Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

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


See full index

Teas Ap > Urinary System > Flashcards

Urinary System Flashcards

1
Q

What is the primary function of the kidneys?

A

To filter blood and produce urine

The kidneys are essential for maintaining homeostasis in the body.

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

Where are the kidneys located in the body?

A

In the lumbar region

The kidneys are paired organs located on either side of the spine.

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

What protective layers surround the kidneys?

A

Renal fascia, adipose capsule, and renal capsule

These layers provide cushioning and protection to the kidneys.

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

What is the outer portion of the kidney called?

A

Renal cortex

The cortex is involved in ultrafiltration and reabsorption.

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

What is the role of the renal cortex?

A

Site of ultrafiltration and majority of water reabsorption

The cortex contains nephrons which perform these functions.

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

What structures are found within the renal cortex?

A

Renal corpuscles and convoluted tubules

These structures are essential for the filtration and reabsorption processes.

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

What is the renal medulla?

A

The inner region of the kidney that contains tubules and pyramids

The medulla is responsible for concentrating urine.

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

What are renal pyramids?

A

Cone-shaped structures in the renal medulla

They are arranged parallel to each other and contribute to urine formation.

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

What is the renal pelvis?

A

A cavity that collects urine before it enters the ureter

It is part of the urinary system and helps transport urine.

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

What is the hilum of the kidney?

A

The concave region where blood vessels and nerves enter and leave

It serves as the entry and exit point for the renal blood supply.

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

What is the glomerulus?

A

A tuft of capillaries where blood is filtered

It is a crucial component of the nephron involved in the filtration process.

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

What is the renal artery’s role?

A

To supply blood to the kidneys

The renal artery branches into smaller arteries before reaching the glomerulus.

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

Fill in the blank: The renal _______ is responsible for reabsorbing water.

A

cortex

The cortex has a granular appearance due to its vascular nature.

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

True or False: The renal pelvis is located in the renal cortex.

A

False

The renal pelvis is located in the inner part of the kidney.

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

What are the two main functions of the renal cortex?

A

Ultrafiltration and reabsorption

These functions are critical for regulating body fluids and electrolytes.

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

What is the renal cortex?

A

The outer part of the kidney containing nephrons and responsible for filtering blood.

The renal cortex plays a crucial role in the initial stages of urine formation.

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

What is the function of the renal medulla?

A

Continues the reabsorption of water and salts that began in the cortex.

The renal medulla contains renal pyramids and is vital for concentrating urine.

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

What are renal pyramids?

A

Cone-shaped regions of tissue in the renal medulla that transport renal filtrate.

They are separated by renal columns and oriented toward the pelvis of the kidney.

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

What is the structure at the apex of the renal pyramids?

A

Renal papilla, which contains ducts allowing processed filtrate to pass out.

The renal papilla leads to collecting chambers called calyces.

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

What is a nephron?

A

The functional unit of the kidney, responsible for filtering blood and forming urine.

Each kidney contains over a million nephrons.

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

What are the two main parts of a nephron?

A

Renal corpuscle and renal tubule.

The renal corpuscle filters blood, while the renal tubule collects and concentrates filtrate.

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

What is Bowman’s capsule?

A

A cup-shaped structure that partially wraps around the glomerulus.

It is part of the renal corpuscle and plays a key role in filtration.

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

What is the glomerulus?

A

A tangled network of blood capillaries located within Bowman’s capsule.

It is responsible for the filtration of blood.

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

What is the function of the afferent arteriole?

A

Brings blood to the glomerulus.

It plays a critical role in regulating blood pressure within the glomerulus.

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

What does the efferent arteriole do?

A

Carries blood away from the glomerulus.

Its smaller diameter increases pressure in the glomerulus for ultrafiltration.

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

What are mesangial cells?

A

Cells that regulate blood flow and support the capillary network in the glomerulus.

They play an important role in maintaining glomerular function.

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

What are the three regions of the renal tubule?

A
  • Proximal convoluted tubule
  • Loop of Henle
  • Distal convoluted tubule

Each region has distinct functions in reabsorption and secretion.

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

What characterizes the proximal convoluted tubule?

A

Cuboidal cells with dense microvilli for reabsorption and secretion.

This region is crucial for the reabsorption of water, ions, and nutrients.

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

What is the loop of Henle?

A

A hairpin-shaped portion of the renal tubule that maintains solute concentration in the medulla.

It consists of descending and ascending limbs that reabsorb water and ions.

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

What occurs in the ascending limb of the loop of Henle?

A

Reabsorption of ions.

The ascending limb has a thicker portion composed of larger epithelial cells.

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

What is the final site of reabsorption in the kidney?

A

Collecting duct

The collecting duct merges filtrate from multiple nephrons.

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

What drives glomerular filtration?

A

Hydrostatic pressure of the blood

This pressure is higher than in other capillaries due to the diameter difference between afferent and efferent arterioles.

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

What are the three layers of the filtration membrane in the glomerulus?

A
  • Endothelial lining of capillaries
  • Basement membrane
  • Visceral lining of Bowman’s capsule

Each layer serves to filter out different sizes of particles.

34
Q

What is the main site of reabsorption in the kidney?

A

Proximal convoluted tubule

About 60-70% of the volume of filtrate is reclaimed in the PCT.

35
Q

Fill in the blank: Secretion ______ solutes from the blood and adds them to the filtrate.

A

removes

36
Q

What hormones influence the concentration of urine?

A
  • Aldosterone
  • ADH (Antidiuretic hormone)

Aldosterone promotes sodium reabsorption, while ADH increases water permeability.

37
Q

True or False: The descending limb of the Loop of Henle is permeable to water.

A

True

38
Q

What is the countercurrent multiplier mechanism?

A

A system in the Loop of Henle that generates an osmotic gradient in the medulla

This mechanism promotes the reabsorption of water by utilizing the functional differences between the descending and ascending limbs.

39
Q

What role does the detrusor muscle play in the urinary system?

A

Contracts to force urine into the urethra

The contraction is controlled by the parasympathetic nervous system.

40
Q

What is the role of intercalated cells in the collecting duct?

A

Play a role in acid-base balance and sodium ion absorption

Intercalated cells are involved in maintaining the body’s pH levels.

41
Q

Fill in the blank: The concentration of urine is influenced by the high solute concentration of the _______.

A

medulla

42
Q

What is the main function of the Loop of Henle?

A

To create an osmotic gradient for water reabsorption

The descending limb is permeable to water, while the ascending limb is permeable to solutes.

43
Q

How much urine can the bladder typically store?

A

Up to 600 mL

The desire to urinate begins at around 150 mL.

44
Q

What is the role of stretch receptors in the bladder?

A

Send impulses to the spinal cord to signal bladder contraction

Stretch receptors are crucial for the regulation of urination.

45
Q

What is the process called that involves the voluntary external urge to expel urine from the body?

A

Micturition

46
Q

What are the two sphincters of the urethra responsible for delaying urination?

A
  • Internal Urethral Sphincter
  • External Urethral Sphincter
47
Q

Where is the internal urethral sphincter located?

A

Between the bladder and the urethra

48
Q

What system maintains the tone of the internal urethral sphincter until urination occurs?

A

Sympathetic nervous system

49
Q

What is the role of the external urethral sphincter?

A

Under voluntary control to allow or delay urination

50
Q

True or False: Involuntary contraction of the bladder muscles can force urine out of the body.

A

True

51
Q

What hormone is secreted by the pituitary gland when osmoreceptors detect an increase in blood osmolality?

A

Antidiuretic hormone (ADH)

52
Q

What effect does ADH have on the kidneys?

A

Stimulates the absorption of water

53
Q

What is the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) primarily involved in?

A

Regulating blood pressure

54
Q

What enzyme do juxtaglomerular cells secrete in response to low blood pressure?

A

Renin

55
Q

What does renin produce when it interacts with angiotensinogen?

A

Angiotensin I

56
Q

What is the final product of the conversion of angiotensin I in the lungs?

A

Angiotensin II

57
Q

How does angiotensin II raise blood pressure?

A
  • Promoting vasoconstriction
  • Stimulating aldosterone release
58
Q

What is osmoregulation?

A

Regulation of water and solute concentrations of body fluids

59
Q

Which organ is primarily involved in osmoregulation?

A

Kidney

60
Q

What happens to the blood osmolality when osmoreceptors detect dehydration?

A

It increases

61
Q

What effect does ADH have on the collecting ducts in the kidneys?

A

Increases permeability to water

62
Q

What does aldosterone do when blood pressure is low?

A

Increases sodium reabsorption

63
Q

Fill in the blank: Plasma osmolality is determined mainly by the concentrations of _______.

A

[Electrolytes such as Na+, Cl-, and K+]

64
Q

What happens to urine osmolality when ADH is released?

A

It increases

65
Q

What ions does aldosterone help regulate in addition to sodium?

A
  • Potassium
  • Chloride
66
Q

What is the normal blood pH range that the kidneys help maintain?

A

7.35 to 7.45

This range is critical for proper physiological function.

67
Q

How do the kidneys regulate blood pH?

A

By regulating the ratio of hydrogen ions to bicarbonate ions

An increase in H+ ions lowers pH, while a decrease raises pH.

68
Q

What happens when the concentration of H+ ions increases?

A

The pH decreases

This indicates a more acidic environment.

69
Q

What buffer systems are in place to resist changes in H+ concentration?

A
  • Phosphate system
  • Protein system
  • Bicarbonate system

These systems help maintain acid-base balance.

70
Q

How does the respiratory system contribute to pH control?

A

Through the bicarbonate buffer system

Increased respiration decreases H+ concentration and raises pH.

71
Q

What is formed when carbon dioxide combines with water?

A

Carbonic acid (H2CO3)

This reaction is part of the bicarbonate buffer system.

72
Q

What happens during increased respiration in terms of pH?

A

H+ concentration decreases, increasing pH

This is a compensatory mechanism to counteract acidosis.

73
Q

What is the role of the kidneys when blood pH decreases?

A

Excrete H+ ions and retain bicarbonate ions

This results in more acidic urine.

74
Q

Which cells in the kidneys can generate new bicarbonate ions?

A

Intercalated cells of the late distal tubule and collecting duct

These cells play a crucial role in acid-base homeostasis.

75
Q

What nitrogen-containing wastes are excreted in urine?

A
  • Ammonia
  • Urea
  • Uric acid
  • Creatinine

These products result from protein metabolism and other biochemical processes.

76
Q

How is ammonia converted to a less toxic form?

A

Enzymes in the liver convert ammonia to urea

Urea is less toxic and can be safely excreted.

77
Q

What is the most abundant nitrogenous waste product in urine?

A

Urea

Most of it is recycled, leading to a small amount being eliminated.

78
Q

What is the function of urea in the kidney’s interstitium?

A

Promotes the reabsorption of water

This is crucial for maintaining water balance.

79
Q

How is uric acid formed?

A

As a byproduct of the catabolism of purine nucleotides

Most uric acid is reabsorbed in the proximal tubule.

80
Q

What is unique about the excretion of creatinine?

A

Creatinine is not reabsorbed by the tubules

It is directly filtered by the kidneys and excreted.

Teas Ap (12 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions