Unit 16: Urinary System Flashcards

1
Q

What are the main structures of the urinary system?

A

2 Kidneys
2 Ureters
Urinary bladder
Urethra

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2
Q

What are the functions of the urinary system?

A

Regulates: blood volume/pressure,
pH, concentrations of each ion in the blood (H+, Ca++, K+, Cl-)
Eliminates: wastes, hormones,
drugs, toxins

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3
Q

The kidneys are supported and protected by 3 layers of connective tissue. What are they?

A

Fibrous capsule (outer)
Perirenal fat capsule (middle)
Renal fascia (inner)

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4
Q

True or false: the kidneys are retroperitoneal organs

A

True

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5
Q

The _______ kidney is lower than the _______ kidney

A

right, left

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6
Q

The renal hilus (hilum) serves as the entry point of what?

A

Renal artery (superior)
Renal vein (inferior)
Ureter
Nerves

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7
Q

What is the renal cortex?

A

It is the superficial layer of the kidney that contains parts of nephrons, afferent and efferent arterioles, as well as capillary beds called glomeruli

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8
Q

The renal medulla (deep to cortex) contains renal pyramids and renal columns. Explain what these are

A

Renal pyramids: it contains parts of nephrons, and the apex of the pyramid is called the renal papilla
Renal columns: projections of the cortex into the medulla which separate the pyramids. They contain arteries, veins, and nerves that supply the cortex

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9
Q

This area is the central collecting chamber for filtrate/urine received by major calyces (in turn received through minor calyces which are small cup-shaped structures surrounding papilla)

A

The renal pelvis

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10
Q

What are the 4 components of the renal corpuscle in a nephron?

A

Glomerulus: capillary bed
Afferent arteriole: enters glomerulus and carries blood delivered to the kidney from the renal artery
Efferent arteriole: exits glomerulus and paritubular and vasa recta
Glomerular (Bowman’s) capsule: collects filtrate from glomerulus

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11
Q

What are the 2 layers that make up the glomerular (Bowman’s) capsule?

A

Outer layer: simple squa. epithelium
Inner layer: made of cells called podocytes that wrap around glomerular capillaries

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12
Q

The filtration membrane of the renal corpuscle consists of 3 layers. What are they?

A

Glomerular endothelium (capillaries): fenestrations (pores) allow plasma through
—shared basement membrane—
Podocytes: many finger-like projections that form a network of filtration slits

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13
Q

What are the 4 parts of renal tubules?

A

Proximal convoluted tubule (PCT)
Nephron loop
Distal convoluted tubule (DCT)
Collecting ducts

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14
Q

What structures can be found in the cortex area of the nephron? What about the medulla?

A

Cortex: proximal convoluted tubule (PCT), distal convoluted tubule (DCT)
Medulla: nephron loop
Both: collecting ducts

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15
Q

The proximal convoluted tubule (PCT) is made of cuboidal epithelium with dense microvilli. What function does the PCT perform?

A

Receives filtrate from the glomerular capsule and reabsorbs most useful substances whilst secreting waste products into the filtrate

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16
Q

What is the difference in the composition of the ascending and descending limbs of the nephron loop?

A

Descending: simple squa. epi., thin, highly water permeable
Ascending: simple cuboidal epi., thick, water-impermeable

17
Q

These structures drain filtrate from numerous nephrons and contain cells that regulate water and Na+ reabsorption, as well as blood pH

A

Collecting ducts

18
Q

What are the 2 types of nephron?

A

Cortical and juxtamedullary

19
Q

Describe cortical nephrons (85%)

A

They sit near the surface of the kidney with short nephron loops that dip into the outer medulla. They have peritubular capillaries that surround the DCT and PCT

20
Q

Describe juxtamedullary nephrons (15%)

A

Corpuscles in cortex near the medulla with long nephron loops that go deep into the medulla. Arterioles called vasa recta run parallel to nephron loop

21
Q

What is the name for the point of contact between the end of the ascending limb, afferent, and efferent arterioles at the renal corpuscle at the same nephron?

A

The juxtaglomerular complex (apparatus). It regulates the rate of filtrate formation

22
Q

What are the 2 main parts of the juxtaglomerular complex?

A

Tubular portion (macula densa): modified (tall/narrow) distal convoluted tubule cells that monitor filtrate comp.
Vascular (arteriolar) portion: afferent /efferent portion (granular). Modified smooth muscle cells that monitor blood pressure with enzymes and hormones

23
Q

What structures does this describe:

Retroperitoneal structure that transports urine from renal pelvis to bladder

A

Ureters

24
Q

What makes up the histology of the ureters?

A

Mucosa = transitional epi. (stretches)
Muscularis externa = smooth muscle
Adventitia = connects it to body wall

25
Q

What is the histology of the urinary bladder?

A

Mucosa = transitional epi. with rugae
Muscularis externa = detrusor muscle (smooth) which contracts to urinate
Adventitia/serosa = mostly adventitia, with the serosa covering the superior surface

26
Q

How does the mucosa of the urethra differ from that of the ureters and bladder?

A

The mucosa becomes stratified squamous epi. rather than transitional

27
Q

What are the 2 sphincters at the proximal end of the urethra?

A

Internal urethral sphincter: smooth muscle, the thickening of detrusor muscle at the base of the bladder

External urethral sphincter: skeletal muscle, in urogenital diaphragm

28
Q

What are the structures that filtrate would move through before exiting the body?

A

DCTs
Collecting ducts
Minor ~> major calyx
Renal pelvis
Ureter
Urinary bladder
Urethra

29
Q

What is urinary tract infection (UTI)?

A

A bacterial infection of the mucosa of the bladder/urethra (most commonly)

30
Q

What is glomerulonephritis?

A

Inflammation of the glomeruli and structures of the filtration membrane that impairs their filtering ability