Session 1 - Intro, absorption and secretion Flashcards
What are the key structures of the urinary system?
Kidneys
Ureters
Bladder
Describe the location of the kidneys.
Retroperitoneal organs
At the level T11/12
What is the main function of the kidneys?
Maintain a stable internal environment. (Urinary)
Regulation: key substances/ extracellular fluid
Excretion: Excretes waste product
Endocrine: Synthesis of renin, erythropoietin, prostaglandins
Metabolism: Active form of vitamin D, catabolism of insulin, PTH, calcitonin.
What are the volumes of fluid in the extracellular compartments?
70kg person
42 L water (60%)
Intracellular: 28L
Extracellular (14L):
- Interstitial 11L
- Intravascular 3L
- Lymph
What would the osmolar value be of 1 mole of NaCl in 1L of solution?
2 Osmolar solution
What is the normal osmolality of blood plasma?
280-310 mOsm/kg
Which ions mainly determine the osmolality in extracellular fluid?
Na+ and Cl-
Which ions mainly determine the osmolality of intracellular fluid?
K+
How do the kidneys play a part in maintaining extracellular pH?
Kidneys control bicarbonate concentration.
How much urine is produced per day?
Around 1.5 L
What is a nephron?
A functional unit of the kidney.
A kidney can contain around 1 million of these!
How much of the food we eat goes to keep the kidneys functioning?
Almost 1/4!
Kidneys use 22% of the cardiac output at rest.
How is blood filtered at the kidney?
At the glomerulus.
Highly specialised filter.
Water, electrolytes and small molecules forced out. (By constant filtration pressure in capillaries)
Which hormonal system controls sodium reabsorption?
Renin-angiotensin system
Which hormone system controls water recovery? How?
Anti-diuretic hormone.
Controls permeability of DCT and collecting duct to water.
Name the main PRIMARY active transporters in the nephrons.
Na/K ATPase (3Na in, 2K out)
Plasma membrane calcium ATPase (Ca2+ out)
Proton ATPase (Pump H+ out into lumen)