(Lectures 16-17, Chapter 19) Urinary System Flashcards
Functions of the urinary system (6)
1) Detoxification: removal of metabolic and foreign waste
2) Regulation of Plasma Ion Consumption: regulates secretion of ions
3) Regulation of Plasma Osmolarity: adjusts rate of water excretion relative to plasma solutes
4) Regulation of Plasma Volume + Blood Pressure: controls rate of water excreted in urine, which directly affects BV/BP
5) Regulation of Plasma pH: controls [HCO3-] and [H+] in plasma
6) Endocrine Functions: secretion of erythropoietin and renin, activation of vitamin D3
What is the functional unit of the kidney? What is its main purpose?
Nephron; gets rid of unwanted substances in the blood plasma as blood passes through the kidneys
What is the outer tissue of the kidney called?
Cortex
What is the middle/inner layer of tissue in the kidney called?
Medulla
These channels collect urine and direct it out of the kidney.
Minor/major calyces
What happens once urine reaches the end of the major calyx?
- Enters renal pelvis
- Travels into the ureter, which leads into the bladder
Where is most plasma filtered in the nephron?
Glomerulus
What substance is generated when plasma is filtered in the glomerulus?
Filtrate
T/F: all of the material in the filterate ends up being part of the urine
False: some substances are reabsorbed into the bloodstream as tubular fluid (i.e. filterate) passes through the renal tubules
Renal Corpuscle
Part of the nephron; receives blood supply and generates filterate
The glomerulus is enclosed in the _____ ______
Bowman’s capsule
What is the first region to emerge from the renal corpuscle?
Proximal convoluted tubule (PCT)
What is the purpose of the loop of Henle/nephron loop?
Concentration of filterate
What part of the nephron follows after the loop of Henle?
Distal convoluted tubule (DCT)
Multiple DCTs join at the ______ ___, which sends the remaining filterate to the ____ ______, and the filterate enters the minor/major calyces in the kidney.
Collecting duct, renal papulla
Where are the most adjustments made to tubular fluid in the nephron?
PCT
T/F: once the tubular fluid enters the collecting duct, no more adjustments can be made to it (re: solute/water content)
True
Cortical Nephrons
- Account for ~80% of all nephrons
- located mostly in the cortex
- Regulate substances: water/nutrient retention, electrolyte balance, drug/waste elimination
Juxtamedullary Nephrons
- Account for ~20% of all nephrons
- Renal corpuscle is located in the cortex, very long loop of Henle is located in the medulla
- Same roles as cortical nephrons
- Long loop of Henle makes them important for water retention
Glomerular Capillaries
- Let fluid + solutes flow out of capillaries and into Bowman’s capsule
- high pressure
Peritubular Capillaries
- Let fluid + solutes flow from nephron tubes to capillaries (i.e. they join the venous return)
- low pressure
Vasa Recta
- Capillaries of JM nephrons in the medulla
- Blood flow is v. slow
What blood vessels enter and exit the glomerulus? What is their purpose?
Enter - Afferent Arterioles
Exit - Efferent Arterioles
Purpose is to regulate kidney function
Between afferent and efferent arterioles, which ones are larger? What does this size difference/structure create?
Afferent arterioles
Structure generates backflow, pressure
A group of crowded-together epithelial cells near the afferent/efferent arterioles form a _____ _____
macula densa
What are the smooth muscle cells of the afferent arteriole (located near the macula densa) called?
Juxtaglomerular cells
Juxtaglomerular cells + macula densa = ?
Juxtaglomerular Apparatus
Renal Functions (3)
1) Filtration of blood in the glomerulus; blood pressure forces water/solutes into the capsular space (across membranes of glomerular capillaries)
2) Reabsorption; water/solutes move from tubular fluid to peritubular fluid, across the tubular epithelium
3) Secretion; solutes move from peritubular fluid to tubular fluid
Once filtered, most substances are reabsorbed in the ___
PCT
Permeability of the loop of Henle
Desc. loop: permeable to/allows reabsorption of water
Asc. loop: permeable to/allows reabsorption of ions
Based on the ____ _____ ____, more adjustments are made to the tubular fluid in the DCT.
body’s specific needs
Do kidneys always work at 100% capacity?
No; it’s possible to live with only one kidney
Where is the filtration membrane located? How many layers does it have that plasma solutes must pass through? What are they called?
- Located in the renal corpuscle
- Has 3 layers
1) Glomerular Endothelium (fenestrated layer)
2) Basement Membrane of glomerular capillary
3) Filtration Slits, formed from the extensions of podocytes that cover the glomerular capillaries
Sufficient ____ is needed for glomerular filtration
pressure
What creates the main pressure into the glomerulus?
Afferent/efferent arterioles (i.e. regulation by arteriole size
What causes hydrostatic backpressure in the glomerulus?
Fluid in the renal tubules and Bowman’s capsule, including fluid that has already been filtered