The Kidney Flashcards
0
Q
Describe the structure of the nephron
A
- each nephron starts in the cortex, in the cortex the capillaries form a knot called the glomerulus, this is surrounded by the bowman’s capsule
- fluid from the blood is pushed into the capsule by ultrafiltration
- the fluid leaves the capsule and flows through the nephron starting with the proximal convoluted tubule and then into the medulla for the loop of Henle which is a hairpin counter current multiplier
- here the composition of the fluid is altered by selective reabsorption
- substances are reabsorbed back into the tissue fluid and capillaries surrounding the nephron tubule
- the fluid then passes into the distal convoluted tubule and then into the collecting duct as urine
DIAGRAM
1
Q
Describe the structure of the kidney
A
- each kidney is supplied with blood from a renal artery and is drained by a renal vein
- urine passes out of the kidney down the ureter to the bladder where it can be stored before release
- the outer region of a longitudinal section of a kidney is called the cortex
- the inner region is called the medulla
- in the centre is the pelvis which leads into the ureter
DIAGRAM