RAT 18 Flashcards
what is the primary function of the countercurrent mechanism system?
to conserve water for the body when needed
what two things must be in place for water to be reabsorbed in the collecting ducts?
- ADH
- osmotic gradient
what are the three main components of the countercurrent mechanism?
- counter multiplier of the thick ascending limb establishes the medullary interstitial gradient by pumping NaCl into the interstitial fluid
- continued solute reabsorption, including urea cycling, from the filtrate in the medullary collecting ducts adds to the gradient
- the countercurrent exchanger of the vasa recta allows perfusion of the inner medulla while maintaining the medullary interstitial gradient
urine contains water, electrolytes, and metabolic wastes. list four metabolic wastes found in urine.
- urea
- creatine
- ammonia
- uric acid
list and briefly describe 5 factors typically included in a urinalysis
- color: more urochrome (darker yellow) more concentrated
- translucency: cloudy urine indicates an infection and high number of proteins
- odor: if urine sits out, bacteria metabolizes the urea and produces ammonia, normal urine has a mild odor
- Ph: normal ~6, range = 4.5 - 8
- specific gravity: deionized water = 1.0 range = 1.001 (very hydrated) - 1.035 (very concentrated)
name four substances that are commonly tested for that should not be present in the urine in any significant amount.
- blood
- protein
- leukocytes
- glucose
what is renal clearance?
measure of the rate at which the kidneys remove a substance from the blood
explain why a substance should be completely filtered and neither reabsorbed nor secreted to provide an accurate measure of renal clearance and the GFR
- substance secreted by renal tubules have a renal clean > their GFR
- substances that are reabsorbed have a renal clearance < their GFR
what is creatine?
a waste product of the metabolism of muscle and other cells
creatine is often used to check for renal clearance. how could this potentially provide inaccurate results?
between 15-50% of creatine in the urine arrived via secretion not filtration
what is insulin? why can it be used to measure GFR?
complex carbohydrate found in plants that is filtered by the glomerulus but neither reabsorbed nor secreted by the renal tubule or collecting system
list all organs in the urinary tract
- 2 ureters
- urinary bladder
- urethra
what organs are connected by the ureters?
kidneys to urinary bladder
are the ureters retroperitoneal?
yes
list the three layers of the ureter.
- adventitia
- muscularis
- mucosa
what tissue type composes the muscularis?
smooth muscle
what is the function of the muscularis?
propel urine toward the urinary bladder
what tissue type lines the lumen of the ureter?
transitional epithelium