renal system Flashcards

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1
Q

what are the two regions of a nephron?

A

renal corpuscle

renal tubule

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2
Q

what is the significance of protein in the urine?

A

consistent presence suggests glomerular of tubular damage

transient proteinuria quite common

can indicate a UTI

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3
Q

what is the chemical symbol for carbonic acid?

A

H2CO3

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4
Q

what are ketones, and what is indicated by their presence in the urine?

A

breakdown products of fat metabolism

they indicate the body has run out of glucose

ketones can be very high in diabetes; indicating an insulin deficiency

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5
Q

where is angiotensinogen produced?

A

the liver

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6
Q

what does RAAS stand for?

A

renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system

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7
Q

describe the nerve supply of the kidneys

A

sympathetic fibres regulate renal blood flow according to the body’s requirements

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8
Q

in kidney autoregulation, what mechanisms are used to increase glomerular blood pressure?

A

dilation of afferent arterioles

constriction of efferent arterioles

contraction of mesangial cells

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9
Q

what two types of water reabsorption occur in the kidneys?

what percentage does each account for?

A

obligatory 90%

facultative 10%

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10
Q

by what mechanism does the ANS control urination?

A

the micturition reflex

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11
Q

identify the organs of the urinary system

A

kidneys
ureters
urinary bladder
urethra

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12
Q

define micturition

A

the elimination of urine from the body

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13
Q

why don’t plasma proteins pass into the capsular space under normal circumstances?

A

plasma proteins are too large to pass through pores in glomerular capillaries

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14
Q

damage to which part of a nephron would interfere with hormonal control of blood pressure?

A

juxtaglomerular complex

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15
Q

describe the epithelium of the Bowman’s capsule

A

simple squamous epithelium

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16
Q

what are the forces involved in glomerular filtration?

A
  1. glomerular hydrostatic pressure
  2. capsular hydrostatic pressure
  3. colloid oncotic pressure
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17
Q

what’s the difference between reabsorption and secretion in the kidneys?

A

reabsorption: tubule → blood
secretion: blood → tubule

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18
Q

what is the functional unit of the kidneys?

A

the nephron

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19
Q

which parts of the urinary system make up the urinary tract

A

ureters
urinary bladder
urethra

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20
Q

trace the path of urine from the collecting duct to the urethra

A
collecting duct
minor calyx
major calyx
renal pelvis
ureter
urinary bladder
urethra
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21
Q

describe the urinary bladder’s muscle

A

detrusor muscle (smooth muscle)

contracts to expel urine

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22
Q

which three things regulate GFR?

A

autoregulation

hormonal regulation

autonomic regulation by sympathetic division of the ANS

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23
Q

what kind of epithelium lines the ureters?

A

transitional

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24
Q

what are the average GFRs for women and men?

A

women: 115 ml/min
men: 125 ml/min

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25
Q

what is the network of blood vessels surrounding the tubes of the nephron called?

A

the peritubular capillaries

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26
Q

what is the triangular area within the urinary bladder known as?

A

the trigone

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27
Q

what are the folds lining the surface of the empty urinary bladder known as?

A

rugae

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28
Q

what are the components of the renal corpuscle?

A

the glomerulus and the Bowman’s capsule (aka glomerular capsule)

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29
Q

describe the urethral sphincters

A

internal urethral sphincter - smooth muscle

external urethral sphincter - skeletal muscle (voluntary)

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30
Q

what is the part of the kidneys where urine collects before exiting via the ureter known as?

A

the renal pelvis

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31
Q

what are the three internal regions of the kidney?

A

cortex
medulla
renal pelvis

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32
Q

which artery carries blood to the kidneys for filtration?

A

the renal artery

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33
Q

where does most tubular secretion occur?

A

in the DCT (most) and the collecting duct

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34
Q

which segment of the nephron makes the final adjustments to the composition of tubular fluid?

A

the distal convoluted tubule

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35
Q

describe the epithelium in the thin part of the loop of Henle

A

simple squamous epithelium

36
Q

what is filtrate?

A

the filtered liquid inside the tubes and loos of the nephron

37
Q

what are the two types of nephron? which is more common?

A

cortical 85%

juxtamedullary 15%

38
Q

what are the two special cell types of the juxtaglomerular apparatus/complex?

A

JG cells

macula densa

39
Q

what is dysuria?

A

painful urination

40
Q

what are the major functions of the renal system?

A
  1. regulation of blood volume and pressure
  2. regulation of blood pH
  3. regulation of ion concentrations
  4. nutrient regulation
  5. detoxification
41
Q

describe the epithelium of the renal tubule

A

mainly cuboidal epithelium with microvilli

42
Q

in which part of the kidneys is the blood filtered and substances selectively reabsorbed back into the blood?

A

the renal cortex

43
Q

what gets secreted back into the filtrate from the blood?

A

drugs
potassium
hydrogen
wastes - creatine, urea, uric acid

44
Q

how does tubular reabsorption occur?

A

by simple diffusion (passive)

by carrier proteins (passive or active)

45
Q

what are the relevant numbers for glomerular filtration pressures?

A

NFP = 10 mmHg →
(net filtration pressure)

GHP ≈ 50 mm Hg →
(glomerular hydrostatic pressure)

BCOP ≈ 25 mm Hg ←
(blood colloid osmotic pressure)

CsHP ≈ 15 mmHg ←
(capsular hydrostatic pressure)

46
Q

what are the three concentric layers of connective tissue around the kidneys?

A

inner to outer:

fibrous capsule (collagen)

perinephric fat capsule (adipose tissue)

renal fascia (dense, fibrous outer layer)

47
Q

part of the nephron where water is reabsorbed back into the blood?

A

60-70% in the PCT
25% in nephron loop

the rest in the DCT and collecting tube

48
Q

where and how does obilgatory absorption of water occur?

A

by osmosis in the PCT and nephron loop

49
Q

glomerulus:
afferent arteriole
efferent arteriole

which is wider?

A

afferent arteriole

50
Q

what is the papillary duct?

A

carries fluid from collecting ducts into the minor calyxes

51
Q

the capsular space separates which layers of the glomerular complex?

A

parietal and visceral

52
Q

in which part of the nephron are nutrients reabsorbed?

A

PCT

53
Q

describe the layers of the filtration membrane in the glomerulus

A

filtration slits are formed by three layers:

  1. fenestrated epithelium of glomerular capillary
  2. basement membrane
  3. foot processes of podocyte cells from glomerular capsule
54
Q

an increase in sodium and chloride in the peritubular fluid affects the descending limb in what way?

A

elevates osmotic concentrations around descending limb, results in water flow out of descending limb

55
Q

where and how does facultative reabsorption of water occur?

A

mainly due to ADH in the DCT and collecting duct

56
Q

can the permeability of the PCT or nephron loop chang?

what does this represent?

A

no. reabsorption of water occurs here whenever osmotic concentration of PCT/loop is lower than peritubular fluid.

this represents obligatory water reabsorption

57
Q

where is the urinary bladder located?

A

in the pelvic cavity posterior to the pubic symphysis

58
Q

why is BP higher in glomerular capillaries than systemic capillaries?

A

because of the different diameters of the afferent and efferent arterioles

59
Q

what is the juxtaglomerular complex?

A

a cluster of specialised cells that secrete renin when glomerular BP falls

60
Q

what occurs when the plasma concentration of a substance exceeds the kidney’s capacity for transporting that substance?

A

the excess is not reabsorbed, it’s secreted in the urine

61
Q

what effect does an increase in ADH have on the DCT?

A

increased ADH = more aquaporins = more water reabsorbed

62
Q

what is oliguria?

A

urinary output below 400-500 ml/day

63
Q

what portions of the nephron are in the renal cortex?

A
renal corpuscle
PCT
DCT
the proximal portion of the nephron loop
the proximal portion of the collecting duct
64
Q

how do the kidneys regulate blood pH?

A

they control the reabsorption or loss of both hydrogen ions (H+) and bicarbonate ions (HCO3-)

65
Q

what is polyuria?

A

excessive urination

66
Q

what is the importance of a consistent rate of glomerular filtration?

A

GFR too low = wastes can’t be excreted, fluid and pH are imbalanced

GFR too high = faster flow and less time for reabsorption, too much stuff lost in urine

67
Q

what are the two ways we get fluid?

A

GI tract

cellular respiration

68
Q

what is GFR?

A

the amount of filtrate produce each minute

ie mow much/how effectively we filter blood and produce urine

69
Q

how is the concentration gradient of the renal medulla maintained?

A

by the removal of solutes and water from the area by the vasa recta

the nephron loop creates the gradient, the vasa recta maintains/stabilises it by redistributing reabsorbed water and solutes

70
Q

what is the most important system in the regulation of systemic BP?

A

RAAS

71
Q

the thick ascending limb of the nephron loop actively pumps what substances into the peritubular fluid?

what is it impermeable to?

A

sodium and chloride

it’s impermeable to water

72
Q

what is anuria?

A

urinary output below 50 ml/day

73
Q

in the PCT, ions and organic substrates are removed, causing what to occur?

A

a continuous osmotic flow of water out of the tubule

reduces volume of filtrate; keeps inside and outside of tubule isotonic

74
Q

what are the three physiological processes performed by the kidneys?

A

filtration
reabsorption
secretion

75
Q

when ADH levels in the DCT decrease, what happens to the urine osmotic concentration?

A

it becomes less concentrated

less ADH = less aquaporins = less water reabsorbed = less concentrated urine (and more of it)

76
Q

a) renal corpuscle
b) renal capsule
c) glomerular capsule

do you know the difference?

A

a) initial portion of the nephron (glomerulus and glomerular capsule)
b) fibrous capsule covering the outer surface of the kidney
c) bowman’s capsule - what the filtrate lands in before the PCT

77
Q

what is a creatinine clearance test used for?

A

to estimate GFR

78
Q

what is uric acid?

A

a waste product formed during the recycling of RNA molecules

79
Q

what is the presence of leukocytes in the urine called, and what is its significance?

A

pyuria.

indicates inflammation, often due to infection

pyuria + nitrites in urine = probable UTI

80
Q

what effect would increased amounts of aldosterone have on the concentration of potassium in the urine?

what is the mechanism of this action?

A

increased K+ in urine as aldosterone leads to ↑Na+ and ↓K+ reabsorption at kidneys

(aldosterone stimulates Na+/K+ exchange pumps in DCT))

81
Q

what do macula densa cells do?

A

sense ↓NaCl flow in DCT and release paracrine factors that affect the diameter of the afferent arteriole

(via the JG complex)
(↓NaCl = low flow)

82
Q

what is creatinine?

A

waste product generated in skeletal muscle during muscle contraction

83
Q

what is the significance of nitrite in the urine?

A

indicates infection

84
Q

what is normal pH range for urine?

A

4.5 - 8

85
Q

what might an alteration in urine pH signify?

what factor might affect variations within normal limits?

A

pH is altered in infections - can be higher or lower

within normal limits, pH will depend on diet, time of day

86
Q

what is the significance of glucose in urine?

A

glycosuria may indicate diabetes

but temporary glycosuria may occur due to a larger meal, which may overload carrier molecules in nephron and cause excess glucose to be excreted in urine