practice new content Flashcards
what does it mean that the kidneys are retroperitoneal?
the kidneys are located behind the peritoneum, which is the lining of the abdominal cavity
where are kidneys located
in the middle of the back, just below the rib cage, and on either side of the spine
what are the general functions of the urinary system
filter waste products from the blood,
producing urine to eliminate excess water, salts, toxins, and other unwanted substances from the body,
while also regulating the balance of fluids and electrolytes within the body
the main structural and functional unit of the kidney is
a nephron
A renal corpuscle is made of what?
a glomerulus
a network of tiny blood capillaries
and Bowman’s capsule
List in order, from renal corpuscle to collecting duct, the parts of the nephron:
renal corpuscle
proximal convoluted tubule
loop of Henle
distal convoluted tubule
and collecting duct
What are some differences between a cortical and a juxtamedullary nephron?
the length of their loop of Henle
cortical is shorter
juxamedullary is longer
What are some differences between peritubular capillaries and the vasa recta?
Peritubular capillaries are small blood vessels located in the renal cortex, surrounding the proximal and distal convoluted tubules of the nephron
vasa recta are specialized, long, straight capillaries found deep within the renal medulla, running parallel to the loop of Henle, and their main function is to maintain the concentration gradient in the medulla by countercurrent exchange
List the 3 overall steps of urine formation
glomerular filtration, reabsorption, and secretion
what occurs in glomerular filtration
blood is filtered in the kidneys to remove excess fluid and waste products, which are then sent to the urine collecting tubules
what occurs in reabsorption
water and solutes are moved from the renal tubule back into the bloodstream
what occurs in secretion
waste ions and hydrogen ions pass from the capillaries into the renal tubule
What is the glomerular capsule made of (macroscopically)?
a double-layered epithelial structure with an outer parietal layer made of simple squamous epithelium
inner visceral layer consisting of specialized cells called podocytes
Describe the glomerulus and glomerular capsule
Every nephron has a glomerulus, which is a group of tiny blood vessels and the starting point for filtering waste products out of your blood. Bowman’s capsule is a two-walled pouch that covers the glomerulus.
Which blood vessel enters the glomerulus?
afferent arteriole
What are podocytes and what do they have to do with the glomerular capsule?
specialized epithelial cells that form the bowmans capsule
play a crucial role in the filtration process by acting as a barrier that prevents large molecules like proteins from leaking into the urine
Describe the structure of the filtration membrane. What kinds of substances can cross the
filtration membrane?
composed of three layers
water electrolytes and glucose can pass though the membrane
What are the general events that occur in the different regions of the renal tubule and collecting
duct?
the primary event: reabsorption of essential nutrients and water from the filtrate
proximal convoluted tubule: bulk reabsorption
loop of Henle: concentrates the urine
the distal convoluted: tubule fine-tunes electrolyte balance
collecting duct: regulates water
What is hemodialysis used for?
to treat advanced kidney failure, also known as end-stage renal disease (ESRD)
What is lithotripsy used for?
breaks up kidney stones and other stones in the urinary tract, bile ducts, or pancreatic duct
What is the name of the smooth muscle lining the urinary bladder? What prompts its
contraction?
detrusor muscle
What type of epithelium lines the urinary bladder?
transitional
Describe the sphincters that control the retention and release of urine?
the internal urethral sphincter (involuntary) and the external urethral sphincter(voluntary)
How do the sphincters that control urine release differ
between the sexes?
males: more distinct anatomical structure due to the involvement of the prostate gland,
females: the internal sphincter is more functional, primarily relying on the bladder neck and proximal urethra to provide resistance to urine flow
Compare the male and female urethras.
the male urethra being significantly longer due to its dual function of carrying both urine and semen,
female urethra is shorter and solely transports urine
What is the difference between primary reproductive and accessory reproductive organs?
primary organs create the sex cells, while accessory organs help them meet and function properly
What is the male primary reproductive organ? Female primary reproductive organ?
male: prostate testes and penis
female: ovary and uterus
What are the male accessory reproductive organs
Vas deferens
Seminal vesicles
Prostate gland
Bulbourethral glands
What are the female accessory reproductive organs?
breasts
uterus
oviduct
vaginal canal
Why are the testes outside of the body cavity?
because sperm production requires a slightly lower temperature than the normal body temperature
Name and describe two muscles that help regulate scrotal sac temperature:
cremaster muscle and the dartos muscle
What are the layers of the scrotum deep to the cremaster muscle and superficial to the testis?
internal spermatic fascia and the tunica vaginalis
When do the testes descend from the abdominal cavity? What do they descend through?
during the last few months of pregnancy, usually in the third trimester
move through a tubelike passage in the groin, called the inguinal canal
What does spermatogenesis mean? Where does it occur?
the process by which sperm cell production occurs
in the testes
What are the 3 sections of the epididymis?
head (caput), body (corpus), and tail (cauda)
What structures do sperm travel through on their way into the body cavity?
seminiferous tubules within the testes, epididymis, vas deferens (also called ductus deferens), and then into the ejaculatory duct, which empties into the urethra
What is a vasectomy?
cutting and sealing the tubes that carry sperm
What is semen made of?
sperm cells mixed with fluids from the seminal vesicles, prostate gland, and bulbourethral glands
List three glands to contribute to semen production, their product(s), and what these products
are involved in
seminal vesicles (producing a fructose-rich fluid for sperm energy), prostate gland (contributing enzymes for sperm maturation), and bulbourethral glands (producing a mucus-like fluid for lubrication during arousal)
What are the three sections of the male urethra, from deep to superficial:
prostatic urethra, membranous urethra, and penile urethra
Describe the erectile tissue of the penis.
a sponge-like structure made up of interconnected spaces filled with blood vessels, smooth muscles, and connective tissue
Describe the erectile tissue of the penis
a sponge-like structure made up of interconnected spaces filled with blood vessels, smooth muscles, and connective tissue
From spermatogenesis to leaving the body, detail, in order, the structures a sperm travels
through
seminiferous tubules within the testis
rete testis
efferent ductules
epididymis
vas deferens (ductus deferens)
ampulla of the vas deferens
ejaculatory duct
prostatic urethra
membranous urethra
the spongy urethra;
What makes up the vulva? What male structures are homologues to these structures?
vulva consists of the labia majora (outer lips)
labia minora (inner lips)
clitoris
vaginal opening
the male structures homologous to these are the scrotum (to the labia majora) and the glans penis (to the clitoris) respectively.
What prompts ovulation? How often does this take place? Is the egg that is ovulated haploid or
diploid?
a surge in luteinizing hormone
What happens to the follicle after ovulation? What does this structure produce and what is the
effect of these products?
corpus luteum” which produces progesterone, a hormone crucial for preparing the uterine lining for potential implantation of a fertilized egg
Which occurs first? The luteal or follicular phase?
follicular phase happens first
From outermost layers to the lumen, list and describe the layers of the uterine wall. Which of these
layers is shed during the menstrual cycle?
perimetrium (serosa), myometrium and endometrium
the layer shed during the menstrual cycle is the endometrium which is the inner lining of the uterus.
List, in order, the three phases of the menstrual cycle.
Follicular phase, Ovulation, and Luteal phase
Where does fertilization take place? Where does implantation occur?
in a fallopian tube that links an ovary to the uterus
implantation occurs in the uterine wall
