Renal Flashcards
Which embryological layer are the kidneys derived from?
Mesoderm
At what vertebral level do the kidneys lie?
T12-L3
Right kidney is lower than the left kidney because…
It’s pushed down by the liver
At what vertebral level is the hilum of the right kidney?
L2
At what vertebral level is the hilum of the left kidney?
L1
How many layers does the kidney have?
3: the cortex, medulla and the renal pelvis
What does the cortex contain? (4)
Renal corpuscle (glomerulus and Bowman’s capsule)
PCT
DCT
Medullary ray (LoH and CD) –> gives the cortex its striated appearance
What does the medulla contain? (4 tubular structures)
CD
Thin descending limb of LoH
Thin and thick ascending limb of LoH
Blood vessels
What type of epithelium lines the renal pelvis?
Transitional epithelium/ urothelium
What is the renal pelvis continuous with proximally and distally?
Continuous proximally with the CDs
Continuous distally with the ureters
Describe the blood supply of the kidneys
Renal arteries Segmental arteries Interlobar arteries Arcuate arteries Interlobular arteries Afferent arteriole Glomerular capillaries Efferent arteriole Peritubular capillaries (+ vasa recta) Interlobular veins Arcuate veins Interlobar veins Segmental veins Renal veins
Are the kidneys extraperitoneal or retorperitoneal?
Retroperitoneal
What % of cardiac output do the kidneys receive?
20%
Total renal blood flow?
1L/min
Total urine flow?
1ml/min
What is the maximum filtration rate of the kidneys?
125ml/min
What does the renal corpuscle contain?
Glomerular tuft and Bowman’s capsule
What is the glomerular tuft?
Network of glomerular capillaries (w/ fenestrated walls) supported by mesangial cells
What do the mesangial cells do? (3)
- Produce extracellular matrix protein (structural support)
- Phagocytose glomerular unit breakdown products
- Contract to tighten capillaries + reduce GFR
What are the 3 layers of the filtration barrier?
- Glomerular capillary endothelium
- Basement membrane
- Foot processes of the podocytes (epithelial cells)
What 2 components make the juxtaglomerular apparatus (JGA)?
Afferent arteriole
DCT
Location and function of GRANULAR CELLS.
Found in endothelium of afferent arteriole (in JGA).
Detect low bp and secrete renin in response.
Location and function of MACULA DENSA CELLS.
DCT contributes to it (in JGA).
Detect Na+ and regulates tubuloglomerular feedback (sends signals to granular cells to secrete renin).
In tubuloglomerular feedback, what happens when filtration is slow?
(check answer)
Filtration is slow –> More Na+ is absorbed –> Macula Densa send a signal to REDUCE afferent arteriole resistance –> this increases glomerular filtration
Cells in the PCT contain what and why? (3)
Microvilli on apical surface –> increase SA for reabsorption
Lots of mitochondria –> active transport of substances
Lysosomes (histology: black dots) –> break down proteins accidentally reabsorbed from urinary space
What moves out of the thin descending limb of the LoH?
Water (passively) flows out, concentrating the urine
What moves out of the ascending limb of the LoH?
Desired ions are actively pumped out and into the interstitium
How does the DCT regulate acid-base balance?
Secreting H+
Absorbing HCO3-
(via intracellular carbonic anhydrase)
How does DCT regulate Na+ and K+ concentration?
Exchanging urinary Na+ (reabsorption) for body K+ (excretion)
What hormone mediates Na+ reabsorption in the DCT?
Aldosterone
How is urine propelled down the ureters?
Peristalsis (contain two muscular layers: circular and longitudinal)
Which structures contain transitional epithelium?
Renal Pelvis Ureter Bladder In females: proximal urethra In males: membranous urethra
How long is the urethra in females?
4-5cm
How long is the urethra in males?
20cm
Describe the urethra in males? (3)
Prostatic urethra
Membranous urethra
Penile urethra
What 2 cell types make up the collecting duct?
Principal cells
Intercalated cells
What do PRINCIPAL CELL in the CD do?
Respond to aldosterone (Na+/ K+ exchange)
Respond to ADH: insert aquaporin channels into apical membrane to increase H20 reabsorption
What do INTERCALATED CELLS in the CD do?
Acid-base balance:
ALPHA - secrete ACID
BETA - secrete BICARBONATE
Name the determinants of what crosses the filtration barrier. (5)
- Pressure
- Size of moleucle
- Charge of molecule
- Rate of blood flow
- Binding to plasma proteins
What is the glomerular filtration rate (GFR)?
Volume of fluid filtered from the glomeruli into the Bowman’s space per unit time (min)
GFR (physiology)=
= Kf (PGC - PBS - pie.GC)
What is the only protein that should be found in urine?
Tamm Horsfall protein (produced by LoH)