Urinalysis: Basics

Question 1

What are the 4 parts of the urinary system?

Answer 1

1. kidney
2. ureters
3. urinary bladder
4. urethra

Question 2

What are the 3 functions of the kidney?

Answer 2

1. eliminates metabolic wastes from the body
2. maintains normal levels of body electrolytes and essential organic molecules
3. produces important hormones

Question 3

What are the hormones that the kidney produces? (3)

Answer 3

1. renin
2. erythropoietin
3. active vitamin D3

Question 4

What are the 3 renal functions?

Answer 4

1. glomerular filtration
2. reabsorption
3. excretion

Question 5

How does Glomerular Filtration work? (3)

Answer 5

1. Filtration of blood
2. Driven by high blood pressure
3. Permitted by semipermeable capillary membrane

Question 6

What does the semipermeable capillary membrane do?

Answer 6

Allows passage of water and dissolved solutes of low molecular weight

Question 7

How does reabsorption work? (2)

Answer 7

1. The majority of small molecules in the glomerular filtrate are reabsorbed before they exit the body in urine
2. ~90% of filtered molecules are reabsorbed in the renal tubule

Question 8

How does excretion work?

Answer 8

Some molecules are excreted into the glomerular filtrate as it moves through the renal tubule