Urinary System Flashcards
Which kidney sits lower than the other, and why?
Right kidney is slightly lower than the left to make room for the Liver on the right side.
All around the abdominal cavity is the _______ _______ (covers inside body wall of the abdominal cavity)
All around the abdominal cavity is the Parietal Peritoneum (covers inside body wall of the abdominal cavity)
What separates the abdominal cavity and the pelvic cavity?
The parietal peritoneum
The abdominal organs are covered by a serous membrane called the:
Visceral peritoneum
What is the space between the visceral and parietal peritoneum called?
The Peritoneal cavity
Where would you find the kidneys in terms of the peritoneal cavity?
Retroperitoneal = behind the peritoneum
ie developed and remain outside of the peritoneal cavity
Describe the location of the Right Kidney vs the Left Kidney:
- BOTH are Retroperitoneal
- At the L1-L3 vertebral level is the Right Kidney (lower)
- The Left kidney is located at the T12-L2 Level (higher)
The kidneys are surrounded by three layers of fat. What are these layers and what is their purpose?
- Cushion and protect the kidneys
- Pararenal (retroperitoneal) fat - BETWEEN renal fascia and posterior body wall
- Perirenal Fat - layer around the kidneys (within the renal fascial layers)
- Renal Fascia - anchors kidney in posterior abdominal wall
Which layer around the kidney anchors the kidney to the posterior abdominal wall?
Renal Fascia
Urine enters the ducts in the kidney ______ (apex of renal pyramids), which converge to form ______ and finally, urine goes into the ______
Urine enters the ducts in the kidney at the apex of the renal pyramids called the Minor Calyces, which then converge to form Major Calyces and finally, the urine goes into the Renal Pelvis
Label the:
- Minor calyces
- Major calyx
- Renal pelvis
- Hilum
- Ureter
What is the Hilum?
Similar to the Hilum of the lung, this is the common entry point: where vessels (renal artery and veins), nerves, and the ureter to pass
ie the point where everything passes
The kidneys are surrounded by a tough connective tissue called the: ________
A tough Fibrous capsule surrounds the kidneys.
What is the function of the fibrous capsule?
Maintains the shape of the kidney
Found mainly in the periphery of the kidney is the _______.
While the ______ is the innermost part of the kidney, closely associated with the Minor calyces
Found mainly in the periphery of the kidney is the Renal Cortex.
While the Renal Medulla is the innermost part of the kidney, closely associated with the Minor calyces
The renal medulla is split into cone-shaped tissues called:
Renal Pyramids
Specifically, what division of the renal medulla is associated with the minor calyces?
The renal pyramids
The Renal pyramid end in a ______ that empties into Minor calyces
The Renal pyramid end in a Renal Papilla that empties into Minor calyces
On either side of the renal pyramids are columns of renal cortex called:
Renal Columns
A lot of the ______ associated with the renal pyramids is found in the Renal columns
Vasculature
What is a Renal lobe?
Where does it empty?
One renal pyramid and a bit of the renal column on each side makes up a Renal Lobe.
One renal lobe empties into one minor calyx
In general, there are between ___ and _____ minor calyces in each kidney.
In general, there are between 8 and 15 minor calyces
Follow the path of blood into the kidney:
Renal artery - enters hilum and splits into:
Segmental Arteries - divide into:
Interlobar Arteries: (on either side of renal lobe). These Arch into:
Arcuate Arteries: Go to the periphery of the cortex where they are called:
Interlobular (cortical radiate) arteries
Follow the path of blood out of the kidney:
- Blood drains into the interlobular veins
- Arcuate veins
- Interlobar Veins
- Renal Vein
- Inferior vena cava
- Heart
What is the path of blood between the interlobular artery and the interlobular vein?
- Afferent Arterioles branches from interlobular artery = bringing blood IN
- Nephron - filters
- Efferent Arterioles (still oxygenated - oxygen isn’t filtered out by nephron)
- Capillaries/Vasa Recta
- Interlobular Veins
What is the nephron composed of?
Corpuscle and long simple epithelial renal tubule
What parts of the nephron are in the Renal Cortex?
What parts of the nephron are in the Renal Medulla?
- Cortex
- Renal Corpuscle
- Glomerulus
- Capsule
- Proximal convoluted tubule
- distal convoluted tubule
- Renal Corpuscle
- Medulla
- Loop of Henle
- Collecting Ducts
What are the two types of nephron and what is the main difference between them?
- Cortical Nephrons (most common)
- Shorter Loop of Henle
- Reabsorption and secretion
- Juxtamedullary Nephrons
- Really long loop of Henle
- Concentration of urine (reabsorption of water)
The concentration of urine is mainly controlled by which type of nephron?
Juxtamedullary
In the nephron, where does most of the reabsorption occur?
Proximal Convoluted Tubule
(from tube back into blood)
The Proximal Convoluted tubule leads into the _______, where concentration of urine occurs
The Proximal Convoluted tubule leads into the Loop of Henle, where concentration of urine occurs
The Loop of Henle goes into the _________ where any final secretion/reabsorption occurs
The Loop of Henle goes into the Distal Convoluted Tubule where secretion/reabsorption occurs
The afferent arteriole goes into a big “ball” of capillaries called the:
Glomerulus
What makes up the parietal layer of the Renal corpuscle?
What makes up the Visceral Layer of the Renal Corpuscle?
- Parietal Layer:
- Bowman’s (Glomerulus) Capsule
- Simple squamous epithelium
- Bowman’s (Glomerulus) Capsule
- Visceral Layer:
- Podocytes
- Finely fenestrated layer around the capillary (filtration)
- Podocytes
The space between the bowman’s capsule (parietal layer) and the Podocytes (visceral layer) is called the _______ and is where ______ accumulates
The space between the bowman’s capsule (parietal layer) and the Podocytes (visceral layer) is called the Bowman’s (Glomerular) space and is where Filtrate accumulates
What are the two poles of the Renal Corpuscle and what are they associated with?
- Vascular Pole
- vasculature
- Tubular/Urinary Pole
- associated with Proximal Convoluted Tubule
What is the purpose of the mesangial cells in the glomerulus
- Physical support of the capillaries
- Adjust contraction of the glomerulus in response to BP changes = optimal filtration rate
- Immune role (phagocytosis)
How does the glomerulus work as a filter?
- Pores on the capillary side and urinary side
- Thick basement membrane to prevent large molecules (RBC, WBC, Platelets, large proteins) from passing through
- High blood pressure pushes material (small proteins, metabolites, ions, water, vitamins, toxins) through the pores
Which cells of the Distal Convoluted Tubule sense the concentration of sodium in the urine (and BP in general).
Which cells do they communicate this information with?
Macula Densa cells
Communicate to the Extraglomerular Mesangial Cells
The Extraglomerular mesangial cells communicate with the _______ cells and cause them to secrete ______ which helps constrict vessels
The Extraglomerular mesangial cells communicate with the Juxtaglomerular cells in the afferent arteriole and cause them to secrete Renin which helps constrict vessels
What is the function of the juxtaglomerular apparatus (JGA)?
Regulate blood pressure, blood flow, and filtrate formation
In Cortical Nephrons:
Efferent arterioles form capillary beds around _______ in the cortex.
These reabsorb ______, _____ and _____ mainly by ____
Efferent arterioles form capillary beds around tubules in the cortex.
These reabsorb Water, organics and salt mainly by osmosis.
The loop of Henle has what type of channel to aid in water reabsorption?
Aquaporins
The juxtamedullary nephrons have a _________ (capillary bed in the medulla) which carries away water to preserve salt gradient
The juxtamedullary nephrons have a Vasa Recta (capillary bed in the medulla) which carries away water to preserve salt gradient
The ascending loop of henle reabsorbs _______\_
The Descending loop of henle reabsorbs _____\_
The ascending loop of henle reabsorbs Sodium and Chloride
The Descending loop of henle reabsorbs Water
Sodium absorption in the distal convoluted tubule is regulated by ______ (hormone from adrenal glands)
Sodium absorption in the distal convoluted tubule is regulated by Aldosterone (hormone from adrenal glands)
Which part of the nephron:
- allows secretion of acid, toxins and drugs
- participates in variable reabsorption of sodium and calcium ions, water, and electrolytes
- Is under hormonal influence
Distal Convoluted Tubule
Which part of the nephron:
- Participates in the reabsorption of
- organic nutrients
- water
- ions
- electrolytes
Proximal Convoluted Tubule
Which part of the nephron:
- participates in variable reabsorption of water and reabsorption OR secretion of sodium, potassium, hydrogen and bicarbonate ions
- is influenced by ADH (antidiuretic hormone from posterior pituitary)
Collecting Tubules and Ducts
Which part of the nephron
- delivers urine to calyces?
Papillary duct
ADH secreted by the ______ acts on the ______ and the ______ to cause the reabsorption of water into the vasculature
ADH secreted by the Posterior pituitary acts on the distal convoluted tubule and the collecting tubule to cause the reabsorption of water into the vasculature
What type of epithelium would be found in the urinary tract?
Transitional (urinary) epithelium
The ureters enter the urinary bladder via _______ on the ______ side of the bladder
The ureters enter the urinary bladder via ureteric orifices on the posterior side of the bladder
What occurs in the urinary tract to push urine down?
Peristalsis
What are three sites of ureteric constriction (or tight area where stone would hurt)
*Important in referred pain (nervous system)*
- Ureteropelvic junction (T10-L1)
- Crossing over common Iliac vessels (T11-L2)
- Ureterovesical Junction (enter urinary bladder) (L1-L2)
Label the urinary Bladder (male):
- Rugae
- External Urethral Sphincter
- Trigone
- Prostate Gland
- Ureter
- Ureteric Openings
- internal urethral sphincter
- detrusor muscle
Which urethral sphincter is under voluntary control (external or internal)?
External - skeletal muscle
Why does the urinary bladder have thick lamina propria?
For lots of immune cells
What effect does sympathetic innervation have on the urinary system?
- Stimulate contraction of internal urethral sphincter
- Inhibit detrusor contraction
What effect does Parasympathetic Innervation have on the urinary system?
- Relaxation of internal urethral sphincter
- Stimulate detrusor contraction
What effect does Somatic Innervation have on the urinary system?
- Control of external urethral sphincter (skeletal muscle)
What are the three parts of the male urethra?
- Protatic urethra
- Membranous urethra
- Penile (spongy) Urethra
