Module 5: Structure and Function of the Kidney

Question 1

The kidneys have 2 main homeostatic roles , what are they involved in?

Answer 1

excretion and osmoregulation

Question 2

Name the vessel that supply the kidneys with blood and name the structure that these vessels branch from

Answer 2

the renal artery , they branch off from the abdominal aorta

Question 3

Name the vessel that removes blood that has circulated through the kidneys and state where these vessels lead to

Answer 3

the renal vein
it drains blood into the inferior vena cava

Question 4

Name the tiny structures that make up the kidneys (we have millions of these)

These structures act as what …

Answer 4

nephrons

filtering units

Question 5

Name the sterile liquid produced by the kidney tubules

This liquid passes out the kidneys down tubes called …

Answer 5

urine

ureters

Question 6

Where do the ureters lead to(this is where urine is stored)?

Answer 6

the bladder

Question 7

What happens when the bladder becomes full?

Answer 7

the sphincter at the exit of the bladder opens and urine passes out the body through the urethra

Question 8

What are the 3 main areas within the kidneys structure?

Answer 8

the cortex , medulla and pelvis

Question 9

Where is the cortex located and what happens here in summary?

Answer 9

the outer layer of the kidney

this is where filtering of the blood takes place

Question 10

Where is the medulla located and what structures are present here?

Answer 10

the middle section of the kidney

contains the tubules of the nephrons that form the renal pyramids and the collecting ducts

Question 11

Where is the renal pelvis located?

What happen here in summary?

Answer 11

its the central chamber of the kidney

this is where urine collects before passing down the ureter

Question 12

What happens in the nephrons?

Answer 12

this is where blood is filtered

Question 13

When blood is filtered in the nephrons , what substances are removed and therefore do not return to the blood?

Give 4 examples of substances that are selectively reabsorbed back into the blood

Answer 13

nitrogenous wastes

water , glucose , salts , amino acids etc

Question 14

What are the 5 main structures of nephrons?

Answer 14

The Bowman’s capsule
Proximal Convoluted Tubule(PCT)
Loop of Henle
Distal Convoluted Tubule(DCT)
Collecting Duct

Question 15

Describe the structure of the Bowmans capsule

2 points

Answer 15

-a cup shaped structure that surrounds a network of capillaries known as the glomerelus

-contains specialised cells called podocytes in its inner layer

Question 16

What is the purpose of the podocytes in the Bowmans capsule?

Answer 16

to act as an additional filter to ensure any cells , large plasma proteins or platelets that have passed through epithelial cells do not enter the tubules

Question 17

Describe the structure of the PCT

3 points

Answer 17

-the first coiled region after the Bowmans capsule
-the epithelial cells within its wall have microvilli to increase the surface area available for selective reabsorption
-the epithelial cells also contain many mitochondria to provide ATP for active transport of sodium ions

Question 18

What process occurs in the PCT?

Briefly describe this

Answer 18

selective reabsorption

this is where all the glucose , amino acids and hormones in the filtrate are reabsorbed back into the blood

Question 19

Describe the structure of the loop of Henle

Answer 19

-its a long loop of tubule that creates a region with a high solute concentration in the medulla