Renal 1 Glomerulus Flashcards
what are the functions of the kidney?
- regulate blood ionic composition
- regulate blood pH
- regulate blood vol. (water content)
- regulate BP (RAA pathway)
- maintain blood osmolarity (300Osm/L)
- prod. hormones (vit. D, EPO)
- regulate blood glucose (gluconeogenesis)
- excrete waste
where are the kidneys located?
in the superior portion of the posterior abdominal cavity; retroperitoneal
segmental arteries
as renal artery enters renal sinus it branches to 5 of these
how is a kink in the ureter formed?
by the iliopsoas muscle; kidney stones passing through the ureter can also get stuck in this region
renal fascia
dense layer of CT that helps hold kidney in place within posterior abdominal wall
perirenal fat
fatty tissue surrounding the renal capsule to cushion the kidney and protect it from trauma
renal capsule
the 3rd layer of stiff CT covering the external surface of the kidney and keeps it in one shape
renal hilum
where vessels and ureter enter/exit
renal cortex
outer layer of the kidney
renal medulla
inner portion of the kidney
renal columns
extensions of the cortex that project inward toward sinus; exist b/w triangular units in the medulla
renal pyramids
triangular-shaped areas of tissue in the medulla of the kidney
renal papillae
CT that collect the filtrate generated by the nephrons
nephron
filtering unit of the kidney that extracts waste from blood and sends it out to tip of renal pyramid to be collected via minor calyx
minor calyx
a cup-shaped extension of the pelvis that encircles the apex of a pyramid; at this point, filtrate becomes urine
major calyx
the cavity formed by the convergence of several minor calyces, which drain urine from the minor calyxes into the renal pelvis
renal pelvis
central collecting region in the kidney
structures in the renal cortex
renal corpuscle, Bowman’s capsule, renal tubules, juxtaglomerular apparatus, collecting duct
renal corpuscle
glomerulus and Bowman’s capsule, where blood filtering actually occurs; afferent arteriole brings blood toward glomerulus and efferent away
Bowman’s capsule
captures filtrate made by glomerulus, sending filtrate through renal tubules
renal tubules
small tubes in the kidney where reabsorption takes place
proximal convoluted tubule
first section of the renal tubule that the blood flows through; reabsorption of water, ions, and all organic nutrients
loop of Henle
section of the nephron tubule in renal pyramid that conserves water and minimizes the volume of urine
distal convoluted tubule
a portion of kidney nephron between the loop of Henle and the collecting duct system
juxtaglomerular apparatus
in the nephron, the complex of cells b/w distal tubule and glomerulus which fine-tune; constantly taste filtrate and alter rate of filtrate production
collecting duct
last 10% of water reabsorption, major site of action for ADH; at the tip of papilla will be collected by minor calyx
filtrate vs. urine
filtrate has no protein/formed elements/large molecules but lots of small molecules (glucose a.a.’s, HCO3-) while urine virtually has no small molecules
peritubular capillaries
tiny blood vessels that travel alongside nephrons allowing filtration between blood and the inner lumen of the nephron; there is reabsorption of material from filtrate and secretion of material into the tubule
what do renal tubules mostly contain?
plasma and dissolved substances
what is the glomerular capsule made of?
single layer of squamous epithelial cells (parietal layer), which gets projected onto the surface of blood vessels (visceral layer)
components of juxtaglomerular apparatus
macula densa (MD), granular cells (GC),, mesangial cells (MC)
macula densa
Tastes and try’s to see if filtrate is appropriate, secrete NO and works paracrine to talk to smooth muscle of afferent arteriole to relax (allows blood flow into glomerulus)
granular cells
responsible for releasing renin for RAA pathway
mesangial cells
modified smooth muscle cells; targets of action of ANP which tell these cells to relax to loosen glomerular tuft (lots of filtration, urine)