The kidneys: structure and function Flashcards
What are the 10 functions of the kidney?
1) Water balance
2) Salt balance
3) Maintenance of plasma volume
4) Maintenance of plasma osmolarity
5) Acid-base balance
6) Excretion of metabolic waste products
7) Excretion of exogenous foreign compounds
8) Secretion of renin (control of arterial blood pressure)
9) Secretion of erythropoietin (RBC production)
10) Conversion of vitamin D into active form (Calcitriol: Ca2+ absorption in GI tract)
what is the main function of the kidney?
Regulates volume, composition and osmolarity of body fluids
what is the balance concept of any substance?
Total ingested + Total excreted= Total produced + Total consumed
how can kidneys contribute to the balance of these substances?
Kidneys role is the controlled excretion of ions such as Na+ and K+ and fluids such as urine to maintain constant internal environment
what does the urinary system consist of?
- the kidneys (produce urine)
- the structures that store and carry the urine from the kidneys to the outside for elimination from the body
what veins and arteries go into the kidneys?
Renal artery and renal veins
what is the kidney made up of?
- renal cortex
- renal medulla
- renal pyramid
- renal pelvis
- ureter
what is the appearance of the renal cortex and renal medulla?
Cortex- granulated
medulla- striated
how much cardiac output does the kidneys receive?
25%
what makes up the renal medulla?
renal pyramids
where does urine travel in the kidneys?
urine comes from the renal pyramids and collects in the renal pelvis before draining into the ureter
what is a nephron?
the functional unit of the kidney
what are the functional mechanisms of the nephron?
- Filtration
- Reabsorption
- Secretion
what are the two parts to the renal artery?
- afferent arteriole
- efferent arteriole
what is the tubular loop in a nephron?
loop of Henle