lecture 19: the kidneys

Question 1

functions of the kidneys

Answer 1

1. regulation of ECF volume and BP
   —more excretion or reabsorption of water into body
2. regulation of ion levels in the blood
   —important to Vrest potentials
3. acid/base regulation or homeostatic regulation of pH
4. excretion of wastes (ammonia, urea, uric acid, bilirubin, hormones)
5. production of hormones
   —erythropoietin = RBC formation
   — calcitriol = production of Ca
   — renin = blood pressure regulation

Question 2

kidney anatomy

Answer 2

renal cortex and renal medulla
nephrons
ureter
bladder at end that stores urine

Question 3

nephron

Answer 3

functional unit
certain sections in renal cortex and some in renal medulla
can create osmotic gradient

Question 4

storage and elimination of urine

Answer 4

renal pelvis —> ureters —> bladder —->urethra

Question 5

bladder

Answer 5

internal sphincter: smooth muscle, involuntary control
—continuation of the bladder wall
external sphincter: skeletal muscle, controlled by somatic motor neurons
—control urination

Question 6

micturition or urination reflex

Answer 6

stretch mechanoreceptors fire —> afferent signal —> spinal cord —> dorsal root/horn in gray matter —> synapse with 2 inter neurons