Urinary Flashcards
What is the primary function of the urinary system?
Excretion of waste products from the body
List the components of the urinary system.
- Kidneys
- Ureters
- Urinary bladder
- Urethra
What role do kidneys play in the urinary system?
Filter blood and produce urine
What is the function of ureters?
Carry waste from kidneys to the bladder
What does the urinary bladder do?
Stores urine until excretion
What is the function of the urethra?
Expels urine from the bladder
What is homeostasis in the context of the urinary system?
Regulate water and electrolyte balance in the body
What waste products does the urinary system excrete?
- Urea
- Uric acid
How does the urinary system regulate blood pH?
By controlling the concentration of hydrogen ions
What hormone stimulates red blood cell production in response to low oxygen levels?
Erythropoietin
What is the role of renin in the urinary system?
Regulates blood pressure and fluid balance via the renin-angiotensin system
What are the dimensions of a kidney?
- Approximately 11 cm long
- 5 cm wide
- 3 cm thick
Where are the kidneys located?
Upper abdominal cavity, retroperitoneal
What is the renal capsule?
Outer layer of connective tissue surrounding each kidney
What is the function of the adipose capsule?
Provides cushioning and support to the kidneys
Define renal fascia.
Thin connective tissue layer surrounding the adipose capsule
What is the hilum of the kidney?
A concave fissure on the medial border for entry and exit points of vessels
What is found in the renal sinus?
Blood vessels, lymphatics, part of the urinary system, and adipose tissue
What are the two major regions of the kidney?
- Renal Cortex
- Renal Medulla
What are renal pyramids?
Cone-shaped structures projecting into the cortex
What is the renal pelvis?
Central area where urine collects before entering the ureter
What are nephrons?
Structural and functional units of the kidney
How many nephrons are approximately in each kidney?
About 1.3 million
What are the components of a nephron?
- Renal corpuscle
- Proximal convoluted tubule
- Loop of Henle
- Distal convoluted tubule
What is the glomerulus?
A knot of capillaries specialized for filtration
What is the function of the podocytes?
Form a porous membrane around the glomerulus for filtration
What are the three major processes of urine production?
- Filtration
- Tubular Absorption
- Tubular Secretion
What is filtration pressure?
Forces fluid from the glomerular capillary into the Bowman capsule
What influences filtration pressure?
- Blood pressure in glomerular capillaries
- Blood protein concentration
- Pressure in the Bowman capsule
What hormone regulates urine concentration and volume?
Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH)
What does the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone mechanism regulate?
Blood pressure and fluid balance
What is the function of atrial natriuretic hormone (ANH)?
Decreases Na+ reabsorption, reducing blood volume and pressure