Blood plasma filtration

Question 26

Which structure surrounds the glomerulus?

Answer 26

The bowman’s capsule

Question 27

Name the 2 layers which make up the bowman’s capsule

Answer 27

Parietal wall (outer layer)
Visceral wall (inner layer)

Question 28

What is the visceral layer made up of?

Answer 28

Specialised epithelium called podocytes

Question 29

Describe the structure of podocytes

Answer 29

Podocytes have long, branched processes called pedicels. These wrap around glomerular capillaries

Question 30

Name the 3 components which make up the filtration barrier.

Answer 30

1. Glomerular endothelium
2. Basement membrane
3. Pedicels

Question 31

What does/doesn’t the filtration barrier allow the passage of?

Answer 31

It allows the filtration of small molecules, eg. water

It does not allow larger molecules, eg. proteins to pass through