Urinary System Flashcards

1
Q

What are the functions of the urinary system

A
  1. Maintain water and electrolyte homeostasis, body fluid osmolality, and acid-base balance
  2. Excrete toxic metabolic waste products
  3. Act as an endocrine gland
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2
Q

What hormones are produced by the kidneys

A
  1. Renin

2. Erythropoietin

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3
Q

Describe the gross structure of the kidney going from the ureter

A

Ureter -> renal pelvis -> major calyces -> minor calyces

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4
Q

What is the medulla of the kidney composed of

A

8-18 medullary pyramids, with apices pointing toward the hilum (papillae) ending on the minor calyces

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5
Q

What is the kidney surrounded by

A

A capsule composed of:

  1. Outer fibrous layer
  2. Inner more cellular layer (myofibroblasts)
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6
Q

What are the renal columns

A

Sections of cortical material either side of the medulla

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7
Q

What are the medullar rays

A

Collections of collecting ducts and the straight segments of the proximal and distal convoluted tubules

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8
Q

Where are the medullary rays found

A

In the cortex

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9
Q

What is the nephron

A

The basic functional unit of the kidney and it is composed of the renal corpuscle and renal tubules

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10
Q

How many nephrons are there in a human kidney

A

600,000 to 1 million

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11
Q

What is the total length of a single nephron, and the total length of the nephron tubing

A

Nephron = 45-65mm

Nephron tubing = 60km

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12
Q

What are the 4 different components to the nephron

A
  1. Renal corpuscle
  2. Proximal convoluted tubule
  3. Loop of Henle
  4. Distal convoluted tubule
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13
Q

What occurs in the renal corpuscle

A

Production and collection of glomerular filtrate

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14
Q

What occurs in the proximal convoluted tubule

A

Reabsorption of water, proteins, amino acids, carbohydrates, and glucose

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15
Q

What occurs in the loop of Henle

A

Creation of hypertonic environment in the medulla

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16
Q

What occurs in the distal convoluted tubule

A

Acid-base and water balance (absorption of water, Na and bicarbonate; excretion of K and H ions

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17
Q

How is the renal corpuscle formed

A

A tuft of capillaries called the glomerulus and the cup of simple squamous epithelium at the blind end of the nephron which the capillaries invaginate into (Bowman’s capsule)

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18
Q

How many, and what, cells separate the blood from the glomerular filtrate

A

Two cell layers:

  1. Capillary endothelium
  2. Specialised epithelium (podocytes)
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19
Q

What exists between the two layers that separate the blood from the glomerular filtrate

A

A thicker than usual (0.3um) basal lamina, made up of a feltwork of GAGs

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20
Q

What produces the mesangium (connective tissue core)

A

Scattered mesangial cells

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21
Q

How much glomerular filtrate is produced a minute

A

Around 125ml (only 1ml will be urine)

22
Q

Where is the glomerular filtrate produced

A

In the urinary space

23
Q

Describe the 3 components of the glomerular filter

A
  1. Fenestrated endothelium of the capillary wall
  2. Thick basement membrane (shared by endothelium and podocyte)
  3. Filtration slits between pedicels
24
Q

What happens in the proximal tubule

A
  1. 70% of sodium and water is reabsorbed

2. Almost all glucose and amino acids reabsorbed

25
Q

Where does the proximal convoluted tubule originate

A

From the urinary pole of the Bowman capsule

26
Q

Describe the pathway of the proximal convoluted tubule

A

After the convoluted course, it enters the medullary ray to continue as the proximal straight tubule

27
Q

What is the need for the several loops of Henle

A

To prevent the loss of the high osmotic gradient in the interstitial environment

28
Q

What is the vasa recta

A

Thin-walled blood vessels that dop down into the medulla from above and then climb back up to the cortex

29
Q

What happens to the blood as it gets deeper into the medulla

A

It gets saltier and saltier, and then turns back up to the cortex

30
Q

What connects the distal convoluted tubule to the cortical collecting duct

A

Either or:

  1. An arched connecting tubule
  2. A shorter tubule simply called the connecting tubule
31
Q

Why do the distal convoluted tubules have a clearly defined lumen histologically

A

They have only sparse microvilli; thus, there is more space in the lumen

32
Q

What is the role of the hormone aldosterone in the distal convoluted tubule

A

It controls the reabsorption of Na+

33
Q

What controls aldosterone secretion

A

The renin-angiotensin system

34
Q

What is the net effect of Na+ retention

A

Greater Na+ and water retention will result in an increase in blood pressure

35
Q

What is the function of the collecting ducts

A

They control the reabsorption of water under the control of vasopressin

36
Q

In the presence of vasopressin, what is the effect on urine

A

Permeability is high during passage through the medulla; water will pass out of the lumen and a concentrated urine is produced

37
Q

What do individual collecting ducts form

A

They merge at the apex of the pyramid to form papillary ducts that open into the minor calyx

38
Q

What is the area cribrosa

A

The area on the papilla that contains the opening of the collecting ducts

39
Q

What is the juxtaglomerular apparatus

A

Specialised region formed at the site where the DCT passes adjacent to the vascular pole of the same renal corpuscle that forms part of its very own nephron

40
Q

What are the 3 components of the juxtaglomerular apparatus

A
  1. The macula densa
  2. The juxtaglomerular cells
  3. The extraglomerular mesangial cells (lacis cells)
41
Q

What is the function of the macula densa

A

Sensing sodium content of fluid in the DCT

42
Q

What are juxtaglomerular cells, and what is their function

A

Modified smooth muscle cells in the wall of the afferent arteriole; they secrete renin

43
Q

What are lacis cells

A

Modified mesangial cells extending outside the renal corpuscle

44
Q

Describe the lining of almost all of the parts of the conducting system

A

Transitional epithelium; stratified and found in 3-6 cell layers

45
Q

Name the cells at the luminal surface of the conducting system

A

Umbrella cells, because they are domed

46
Q

Describe the special structure fo the transitional epithelium

A
  1. Variability in the thickness of cells represents different states of distension
  2. Special surface structures are to provide a highly impermeable barrier
47
Q

What exists below the transitional epithelium

A
  1. Lamina propria
  2. 2-3 layers of smooth muscle
  3. Adventitia
48
Q

Describe the smooth muscle layers in the ureter

A

Inner longitudinal layer, and outer circular layer:

- Outer longitudinal layer exists close to the bladder

49
Q

What do the smooth muscle layers of the bladder form

A

The detrusor muscle; responsible for micturition

50
Q

Describe the lining of the female urethra

A

Initially lined by transitional epithelium. which becomes stratified squamous as it nears the surface of the body (just posterior to the clitoris)