Lecture 23: Urinary System - Anatomy of the Kidneys, Ureters, and Bladder

Question 1

Functions of the kidneys

Answer 1

1. Filter out or excrete waste, solutes, and toxins.
2. Absorb water, electrolytes, and buffers.
3. Recycle needed elements
4. Maintain normal blood volume, blood pressure, and pH.
5. Synthesize calcitrol
6. Secrete erythropoietin

Question 2

Function of the ureters

Answer 2

Pathway for waste from the kidneys to the bladder

Question 3

Major functioning unit of the kidney

Answer 3

Nephron; around 1 million in each kidney; everyone is born with the ones they have through life

Question 4

What does each nephron contain?

Answer 4

Renal corpuscle, renal tubule, and collecting ducts

Question 5

Four parts of the urinary system

Answer 5

Kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra

Question 6

Function of the bladder

Answer 6

Urine and waste is stored here until it can be released.

Question 7

Functions of the urinary system

Answer 7

1. Waste elimination and recycling
2. Maintain blood volume and normal blood pressure, blood composition, and pH in the body and blood
3. Synthesize calcitrol
4. Secrete erythropoietin

Question 8

What type of organs are kidneys?

Answer 8

retroperitoneal

Question 9

Two words related to the kidneys

Answer 9

renal- and nephro-

Question 10

Parts of the kidney

Answer 10

1. Outer layer (renal cortex)
2. Inner layer (renal medulla)
3. Renal pelvis
4. Renal hilus

Question 11

What does the renal medulla have?

Answer 11

10-15 medullary pyramids; renal papilla (the medial tip of the renal pyramid)

Question 12

What is the renal pelvis made of?

Answer 12

Calyces, both minor and major

Question 13

what does calyx mean?

Answer 13

“cup”

Question 14

What is the renal hilus?

Answer 14

Is the entryway of the ureter and vessels.

Question 15

Blood (vascular) supply of the kidneys

Answer 15

1. Renal arteries (one each, comes from aorta)
2. Renal veins (one each; draining into inferior vena cava)
3. Lots of branches inside of the kidney, creating an internal collateral circulation

Question 16

What happens when someone loses a kidney?

Answer 16

The other kidney increases its workload

Question 17

Things that make up the renal corpuscle

Answer 17

Afferent and efferent arteriole and glomerulus (“little ball”)

Question 18

Things that make up the renal tubule and collecting ducts

Answer 18

Peritubular capillaries and vasa recta.

Question 19

Microstructures of the renal tubule and collecting ducts

Answer 19

Proximal convoluted tubule (PCT), loop of Henle (nephron loop), distal convoluted tubule (DCT), and juxtaglomerular apparatus.

Question 20

What is the glomerulus?

Answer 20

Group of capillaries. They are covered by Bowman’s capsule

Question 21

Bowman’s capsule

Answer 21

Glomerulus covering made of the visceral and parietal layers of epithelium.