Renal Physiology I

Question 1

What are the two components of the kidney?

Answer 1

Vascular and a tubular component

Question 2

How does the kidney contribute to acid base balance?

Answer 2

controls the concentration of H+ and HCO3- ions

Question 3

How does the kidney balance water?

Answer 3

stabilises the volume of extracellular fluid

Question 4

What are two ways the kidney can balance water?

Answer 4

either by direct reabsorption or by inserting aquaporin channels

Question 5

What are some examples of toxins that the kidney may remove?

Answer 5

Urea, Antibiotics, Toxins or Food additives

Question 6

What is the system that the kidney uses to maintain blood pressure?

Answer 6

Renin Aldosterone Angiotensions system

Question 7

When would the kidney produce erythropoietin?

Answer 7

In cases of hypoxia

Question 8

What are the three main processes of the kidney?

Answer 8

Filtration of plasma, Reabsorption of solutes and water, and secretion of substances

Question 9

What are the two main reasons a kidney may use autoregulation?

Answer 9

to prevent large changes in GFR and urine output
to protect fragile glomerular capillaries

Question 10

Where is the juxtaglomerular complex?

Answer 10

between the distal convoluted tubule/ ascending loop and the afferent/efferent arterioles

Question 11

What is the name of the enzyme that converts angiotensin I to angiotensin II and where is it produced?

Answer 11

Angiotensin converting enzyme, and it is produced in pulmonary capillaries

Question 12

What are macula densa?

Answer 12

groups of cells at the juxta glomerular apparatus that assist with the juxta glomerular complex

Question 13

Where are kidneys usually found in the abdomen?

Answer 13

Cranio-dorsally

Question 14

What makes up the renal corpuscle?

Answer 14

The glomerulus and bowmans capsule

Question 15

What makes up the tubular system?

Answer 15

Fluid filled tubes made from a single epithelial layer and associated vascular supply

Question 16

What usually stimulates renin release?

Answer 16

A decrease in renal perfusion pressure

Question 17

What does angiotensin II do?

Answer 17

Increases systemic blood pressure

Question 18

Where in the kidney is Erythropoietin produced?

Answer 18

within the interstitium of the cortex

Question 19

What are the three layers of the glomerulus?

Answer 19

Endothelium of the glomerular capillaries, Basement membrane, epithelial cells of bowmans capsule- these serve as a sieve/filtration barrier

Question 20

What can pass through the endothelium of the bowmans capsule?

Answer 20

Solutes, plasma proteins and fluid

Question 21

What cant pass through the basement membrane of the glomerulus?

Answer 21

It restricts plasma proteins from flowing out

Question 22

What are the two forces that effect GFR?

Answer 22

Difference in hydrostatic pressure and difference in protein-osmotic pressure

Question 23

What does constriction of the afferent arteriole do?

Answer 23

decreases blood flow and therefore decreases hydrostatic pressure and redcues GFR

Question 24

What does constriction of the efferent arterioles do?

Answer 24

decreases blood flow but increases hydrostatic pressure therefore GFR is unchanged

Question 25

What is autoregulation

Answer 25

kidneys ability to change resistance so that blood flow is maintained despite changes in pressure

Question 26

What is the vasa recta?

Answer 26

Veins that supply blood to the medulla of the kidney

Question 27

What does the kidney produce erythropoietin in response to?

Answer 27

Produced in response to hypoxia, it is produced in the interstitium of the cortex of the kidney

Question 28

How does the myogenic response to blood pressure work?

Answer 28

Increased blood pressure causes increased stretch in the walls of the capillaries
This increased stretch is detected by VSMC cells
Mechanotransduction leads to depolaristaion of the membrane
this activates voltage gated Ca2+ channels
The influc of Ca2+ leads to contraction
therefore blood flow decreases

Question 29

What cells produce calcitriol?

Answer 29

Cells in the PCT

Question 30

What may be the cause of frothy urine?

Answer 30

Proteins in the urine- kidney failure