Module 18: Urinary System Flashcards
*What are the functions of the kidneys? (A WET BED)
A - Acid-base balance W - Water removal E - Erythropoesis T - Toxin removal B - Blood pressure control E - Electrolyte balance D - Vitamin D activation
What are the main structures of the urinary system?
Kidney, ureter, urinary bladder, and urethra
Where are the kidneys found?
Against the posterior abdominal wall, underneath the 12th rib. Posterior to the parietal peritoneum.
What is the name of the slit where structures (such as blood vessels, the ureters, and nerves) enter and leave each kidney?
Hilum
What structures are in place to help protect the kidneys?
Ribs, and a heavy cushion of fat incasing each organ
A tough fibrous capsule surrounds each kidney. What is the name of the inner region of the kidney?
Renal medulla
What is the name of the outer region of the kidney?
Renal cortex
The renal cortex is the site of
Urine production
The renal medulla is the site of
Urine collection
What is the name for the extensions from the renal cortex that divide the interior region into cone-shaped sections?
Renal columns
What is the name of the cone shaped sections which consist of tubules for transporting urine away from the cortex?
Renal pyramids
What collects urine leaving the papilla?
The calyx
The major calyces converge to form the renal pelvis, which receives urine from the major calyces. The renal pelvis continues as the ureter. Where does the ureter channel the urine?
To the urinary bladder
What is the main function of the kidneys?
Filters Toxins out of the blood and turns it into urine
What role do the kidneys play as blood filters through the kidneys?
Adjust the water content of blood, tweak the levels of sodium and potassium, and adjust the pH level.
Also, plays a role in regulating blood pressure and production of red blood cells
What brings blood to the kidney?
Renal artery
Blood leaves the kidney through the
Renal vein
Where does the renal vein empty?
Inferior vena cava
What is the filtration unit of the kidney?
Nephrons
What is the location of nephrons?
Primarily lie in the kidneys outer region, however, loops from the nephrons dip into the inner region of the medulla
What is the role of the afferent arteriole?
each afferent arteriole Supplies blood to one nephron
Each afferent arteriole branches into a cluster of capillaries called glomerulus. Blood leaves the glomerulus through what
An efferent arteriole
The efferent arteriole leads to a network of capillaries around the renal tubules called Peritubular capillaries. What is the function of the peritubular capillaries?
Pick up water and solutes reabsorbed by the renal tubules
Nephrons consist of two main components. what are they and what are their functions?
A Renal corpuscle - filters blood plasma
A Renal tubule - Where urine is formed
What part of the nephron consists of a glomerulus and Bowmans capsule (also known as glomerular capsule)?
Renal corpuscle
Which component of the renal corpuscle filters blood plasma?
Glomerulus (first step in the creation of urine from blood plasma)
The fluid that has filtered into Bowmans capsule flows into the renal tubules. The amount of fluid filtered by both kidneys is called what?
Glomerular filtration Rate (GFR)
What lies on the inside of the proximal convoluted tubule that allows for absorption?
Thousands of microvilli
Urine formation involves three processes. What are they?
- Glomerular filtration
- Tubular reabsorption
- Tubular secretion
What contributes to the higher pressure within the glomerular capillaries?
Blood flows in through the afferent arteriole (which is bigger than the efferent arteriole) consequently, Blood flows and faster than it can leave
What allows water and small solutes to filter out of the blood into the Bowmans capsule?
Dotted pores on the walls of glomerular capillaries
How much of the filtrate does the body reabsorbs each day?
About 99%
How much of the filtrate is excreted in urine per day?
1 - 2 litres
