Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Histology Unit 4 > Urinary System > Flashcards

Urinary System Flashcards

1
Q

What are the four components of the urinary system?

A
  1. Kidneys
  2. Ureters
  3. Urinary bladder
  4. Urethra
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What are the four functions of the urinary system?

A
  1. Filtration
  2. Active absorption
  3. Passive absorption
  4. Secretion
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Kidneys receive _____% of total blood flow

A

20-25%

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Talk me through the process of the urinary system very generally

A

Blood arrives at kidneys > filter to make ultrafiltrate > passive and active absorption > reabsorb the essential fluids and electrolytes to return to the body + metabolic waste is removed

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What stimulates the release of erythropoietin by the kidneys? What does it do?

A

Low blood oxygen levels > kidneys release erythropoietin > stimulates the production of RBC in the bone marrow

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What stimulates the release of renin by the kidneys? What does it do - overall effect?

A

Low sodium levels or low blood volume > release of renin > increase in blood pressure

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What are the two layers to the capsule of the kidney?

A
  1. Outer fibrous layer

2. Inner layer of myofibroblasts

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What is a unique feature of the inner layer of the capsule of the kidney?

A

It has a contractile function which allows it to withstand pressure changes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What is the hilum of the kidney?

A

The hilum is a concave region that serves as the entry point for the renal artery, exit point for renal vein, and ____

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What is the renal pelvis?

A

Funnel-shaped opening at the beginning of the urter

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What are the two parts of the renal pelvis?

A
  1. Major Calyx

2. Minor Calyx

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

How many medullary pyramides does each person have?

A

10-18

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What are medullary rays?

A

Extensions of medullary pyramids into the cortical region

The space between the medullary rays is the cortical labyrinths

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What is the cortical labyrinth? What does it house?

A

The outer cortex region between medullary rays

Houses the renal corpuscles + convoluted tubules + collecting tubules

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Why does the outer cortex stain dark red?

A

95% of the vasculature present in the kidney is housed in the outer cortex

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Talk me through the vasculature of the kidneys starting at the hilum

A

Renal artery enters at hilum > divides into interlobar arteris > runs along medula region next to the pyramid > takes a sharp turn at cortical-medullaruy junction > acruate cessels (AA and AV) > sharp turn and enter cortext > interlobular vessels > glomerular capillaries > portal arteriole system > efferent arteriole > secondary capillary system

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What does the portal arteriole system do?

A

The afferent arteriole provides blood to the glomerular capillaries and delivers blood to efferent arteriole

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What does the secondary capillary system in the kidneys do?

A

Provides nourishment for the kidney itself

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What demarcates the boundary between the cortex and the medulla?

A

Arcuate vessels

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

What kind of staining does the medulla have?

A

Stains lightly

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

What is the renal corpuscle?

A

Houses the glomerular capillaries and associated tubules

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

What specific tubules do the medullary rays consist of?

A

Straight tubules

Cortical collecting tube

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

What is the vasa recta?

A

Unique capillary system that runs parallel to the collecting duct it the medulla

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

What is the papilla?

A

The point where the medullary pyramid comes to an apex

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

What kind of tissue is the papilla made of?

A

Simple columnar epithelium

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

What tissue type if the minor calyx made of?

A

Transitional eptithelium

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

Talk me through urine movement

A

renal corpuslce > PCT > loop of Henle > DCT> collecting duct > papilla > minor calyx > major calyx > renal pelvis > ureter > baldder > urethra

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

Where it the medullary pyramid the widest?

A

At the cortical region

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

What is the function of transitional epithelium?

A

Allows for distension of structures such as the ureters, bladder, and urethra

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

What constitutes a kidney lobe?

A

Medullary pyramid + associated cortical tissue

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

Lobes are subdivided into ______

A

Lobules

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
32
Q

What constitutes a kidney lobule?

A

Central medullary ray + surrounding cortical material

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
33
Q

What is a renal secretory unit?

A

Kidney lobule

Medullary rays + Cortical labyrinth

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
34
Q

When are the lobes of the kidney most apparent?

A

In a fetus - there is evident CT invagination

The CT disappears soon after birth

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
35
Q

What is the functional unit of the kidney?

A

Nephron

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
36
Q

What is Bowman’s capsule?

A

Incases the renal corpuslce

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
37
Q

What are the two layers of Bowman’s capsule?

A
  1. Visceral layer

2. Parietal layer

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
38
Q

What is the tissue type of the visceral layer of Bowman’s capsule?

A

Podocytes?

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
39
Q

What is the tissue type of the parietal layer of Bowman’s capsule?

A

Simple Squamous Epithelium

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
40
Q

What is the function of the PCT? (2)

A
  1. Majority of reabsorption

2. Turn the ultrafiltrate into tubular fluid

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
41
Q

In the PCT ___% of glucose and amino acids and _______ of salt and water are reabsorbed

A

100%

A lot

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
42
Q

What is the function of the nephron loop/loop of Henle? (2)

A
  1. Concentration of urine

2. water and salt reabsorption to interstitial fluid

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
43
Q

What are the 4 components of the loop of Henle / nephron loop?

A
  1. Descending thick segment / proximal straight tubule
  2. Descending thin limb
  3. Accending thin limb
  4. Accending thick segment / distal stright tubule
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
44
Q

What are the main functions of the DCT? (2)

A
  1. Secretion

2. Absorption

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
45
Q

What is the function of macula densa cells? Where are they found? What type of cell are they?

A

Specialed cells that sense sodium concentration and blood volume and tell the juxtaglomerular cells
Located in DCT
Tall columnar cells that are thin

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
46
Q

What is the function of the capillary system? What does it include

A

final adjustments

Cortical collecting duct

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
47
Q

What tissue type lines the corical collecting duct? What does this indicate about its function?

A

Moves from squamous > cuboidal > progressively become taller and taller
Indicative of secretion and absoption

48
Q

What are the four components of the renal corpuscle?

A
  1. Glomerulus
  2. Bowman’s Capsule
  3. Vascular pole
  4. Urinary pole
49
Q

What is the function of podocytes?

A

Reinforce the junctions of the flomerulus

50
Q

What tissue type makes up the glomerular capillaries?

A

Simple squanmous epithelium

51
Q

What is Bowman’s space / Urinary space?

A

White space between visceral and parietal layer

Contains the filtrate

52
Q

What is the vascular pole?

A

Where the afferent arteriole delivers blood into capillaries and the efferent arteriole exits after it goes through the glomerular capillaries

53
Q

What is the vascular in close proximity to?

A

The macula densa cells in the DCT

54
Q

What is the urinary pole?

A

Where the parietal layer of Bowman’s capsule transitions to the PCT
The exit point for urine to enter the PCT

55
Q

What are the four parts of the glomerular filtration barrier?

A
  1. Podocytes
  2. Filtration slits bridged by slit diaphragms
  3. Fenestrated capillaries
  4. Glomerular basement membrane
56
Q

What is the function of the glomerular filtration barrier?

A

It allows for the filtration of blood in order to create the ultrafiltrate

57
Q

In what order does the blood travel through the different parts of the glomerular filtration barrier?

A

Blood > endothelial cells > fused basement membanre (podocytes + endothelial cells) > filtration slits
On the other side of the filtration slits its known as the ultrafiltrate

58
Q

What are the 3 parts of the glomerular basement membrane?

A
  1. Lamina rara externa
  2. Lamina densa
  3. Laimina rara interna
59
Q

What is the function of the glomerular basement membrane? What aspects of the membrane help it do this? (2)

A
  1. Size exclusion; type IV collagen fibers in the lamina densa and filtration slits
  2. Charge exclusion; GAGs repel negatively charged ions
60
Q

What are pedicels?

A

Podocytes have primary processes called trabeculae, which wrap around the glomerular capillaries. The trabeculae in turn have secondary processes called pedicels.

61
Q

Pedicels interdigitate, thereby giving rise to _____?

A

Filtration slits

62
Q

Glomerular capillaries are enriched with what to allow for the rapid movement of water?

A

AQ1 (aquaporin 1)

63
Q

What is included in the juxtaglomerular apparatus (3)?

A
  1. Macula densa
  2. Juxtaglomerular cells
  3. Mesangial cells
64
Q

What are juxtaglomerular cells?

A

Smooth muscle cells in the afferent and efferent arterioles

65
Q

What do juxtaglomerular cells release?

A

They release renin in response to low sodium / low blood volume in order to increase blood pressure

66
Q

What are mesangial cells? Where are they found?

A

Act as the macrophages of the kidneys - phagocytose large molecules and foreign invaders. Can also release cytokines and other chemical signals.

Surround glomerular capillary tufts (tuft = network of capillaries)

67
Q

What is the renin-angiotensin-aldosteron system (RAAS)?

A

Low sodium / low blood volume > sensed by macula adherens > tell juxtaglomerular cells > release renin > cleaves angioteninogen > angiotensisn I > cleaved by angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) > angiotensin II > increases blood pressure by

  1. Vasocontriction
  2. Adrenal cortex > release aldosteron > acts on tubles > increased sodium reabsorption and water retention
  3. Hypothalamus > produce and release antidi
68
Q

Where is angiotensin made? Does it circulate in an active or inactive state?

A

Made in the liver, then circulates through plasma in an inactive state

69
Q

What is an ID difference between the PCT and DCT?

A

The PCT has a brush border which makes it have a fuzzy appearance
The DCT has a clear lumen

70
Q

What modifications does the PCT have on its apical (2), lateral (1), and basal (2) domains?

A

Apical - brush border, zonula occludens
Lateral - Plicae
Basal - interdigitated basal processes, basal striations

71
Q

Because PCT have plicae on the lateral domain - what does this mean for ID?

A

You can’t distinguish cells laterally - the lateral domain is not evident on a micrograph

72
Q

Do the PCT, DCT, or collecting ducts have obvious lateral domains?

A

Collecting ducts

73
Q

What is the function of the Loop of Henle?

A

Responsible for the establishment of an osmotic gradient in the medulla

74
Q

What are the two types of nephrons?

A
  1. Cortical Nephrons

2. Juxtamedullary Nephrons

75
Q

Which parts of the loop of Henle are cortical nephrons? (3)

A

Corpuscle - outer cortex
Short Loop
Bend - outer medulla

76
Q

What is the function of Juxtamedullary nephrons?

A

Responsible for urine concentration due to increased concentration gradient

77
Q

What parts of the loop of Henle are juxtamedullary nephrons?

A

Corpuscle - inner cortex
Long, thin Loop
Bend - inner medulla

78
Q

Cortical nephrons comprise ___% of the Loop of Henle, while Juxtamedullary comprise ____%

A

80, 20

79
Q

In the descending loop of Henle what is moving in and out? What is not moving? Is it active or passive transport?

A

Descending loop is water permeable
Na is not moving
Passive transport - osmosis

80
Q

In the ascending loop of Henle what is moving in and out? What is not moving?

A

NaCl is moving

Water is not moving

81
Q

In the ascending loop of Henle, where is active transport happening? Passive?

A

Active transport on the thick branch

Passive transport in the thin branch

82
Q

In the decending loop of Henle the fluid goes from _______ to _________

A

Isomotic to hyperosmotic filtrate

83
Q

In the acending loop of Henle the fluid goes from _______ to __________

A

Hyperosmotic to hypoosmotic filtrate

84
Q

What are the three functions of the DCT?

A
  1. Reabsorption of sodium and bicarbonate ion
  2. Secretion of K, H, and ammonium
  3. Responds to aldosterone
85
Q

What tissue type is the DCT made of?

A

Simple cuboidal epithelium

86
Q

Which has larger cell size: PCT or DCT?

A

PCT has larger cells

87
Q

How does the DCT respond to aldosterone?

A

Aldosterone > increase Na and fluid retention > increase blood pressure

88
Q

Which is longer, more torteourus, and more abundant - PCT or DCT?

A

PCT

89
Q

What tissue type makes up the collecting tubule and cortical collecting ducts?

A

Squamous to cuboidal

90
Q

What tissue type is the medullary collecting ducts?

A

Cuboidal that transition to columnar

91
Q

How are collecting tubules and collecting duct ID?

A

Clear cell boundaries

92
Q

Are the collecting tubules and collecting ducts considered part of the nephron?

A

No

93
Q

The collecting tubules and collecting ducts are ______ water permeable

A

Selectively

94
Q

What two specialized cell types does the medullary collecting duct have?

A
  1. Principal (light) cells

2. Intercalated (dark) cells

95
Q

What are principal cells? What apical modifications do they have? For what purposes? (2)

A

Cells in the medullary collecting duct
1. Primary cilia = mechanosensor to monitor fluid flow
2. AQP-2 = permit water movement back to the body and concentrate urine
(Also have Ca channels to increase water permeability)

96
Q

AQP-2 channels are sensitive to which hormone?

A

ADH

97
Q

What are intercalated (dark) cells? What is their function? How do they carry out their function?

A

Cells in the medullary collecting duct
They are sensitive to pH
If it is too acidic > secrete protons
If it is too basic > secrete bicarbonate

98
Q

What is responsible for creating the Countercurrent Exchange System?

A

The vasa recta

99
Q

Where is urine stored?

A

The bladder

100
Q

Where is urine voided?

A

The urethra

101
Q

What is the urine flow from the collecting ducts?

A

Collecting ducts > minor calyx > major calyx > renal pelvis > ureter > urinary bladder

102
Q

What tissue type lines calyces, ureters, bladder, and proximal urethra?

A

Transitional Epithelium (Urothelium)

103
Q

What is the trend seen in the layers of cells in the transitional epithelium as you move from the calyces to the bladder?

A

Layers increase from calyces to bladder

104
Q

What is the function of urothelial plaques?

A

Urothelium has invaginations into the cytoplasm which allow for expansion of the apical region when distension is needed

105
Q

How does the luminal surface change from a distended bladder and that of a relaxed bladder?

A

??

106
Q

What is the function of the ureter?

A

Conducts urine from renal pelvis to bladder

107
Q

What tissue type is the ureter composed of?

A

Transitional epithelium

108
Q

What does the lamina propria of the ureter look like? The muscle layers? Does it have an adventitia or a serosa?

A

Thin lamina propria
Extensive smooth muscle
Adventitia

109
Q

What are the three layers of the smooth muscle surrounding the ureter?

A 
Inner longitudinal 
Middle circular 
Outer longitudinal (varies)
110
Q

The contraction of smooth muscle gives the ureter’s lumen its characteristic ____ shape

A

Star

111
Q

What three specific muscles are located in the bladder?

A
  1. Detrusor muscle
  2. Internal urethral sphincter
  3. External urethral sphincter
112
Q

Which of the urethral sphincters is smooth muscle and involuntary movements? Skeletal and voluntary?

A 
Internal = smooth, involuntary
External = skeletal, voluntary
113
Q

What is the Detrusor muscle?

A

The smooth muscle of the bladder

114
Q

What three openings are in the bladder?

A

2 ureters - in the upper region

1 urethra - in the lower region

115
Q

What is the function of the urethra?

A

Conveys urine form bladder to exterior

116
Q

How does the size, structure, and function of the urethra differ between males and females?

A

Females; urethra is only a urinary duct, also short

Males; urethra is the urinary duct and genital system, longer

117
Q

What are the 3 regions of the male urethra?

A
  1. Prostatic
  2. Penal - removal/avoiding of urine
  3. Membraneous

Histology Unit 4 (5 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions