The Kidney

Question 1

Where are the kidneys located?

Answer 1

-at the back of abdominal cavity
-connected to bladder via ureters

Question 2

What are ureters?

Answer 2

-tube carrying urine from kidneys to bladder

Question 3

How is blood supplied to the kidney?

Answer 3

-from renal artery branching off the aorta
-blood taken away vil renal vein connecting to inferior vena cava

Question 4

What is the kidney responsible for?

Answer 4

-excretion of nitrogenous waste and osmoregulation

Question 5

What is osmoregulation?

Answer 5

-process of controlling water potential of the blood

Question 6

What does the renal artery do?

Answer 6

-supplies kidney with blood to be filtered

Question 7

What does the renal vein do?

Answer 7

-carries filtered blood away from the kidney

Question 8

What are the 3 pars of the kidney?

Answer 8

-cortex, medulla and pelvis

Question 9

What is the cortex?

Answer 9

-dark outer layers
-lots of capillary networks

Question 10

What is the medulla?

Answer 10

-contains nephrons

Question 11

What is the pelvis?

Answer 11

-urine collects before leaving kidney

Question 12

What are the 5 functions of the kidneys?

Answer 12

1. site of ultrafiltration
2. proximal convoluted tubule - fluid is altered by re absorption of all sugars
3. 85% fluid is absorbed here
4. loop of henle adds salt to fluid = lower WP
5. in collecting duct - WP is low by the removal of water

Question 13

Give 3 examples of how the kidneys are well adapted for their functions

Answer 13

1. layer of fat - to protect against mechanical damage
2. good blood supply - ensure diffusion grads maintained
3. diff size blood vessels - give high blood pressure for ultrafiltration

Question 14

How much blood is filtered over 24 hours through the kidneys?

Answer 14

180l

Question 15

What is ultrafiltration?

Answer 15

-forcing of liquid out from the blood capillaries into bowman’s capsule due to high blood pressure in the glomerulus

Question 16

What would you expect to see in normal glomerular filtrate?

Answer 16

-water, urea, glucose, amino acids and mineral ions

Question 17

How can kidney infections results in protein appearing in urine?

Answer 17

-podocytes provide extra filters
-preventing any large proteins forced out of capillaries from getting into filtrate
-if podocytes are damaged =structure break down
-wont be reabsorbed so will be lost in urine