Week 3 - renal system

Question 1

Learning Objective 1

Answer 1

List main functions of the urinary system and describe the gross anatomy of the kidney and a nephron.

Question 2

Urinary system consists of

Answer 2

• Kidneys
• Ureters
• Urinary Bladder
• Urethra

Question 3

Kidneys : Location

Answer 3

Located in the superior lumbar region
Situated against the posterior abdominal wall

Question 4

Kidneys
Are retro-peritoneal membranes

Answer 4

• located behind the peritoneal membranes

Question 5

Kidneys
Protected by

Answer 5

• Fibrous connective tissue capsule
• layer of perirenal fat

Question 6

Kidneys
Supplied with blood through renal arteries

Answer 6

• derived from branches of the abdominal aorta
• blood drains through veins into inferior vena cava

Question 7

Function of Kidneys

Regulation of fluid and electrolyte balance

Answer 7

• including solute content and therefore osmolarity of extra cellular fluid

Question 8

Function of Kidneys

Excretion of metabolic wastes and foreign substances

Answer 8

• nitrogenous wastes e.g urea and creatine plus foreign wastes such as drugs

Question 9

Function of pH (acid-base balance)

Answer 9

• By conserving or eliminating hydrogen (H+) and bicarbonate (HCO3-)

Question 10

Function of the Kidneys

Maintenance of blood pressure

Answer 10

• through control of blood volume and production of renin

Question 11

Function of the Kidneys

Regulation of erythropoietin

Answer 11

for stimulation of red blood cell cell production

Question 12

Function of Kidney

Metabolic functions

Answer 12

• Activating vitamin D
• production of new glucose through gluconeogenesis when fasting/starving

Question 13

Kidney : Gross anatomy

Three regions

Answer 13

1. renal
2. renal medulla
3. renal pelvis

Question 14

Kidney : Gross anatomy
Renal Cortex

Answer 14

• outer region containing cortical nephrons

Question 15

Kidney : Gross anatomy
Renal Medulla

Answer 15

• cone shaped tissue called renal pyramids

Question 16

Kidney : Gross anatomy
Renal Pelvis

Answer 16

• funnel shape continuous with ureter
• drains papillae into minor calyces, then into major calyces

Question 17

The Nephron Function unit of the kidney
Nephron consists of

Answer 17

1. renal corpuscle
2. renal tubule

Question 18

1. renal corpuscle

Answer 18

• composed of tight collection or capillaries called glomerulus
• plus a surrounding glomerular (Bowman’s) capsule

Specialised for function

Question 19

2. The renal tubule

Answer 19

• Proximal tubule PT (proximal convoluted tubule)
• Nephron loop (loop of Henle)
• Distal tubule DT (distal convoluted tubule)

Reabsorption and secretion occur here.
Nephron drains into collecting dust CD
- not part of the nephron unit

Question 20

Nephron : classes

Urine forming units of the kidney
Around 1 million per kidney

Divided into two type

Answer 20

1. Cortical Nephron
2. Juxtamedullary Nephrons

Question 21

1. Cortical nephrons

Answer 21

• found in renal cortex