U1T1 - Keywords Flashcards
The principles of homeostasis
Homeostasis
Maintenance of constant conditions in an internal environment such as the body. e.g. pH, temp, blood glucose, bp + osmotic balance.
Osmotic Balance
Controlling the conc of body fluids.
Negative Feedback
All homeostatic organisms rely on this. Change from set level detected + triggers response opposing change + restoring set level. Return to set level detected + corrective response switched off.
Kidneys
Osmoregulation + excretion of toxic mechanisms.
Renal Artery
Takes blood to kidneys.
Renal Vein
Removes blood from kidneys.
Ureters
Carries urine to bladder.
Bladder
Stores urine.
Urethra
Takes urine outside body.
Urea
Product of breakdown of excess amino acids + nucleic acids.
Osmoregulation
Homeostatic process responsible for controlling water potential of blood + conc of other body fluids.
Pelvis
Cavity which receives urine from nephrons.
Nephron
Over 1 million of these in kidney. Highly specialised to carry out dual function of excretory system. Straddle boundary between cortex + medulla. Functional unit of kidney. Originates as cup shaped Bowman’s capsule.
Glomerulus
Knot of capillaries in Bowman’s Capsule. Originates from afferent arteriole + blood leaves via efferent arteriole.
Vasa Recta
Blood capillaries branching off efferent arteriole, associated with parts of nephron in medulla.
Ultrafiltration
Filtering blood contents with assistance of high pressure. Takes place at boundary between glomerular capillaries + Bowman’s capsule. Blood in glomerulus under high pressure. Forces small molecules out of capillaries (urea, glucose, sodium ions, salts, amino acids, other molecules with RMM <68000). Blood cells + plasma proteins remain suspended in blood plasma.
Glomerular Filtrate
Liquid forced out of glomerulus + into Bowman’s capsule through capillaries.
Plasma Proteins
Large proteins such as clotting factors + albumin.
Capillary Endothelium of Glomerulus
Composed of squamous endothelium with pores between them. More permeable than normal capillaries.
Basement Membrane
The effective filter. Extracellular gel like matrix which acts as molecular sieve.