The renal System Flashcards
what does the Urinary System Consist of?
Two kidneys, the urinary bladder, ureters and the urethra.
what does each of the organs in the urinary system do?
Kidney: filters blood to produce urine
ureters: transport urine toward the urinary bladder
Bladder: temporary stores urine prior to elimination
urethra: conducts urine to the exterior
what are the 3 main functions of the urinary system?
excretion, elimination and homeostatic regulation of blood plasma.
why is it important that the urinary system gets rid of cellular metabolic waste?
cells are toxic and would cause harm if they were to accumulate. cells continuously export metabolic waste into the extracellular fluid.
other by-products travel in the arterial (oxygenated) blood to the renal artery and into the kidney.
urinary system removes these toxic by-products from the blood and eliminates these.
what does excretion mean?
movement of material from the inside to the outside of a cell.
and
the release of material from the inside to the outside of the body.
summary of making and expelling urine….
urine is a solution produced by kidneys. water-soluble waste products of metabolism (mainly nitrogenous metabolic products) are removed from the blood and eliminated from the body.
Also helps maintain the chemical equilibrium of the blood.
summary: Balancing water content….
half of your body weight is water, contained in intracellular and extracellular fluid. (plasma of your blood, lymph fluid, fluids in your digestive tract and mucous membranes).
kidneys precisely regulate the release and retention of water to maintain blood volume, composition, and chemical variables within homeostatic ranges.
Endocrine functions: effect on the kidney..
adrenal endocrine glands are located on top of the kidneys although not a part of the kidneys, hormones produced and secreted by these glands act on the kidneys.
how do kidneys regulate RBC production?
hormone erythropoietin which regulates red blood cell production (erythropoiesis) in the bone marrow, produced in the peritubular capillary endothelial cells in the kidney and liver.
Erythropoietin also has other functions related to wound healing and recovery.
how do kidneys/hormones regulate bone growth? (summary)
calcitriol (physiologically active form of vitamin D) synthesised in the kidneys.
calcitriol regulates the concentration of calcium and phosphate in the blood, promoting healthy mineralization, growth and remodelling of bone.
The Structure of the Renal System: putting out the trash
what is at the start of the urinary system and where is it located?
Kidneys. fist-sized pair of organs located just below the ribs.
what is the concavity on the inner curve of the kidney called and what does it include?
Hilum: number of vessels that enter or exit, including the ureter, renal artery, renal vein, lymphatic vessels, and nerves.
what attaches your kidneys to your posterior abdominal wall?
connective tissue membrane called the peritoneum, as well as adipose (fat) tissue.
what beneath the peritoneum attaches the organ to surrounding structures?
lining called collagen called the capsule encloses the kidney. fibres of this layer extend outwards to attach organ to surrounding structures.
