Wk 11: Urinary Sytem Flashcards
Functions of the urinary system (5)
- Removal of waste products from blood
- Reabsorption of essential nutrients
- Regulation of blood volume
- Regulation of blood pressure
- Regulation of plasma ion conc
What is the kidney surrounded by
A tough fibrous capsule
What is the functional unit of the kidney
Nephron
What is contained within the renal corpuscle of nephron (2)
- Bowman’s capsule
- Glomerulus
What is contained within the renal tubule of the nephron (4)
- Proximal convoluted tubule
- Loop of Henle
- Distal convoluted tubule
- Collecting tubule
Function of renal tubule
Selective reabsorption of water, inorganic ions & other molecules from glomerular filtrate
Why is the diameter of the efferent arteriole smaller than that of the afferent arteriole
To maintain a pressure gradient that drives the filtration of plasma into Bowman’s space
Function of the renal corpuscle
Site of plasma filtration
What is the outer wall of the Bowman’s capsule made of
Parietal epithelium
What is the inner wall of the Bowman’s capsule made of
Visceral epithelium
What kind of cells does the Bowman’s capsule contain
Podocytes
What is the glomerulus made up of
A fenestrated capillary network
What is mesangium
Supporting connective tissue
What kind of epithelium is the PCT made up of
Simple cuboidal epithelium with microvilli
Function of PCT
Reabsorbs nutrients, ions, water, plasma proteins
What kind of epithelium is the thin/ascending limb of the loop of henle made of
Simple squamous epithelium
What kind of epithelium is the thick/descending limb of the loop of henle made of
Simple cuboidal epithelium
Function of loop of henle
- Similar to PCT
- Reabsorbs nutrients, ions, water, plasma proteins
What kind of epithelium is the DCT made of
Simple cuboidal epithelium
2 functions of DCT
- Reabsorbs ions & water
- Secretes acids, drugs, toxins
How is the DCT differentiated from the PCT histologically (4)
- DCT has no brush border
- DCT has larger & more clearly defined lumen
- DCT has more nuclei per cross section
- DCT has paler nuclei
What is the juxtaglomerular apparatus made of
- Macula densa of DCT
- Juxtaglomerular cells of afferent arteriole
What do the uxtaglomerular apparatuses secrete (2)
- Renin for blood pressure regulation
- Erythropoietin for erythrocyte production
Function of juxtaglomerular apparatus
Involved in regulation of systemic blood pressure
What kind of epithelium are collecting tubules made of
Simple cuboidal epithelium
What kind of epithelium are collecting ducts made of
Simple columnar epithelium
What kind of epithelium are papillary (bellini) ducts made of
Simple columnar epithelium
