The mammalian kidney: structure 5.2.5

Question 1

How many kidneys do humans have

Answer 1

Two

Question 2

What are the two important functions of the kidney

Answer 2

• They regulate the water content of the blood as an osmoregulatory organ
• They excrete the toxic waste products of metabolism as an excretory organ

Question 3

What are 6 structures found within the kidney?

Answer 3

• Renal artery
• Renal vein
• Kidney
• Ureter
• Bladder
• Urethra

Question 4

What is the function of the renal artery?

Answer 4

Carries oxygenated blood (containing urea and salts) to kidneys

Question 5

What is the function of the renal vein?

Answer 5

Carries deoxygenated blood (that has urea and excess salts removed) away from kidneys

Question 6

What is the function of the ureter?

Answer 6

Carries urine from kidneys to bladder

Question 7

What is the function of the bladder?

Answer 7

Stores urine (temporarily)

Question 8

What is the function of the urethra?

Answer 8

Releases urine outside of the body

Question 9

What is the kidney itself surrounded by?

Answer 9

A fairly tough outer layer known as the fibrous capsule

Question 10

What are the three main areas of the kidney?

Answer 10

• The cortex
• The medulla
• The renal pelvis

Question 11

What is found in the cortex?

Answer 11

Contains the glomerulus, as well as the Bowman’s capsule, proximal convoluted tubule, and distal convoluted tubule of the nephrons)

Question 12

What is found in the medulla?

Answer 12

The loop of Henle and collecting duct of the nephrons

Question 13

What is found in the renal pelvis?

Answer 13

Where the ureter joins the kidney

Question 14

What does each kidney contain?

Answer 14

Thousands of tiny tubes, known as nephrons

Question 15

What is a nephron?

Answer 15

The functional unit of the kidney - the nephrons are responsible for the formation of urine

Question 16

What is associated with each nephron?

Answer 16

There is a network of blood vessels
- Within the Bowman’s capsule of each nephron is a structure known as the glomerulus - which is supplied with blood from an afferent arteriole. The capillaries rejoin to form an efferent arteriole which then flows from here into a network of capillaries that run closely along the side of the nephron.
Blood from here eventually flows into the renal vein