Renal Flashcards
What are the kidneys classified as in terms of their anatomical position?
Retroperitoneal organs
How long are the kidneys in a normal person?
Approximately 10-12 cm
Between which vertebrae do the kidneys sit?
T12 to L2
Why is the right kidney positioned slightly lower than the left kidney?
Due to liver displacement
What type of capsule surrounds each kidney?
Fatty capsule
What is the blood supply source for each kidney?
Renal artery from the abdominal aorta
How does venous drainage occur from the kidneys?
Through renal veins to the inferior vena cava
What structure do ureters drain urine from?
Each renal pelvis
What are the two main layers of the kidney?
Outer cortex and inner medulla
What are the functional units of the kidney called?
Nephrons
What components are included in each nephron?
- Renal corpuscle (glomerulus and Bowman’s capsule)
- Proximal convoluted tubule
- Loop of Henle (descending and ascending limbs)
- Distal convoluted tubule
- Collecting duct
What drives solute and water into the Bowman’s space?
Vascular hydrostatic pressure across the capillaries
What type of cells are found in the visceral inner layer of the Bowman’s capsule?
Podocytes and simple squamous epithelium
What do macula densa cells detect?
Sodium concentrations within the distal convoluted tubule lumen
What happens when there are lower sodium concentrations in the distal tubule?
It triggers vasodilation of the afferent renal arterioles and activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS)
What is the overall action of the RAAS?
To increase blood pressure to maintain end-organ perfusion
What does renin cleave to form angiotensin I?
Angiotensinogen
What is angiotensin I converted to and by which enzyme?
Angiotensin II by angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE)
What are the three roles of angiotensin II?
- Causes vasoconstriction to increase blood pressure
- Stimulates aldosterone release from the adrenal cortex
- Promotes vasopressin release from the posterior pituitary gland
What does aldosterone stimulate in the distal convoluted tubule?
Sodium uptake on the apical cell membrane
What is the primary role of the loop of Henle?
Concentration of filtrate by removing sodium and chloride
What is the final site of water reabsorption in the nephron?
Collecting duct
What is the effect of ADH on the collecting duct?
Stimulates insertion of aquaporin channels for water reabsorption
What is the normal urinary protein excretion level considered healthy?
< 150 mg per day