Topic 4- Kidneys Flashcards
What is the function of the renal vein?
Takes blood from the kidney to the vena cava
What is the function of the renal artery?
Takes blood from the aorta to the kidney
What is the function of the kidney?
Control of water content of the blood
Removal of urea from the blood
Removal of excess mineral salts from the blood
What is the function of the ureta?
Takes urine from the kidney to the bladder
What is the function of the bladder?
Stores urine
What is the function of the urethra?
Takes urine out of the body
What is the function of the cortex?
Filters large molecules
What is the function of the medulla?
Water, salt and urea are removed from the blood
Name the 8 labels of the nephron
Arteriole TO and FROM capillary knot Capillary knot Bowman's knot Tubule Loop of henlé Network of capillaries Collecting duct
What are the conditions that need to be maintained to keep the body stable?
Waste substances need to be removed
Water content
Body temperature
Glucose levels
What are the contents of urine?
Urea, water, mineral salts
What does the nephron do?
Removes urea, excess mineral salts and excess water from the blood to form urine
What is ultrafiltration?
The filtration of small molecules under the pressure from the capillary knot into the bowman’s capsule. (Urea, mineral salts, glucose, water, amino acids)
What is reabsorbtion?
Useful molecules are reabsorbed back into the blood from the tubule. ( glucose, amino acids, water and mineral salts)
How do you gain and lose water from the body?
Gain;
Food
Drinking
Metabolic water (during respiration)
Lose; Sweat Exhalation Faeces Excretion
In terms of ADH, what happens when you lose water in the body?
Blood contains a low concentration of water
Brain secretes more ADH
More water is absorbed back into the blood in the kidneys
Small volume of concentrated urine is produced
In terms of ADH, what happens when you add water in the body?
Blood contains a high concentration of water
Brain secretes less ADH
Less water is reabsorbed back into the blood in the kidneys
A large volume of dilute urine is produced
What is the purpose of dialysis?
Restores the concentration of dissolved substances in the blood to normal levels
How does dialysis work?
The patient’s blood flows between semi permeable membranes.
To ensure that useful substances such as glucose and salts aren’t lost from the blood, the dialysis fluid contains the same concentration as the blood plasma.
This ensures only urea, and excess of mineral salts and water will diffuse into the dialysis fluid.
What is controlled during dialysis?
Constant circulation and changing of dialysis fluid insurance concentration of urea is higher in the blood. Urea therefore diffuses out of the blood into the dialysis fluid.
There is equal concentration of useful substances example glucose. Therefore no net diffusion of glucose in the blood.
What happens during a kidney transplant?
The donor kidney is implanted at the bottom of the abdomen close to the thigh and is connected to the blood supply. The failed kidneys are not removed.
What are the conditions of a kidney transplant?
The tissue-type must be the same or similar to reduce the chance of rejection for the transplant.
The donor must take drugs that suppress the immune system to reduce the chance of rejection after the transplant.
What are the differences between dialysis and a kidney transplant?
Dialysis;
Temporary fix, diet restrictions, must visit hospital frequently, non-invasive, no drugs, no rejection.
Transplant;
Cures problem, no diet restrictions, no visits to hospital, invasive, drugs, possibility of rejection
What are the ethical issues of kidney transplants?
Xenotransplants Kidney donor schemes Living donors Buying or selling of organs Availability of dialysis machines
