Urinary System Easily Forgotten Information Flashcards
What are the two main processes of the renal system?
Excretion
Elimination
What is excretion?
Removal of organic waste products from body fluid
What is elimination?
The discharge of waste products into the environment
List the functions of the renal system.
9
Homeostasis regulation of blood plasma
Stabilising blood pH
Conserving nutrients
Metabolising vitamin D
Regulating blood volume
Regulating blood pressure
Regulating plasma ion concentration
Production of renin
Production of EPO
What are the two types of nephrons and how can you tell which is which?
Cortical nephron (deep in cortex)
Juxta-medullary nephron (near medulla border)
Where does the renal tubule begin?
At the renal corpuscle
What is the renal corpuscle composed of?
2
Glomerulus
Bowman’s capsule (around glomerulus)
What make up the filtration membrane of the renal tubule?
3
Glomerular capillary endothelium
Visceral layer of Bowman’s capsule
Loose connective tissue between the two
What is the epithelium of the PCT?
Simple cuboidal epithelium with microvilli
What is the epithelium of the Loop of Henle?
2
Ascending limb = simple squamous epithelium
Descending limb = simple cuboidal epithelium
When is aldosterone produced?
3
When plasma N+ is too low
When plasma K+ is too high
When it’s stimulated by angiotensin II
What produces aldosterone?
The adrenal cortex
What is the function of aldosterone?
Acts on the DCT to increase the secretion of K+ as well as the reabsorption of Na+ and water
What happens when blood osmolarity rises?
3
Blood is too concentrated
Water reabsorption from the filtrate increases
This results in a decrease in urine volume
What happens when blood osmolarity falls?
3
Blood is too diluted
Water reabsorption from the filtrate decreases (tries to make blood more concentrated)
This results in an increase in urine volume
