Urinary System: Structure and Function Flashcards
What is the function of the kidneys?
Regulates Electrolytes, pH, blood pressure, blood volume, osmolarity, and hormones (renin, EPO)
Also filters blood to remove waste.
What are the three regions of the kidney?
Cortex, Medulla, and Sinus
Kidneys are bean-shaped structures that are _____ (retro=behind), located between the abdominal wall and the peritoneum.
Retroperitoneal
What are the three layers of the kidney?
Renal Fascia (outermost, attachment to the abdonminal wall)
Renal capsule (covers the outer surface of the kidney)
Adipose capsule (between the renal fascia and renal capsule adipose tissue used for protection and padding)
Understand the flow of urine
1) Glomerulus contains “blood”
2) Called “filtrate” once in the tubules
3) Once in the collecting ducts, it is now called “urine”
What is the function of the ureters?
25-30 cm long muscular tubes located behind the peritoneum
Propel urine by peristalsis, hydrostatic pressure and gravity
Cell type: transitional epithelium
What is the function of the urinary bladder?
1) Micturition
2) Detrusor muscle contracts forcing urine through urethra
3) Internal and external urinary sphincters relax to allow flow of urine
Cell type: transitional eptithelium
What the differences between the male and female urethra?
Male urethra: longer than female Divided into 3 regions: Prostatic urethra Membranous urethra Spongy urethra
Female urethra:
Urinary bladder located inferior to the uterus
What is the function of the nephron?
Functional unit of the kidney , each nephron is composed of a renal corpuscle that filters blood and a renal tubule that modifies the filtrate to form urine
Where is blood to urine filtered in the glomerulus?
Blood is filtered across a filtration membrane formed by the walls of the glomerulus and the glomerular capsule into the capsular space (glomerular cavity). The liquid, now called filtrate drains into the renal tubule. (blood to urine)
After filtration of the blood, where is the blood secreted to urine in the nephron?
Distal convoluted tubules from several nephrons drain the liquid (now called urine) into collecting ducts that descend through the renal pyramids and merge to form larger papillary ducts.
What is the difference between the cortical nephron vs. the juxtamedullary nephron?
Juxtamedullary are longer they dip down farther into the medulla–their blood supplies (capillary bed) have a special name: vasa recta
Draw out or label the blood flow through the kidneys.
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In the renal corpuscle, what do podocytes mean?
Simple squamous epithelial cells of the visceral layer that have foot like projections wrapping around glomerular capillary walls
What cell types are renal tubules made of?
Simple Cuboidal epithelium.
