Renal Physiology Flashcards
The functional units of the urinary system.
Nephrons
The smallest units that are capable of performing the processes involved in urine formation
Nephrons
They number from 1 - 1.5 million per kidney (total of 2 – 3 million)
Nephron
Types of nephron according to location:
Cortical and Juxtamedullary Nephrons
This is the outer layer wherein Cortical nephrons are located
Cortex – outer layer
This is the inner layer wherein Juxtamedullary nephrons are located
Medulla – inner layer
What nephron is being described?
- Nephrons that are localized in the renal cortex.
- Constitute the majority of nephrons (85%).
Cortical Nephron
These are the Main functions/Primary roles of what nephron?
o Immediate reabsorption of essential
substances;
▪ Supposed to bring back everything
the body needs to circulation.
o Immediate removal of wastes
Cortical Nephrons
These are the Main functions/Primary roles of what nephron?
- The other 15%.
- “Have long Henle’s loops that extends deep in the
medullary region.”
JUXTAMEDULLARY NEPHRONS
a structure that extends well below the medullary region.
Loop of Henle
Parts of a Nephron:
RENAL CORPUSCLE
RENAL TUBULE
VASCULAR COMPONENTS
JUXTAGLOMERULAR APPARATUS
Has two components – the glomerulus and the
Bowman’s capsule.
RENAL CORPUSCLE
The glomerulus is enclosed by what structure?
Bowman’s Capsule
consists of a specialized tuft of capillaries that is enclosed by the Bowman’s capsule, which forms the beginning of the renal tubule
GLOMERULUS
The product of filtration in the glomerulus is
first conveyed where?
Bowman’s Capsule
The fluid that is conveyed into the
Bowman’s capsule flows along what segments?
Segments of the renal tubule
This RENAL TUBULE functions by immediately reabsorbing
essential substances
Proximal Convoluted Tubule (PCT)
The thick and thin ASCENDING loop of Henle do NOT have major differences in function.
TRUE OR FALSE
FALSE
It is the DESCENDING loop of Henle that do not have major differences in function between its thick and thin loops
These are the two classifications of the Ascending Loop of Henle
Thick and Thin Ascending Loop of Henle.
Responsible for the final adjustments (along with the collecting duct) in sodium (DCT) and water level (collecting duct) via the reabsorption process.
Distal Convoluted Tubule (DCT)
Responsible for the final adjustments in sodium via the reabsorption process
Distal Convoluted Tubule (DCT)
Responsible for the final adjustments in water level via the reabsorption process
Collecting Duct
What part of the nephron is being described?
- Blood vessels associated with the nephron.
- Nephrons will not be able to carry out their reabsorptive
and secretory functions without blood vessels.
VASCULAR COMPONENTS
Supplies oxygenated blood from a branch of the renal artery to the glomerulus or glomerular capillaries
Afferent arteriole
The largest blood vessel that supplies the kidney
Renal Artery
The left and right renal artery gets
blood from?
Aorta
Each nephron is supplied by this structure in a ratio of 1:1
Afferent Arteriole
Each nephron is associated with 1 Afferent Arteriole, if there are 1.5 million nephrons then there are also 1.5 million Afferent Arterioles
The blood that circulates in these loops of capillaries will be filtered and will eventually exit through the?
Efferent Arteriole
Carries blood from the glomerulus to the renal
tubules or renal tubular area
Efferent arteriole
Surround the renal tubules, primarily the PCT
and DCT.
Peritubular capillaries
A network of blood vessels that are adjacent to the loop of Henle. They make the reabsorptive and secretory processes taking place in the nephrons possible
Vasa recta
A structure that is composed of two types of cells:
o (1) Juxtaglomerular cells;
o (2) Macula densa cells.
JUXTAGLOMERULAR APPARATUS
Secretes RENIN when there are changes in plasma volume, blood pressure, and plasma sodium content.
JUXTAGLOMERULAR APPARATUS
represents the entirety of the functions of the kidneys of the urinary system.
Urine Formation
While urine is being formed, there is
reclamation of essential substances and
secretion of waste products, which is equally
important in the maintenance of?
Homeostasis
The three major processes involved in urine formation:
glomerular filtration
tubular reabsorption,
tubular secretion.
carries oxygenated blood from a
branch of the renal artery to the glomerulus or
glomerular capillaries.
Afferent Arteriole
The structure that first receives the filtrate coming out of the efferent arterioles
Bowman’s capsule
fluid that flows along the renal tubules from the Bowman’s capsule
Glomerular Filtrate
Fluid upon exiting the collecting ducts
Urine
glomerular filtrate and urine are the same
TRUE OR FALSE
FALSE
Glomerular Filtrate will first undergo compositional changes or modifications as substances are reabsorbed and secreted. It is only called URINE upon exiting the collecting duct
The glomerular filtrate will flow along the PROXIMAL
convoluted tubule (PCT), which is immediately
attached or continuous to the Bowman’s capsule
TRUE OR FALSE
TRUE
A process that returns filtered essential substances to
the blood
TUBULAR REABSORPTION
From the PCT down to the descending limb of the Loop
of Henle, SODIUM will be reabsorbed
TRUE OR FALSE
FALSE
IT IS WATER THAT IS REABSORBED
A significant amount of water is reabsorbed
from what loop of henle?
Descending Loop of Henle
The walls of the thin ascending Loop of Henle
are made up of what type of epithelium?
single layer of squamous epithelial cells
Epithelium of Thick walls of the loop of henle
Cuboidal renal tubular epithelial cells.
The thickness and thinness of the walls are determined by the type of cells in the epithelium
TRUE OR FALSE
TRUE
this is the primary function of the juxtamedullary nephrons; removal of water from the filtrate.
Renal Concentration
If water is removed from the filtrate, it will become DILUTED
TRUE OR FALSE
FALSE
IT WILL BECOME CONCENTRATED
When the fluid ascends through the thin and thick ascending limbs of the Loop of Henle what kind of reabsorption takes place?
solute reabsorption (primarily urea) takes place
It is a waste product of metabolism and 50% of it is filtered and brought back to circulation
UREA
In the thick ascending Loop of Henle, more WATER are reabsorbed (primarily salts).
TRUE OR FALSE
FALSE
more SOLUTES are absorbed
Selective Reabsorption of the Descending Loop
only water is reabsorbed.
Selective Reabsorption of the Ascending Loop
only solutes are reabsorbed