the kidney

Question 1

what are the two main roles of the kidney

Answer 1

1) excretion

2) osmoregulation

Question 2

define excretion

Answer 2

• the removal of metabolic waste made by the body

Question 3

define osmoregulation

Answer 3

the control of the water potential of the body’s fluids by regulation of the water content in the body

Question 4

how is urea produced

Answer 4

1) proteins taken in through diet are digested into amino acids
2) amino acids are transported to the liver and then around the body where they are assimilated into proteins
3) any excess amino acids are deaminated in the liver and the amino group is converted into urea

Question 5

define deamination

Answer 5

the removal of the amine group from a molecules- excess amino acids are deaminated and the amino group is converted into urea

Question 6

what is the structure of the kidney

Answer 6

1) humans have 2 kidneys either side of the vertebral column
2) the renal capsule covers each kidney
3) receives blood from the renal artery and returns blood in the renal vein
4) blood from the artery is filtered in the outer layer at the bowman’s capsule
5) the medulla contains the loops of Henle and collecting ducts

Question 7

label the kidney

Question 8

label the fine structure of the kidney

Question 9

what parts of the kidney are found in the cortex

Answer 9

1) Bowman’s capsule
2) distal convoluted tubule
3) efferent arteriole
4) glomerulus
5) afferent arteriole
6) proximal convoluted tubule

Question 10

what parts of the kidney are found in the medulla

Answer 10

1) collecting ducts

2) descending and ascending loop of Henle

Question 11

what are nephrons

Answer 11

an individual blood filtering unit which is comprised of the glomerulus, bowman’s capsule, PCT and DCT, loop of Henle and collecting ducts