The Urinary System: Kidney & Nephron Flashcards

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1
Q

The 2 kidneys of the urinary system

A

Filter blood & produce urine

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2
Q

The 2 ureters of the urinary system

A

Transport urine from the kidneys to the urinary bladder

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3
Q

The urinary bladder is

A

A temporary storage reservoir for urine

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4
Q

The urethra

A

Transports urine out of the body

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5
Q

The functions of the kidneys are

A

Excretion of nitrogenous waste (urea, ammonia, creating, uric acid, and urobilin), drugs & environmental toxins

Regulation of blood ion, pH & osmolarity

Regulation of blood volume & pressure

Hormone production (e.g., erythropoietin)

Regulation of blood glucose (gluconeogenesis)

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6
Q

The kidneys lie

A

Retroperitoneal in the superior lumbar region
◦Right kidney is lower than left (crowded by liver)

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7
Q

The 3 layers of supportive tissue surrounding the kidneys are

A

◦Renal fascia – outer layer of dense fibrous
connective tissue that anchors kidney & adrenal gland to surrounding structures
◦Perirenal fat capsule – surrounds & cushions the
kidney
◦Fibrous capsule – transparent capsule that
protects from surrounding infections & trauma

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8
Q

The renal hilum is

A

An indentation along concave border of the kidney
◦ Ureter, blood vessels, lymphatic vessels, nerves

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9
Q

Outermost region of the kidney is

A

The renal cortex

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10
Q

Middle region of the kidney is

A

The renal medulla (contains renal pyramids)

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11
Q

Innermost region of the kidney is

A

The renal pelvis, a funnel-shaped tube continuous with the ureter
◦ Minor & major calyces collect urine & empty it
into the renal pelvis

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12
Q

Blood enters each kidney through one renal artery via

A

Arterial blood flow

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13
Q

Blood flows into the renal cortex through

A

Progressively smaller arteries

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14
Q

Gives rise to microscopic vasculature that is a key element of kidney function

A

Afferent arterioles

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15
Q

Blood leaves the kidneys via the

A

Veins (renal arterial circulation in reverse)

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16
Q

The renal nerve plexus composed mostly of sympathetic fibres regulates renal blood flow by

A

Adjusting the diameter of renal arterioles & influencing the formation of urine by the nephron

17
Q

The structural & functional units that form urine are

A

Nephrons (1 million+ per kidney)

18
Q

Nephrons form a

A

Cell- & protein-free filtrate from blood that
◦ Recovers (reabsorbs) chemicals the body needs
◦Secretes selected chemicals to get rid of

19
Q

Two main parts of a nephron are:

A

Renal corpuscle (filters plasma)
◦ Located in renal cortex
Renal tubules (regulates filtrate via selective absorption & secretion)
◦ Starts in renal cortex, passes into medulla, &
returns to cortex

20
Q

The glomerulus of the renal corpuscle is composed of

A

Fenestrated capillaries that increase permeability to form a solute-rich, but protein-free, filtrate

21
Q

The glomerular (Bowman’s) capsule of the renal corpuscle is

A

A Double-walled epithelial cup surrounding the glomerulus
◦Parietal layer – contributes to capsular structure
◦Visceral layer – associated with the glomerular capillaries (consists of podocytes)

22
Q

The path of filtrate in the renal tubule of the kidneys is:

A

Proximal convoluted tubule (PCT)

Nephron loop (loop of Henle)
- descending then ascending limb

Distal convoluted tubule (DCT)

Collecting duct

23
Q

The epithelium of the renal tubule & collecting duct is

A

Simple (1 layer)

24
Q

The epithelium of the PCT has

A

Dense microvilli to ↑SA for absorption & secretion

25
Q

The epithelium of the nephron loop is

A

◦ simple squamous in the thin descending limb
◦ both thin and thick (simple cuboidal) in the ascending limb

26
Q

The cells of the DCT epithelium lack

A

Microvilli

27
Q

Principal cells in the collecting ducts control

A

H2O & Na+ balance via Na+ channels & aquaporins

28
Q

The intercalated cells in the collecting ducts control

A

pH by secreting/absorbing H+ or HCO3-

29
Q

The collecting ducts collect filtrate from many nephrons & extend through the renal pyramid to the

A

Renal papilla, where they empty into a minor calyx
◦ Give the pyramids their striped appearance

30
Q

The 2 classes of nephron are

A

Cortical and Juxtamedullary

31
Q

Nephrons that are
◦ the majority (85%)
◦ located almost entirely within cortex
◦ have a short nephron loop

A

Cortical nephrons

32
Q

Nephrons that are
◦ Located near the cortex-medulla junction
◦ Have a long nephron loop
◦ play an important role in kidney’s ability to concentrate urine (help with water conservation)

A

Juxtamedullary nephrons

33
Q

The nephron capillary beds formed by the efferent arteriole are

A

Peritubular capillaries surrounding the cortical tubule
◦ Low-pressure, porous, absorb solutes & H2O from tubule cells
Vasa recta surrounding the medulla tubule
◦ Arise from the efferent arterioles near juxtamedullary nephrons & run parallel to longest nephron loops (counter current)

34
Q

Being fed & drained by afferent & efferent arterioles maintains the

A

The high pressure in the glomerulus that is necessary for filtration

35
Q

The juxtaglomerular complex if the region where

A

The afferent arteriole & distal convoluted tubule (DCT) meet
◦ Regulates rate of filtrate formation & systemic blood pressure

36
Q

The macula densa cells (chemoreceptors) in the DCT monitor

A

The NaCl content of filtrate entering DCT

37
Q

The juxtaglomerular cells in walls of the afferent arterioles act like mechanoreceptors to monitor

A

Blood pressure & house secretory vesicles containing the enzyme renin