Renal System Part 1 Flashcards
Kidneys
Produce urine
Ureters
Transports urine from the kidneys to the urinary bladder
Urinary bladder
Temporarily stores urine prior to elimination
Urethra
Conducts urine to exterior
Functions of Urinary System
- Storage of urine
- Expulsion of urine
- Regulation of blood volume via hormones
- Regulation of erythrocyte # via erythropoietin (EPO)
- Regulation of ion levels (sodium, potassium, calcium, phosphate)
- Regulation of acid-base balance (hydrogen and bicarbonate ions)
Renal cortex
- Superficial region
- Contains nephrons
Renal medulla
- Deep to cortex
- Has renal pyramids
- Urine collecting tubes
Renal papilla
Apex of renal pyramid
Minor calyx vs major calyx
1) Collects urine from renal papilla
2) Formed by fusion of several
minor calyces
Renal pelvis
Continuous with ureter. Walls have smooth muscle to move urine.
Nephron
Functional unit of the kidney
Made of renal corpuscle and renal tubule
Cortical nephron
- 85% of all nephrons
- Located primarily in the cortex
- Loop of Henle is relatively short
- Most regulatory functions
Juxtamedullary nephron
- 15% of nephrons
- Long loop of Henle extending
deep into medulla - Essential to producing
concentrated urine
Renal corpuscle
Glomerulus: A network of capillaries where blood is filtered.
Bowman’s Capsule: A cup-like structure that surrounds the glomerulus and collects the filtered fluid (filtrate).
Glomerulus
Tuft of capillaries associated with renal tubule
Bowman’s (Glomerular) capsule
- Blind, enlarged, cup-shaped structure
- Surrounds glomerulus
Renal corpuscle
Glomerulus and Bowman’s capsule
Renal tubule
Proximal Convoluted Tubule (PCT):
Located in the cortex, this tubule reabsorbs essential substances like water, glucose, and amino acids from the filtrate.
Loop of Henle: A hairpin-shaped structure that extends into the medulla, responsible for establishing a concentration gradient in the kidney. It has a thin descending limb (permeable to water) and a thin ascending limb (permeable to solutes).
Distal Convoluted Tubule (DCT):
Located in the cortex, this tubule further modifies the filtrate, reabsorbing water and electrolytes under hormonal control.
Collecting Duct: A structure that collects fluid from multiple nephrons and transports it to the renal pelvis, where it becomes urine.
Juxtaglomerular Apparatus: A specialized structure involved in regulating blood pressure and fluid balance.
