Ch. 26 - Urinary System Flashcards
What are some functions of the kidneys?
- regulate blood ionic composition (Na+, K+ Ca2+, Cl-)
- regulate blood pH, blood volume, BP, blood glucose level
- maintain blood osmolarity
- produce hormones
- excrete wastes and foreign substances
What is a hilum?
region through which ureter leaves
- where BV, lymphatic vessels and nerves enter/exit
What are the 3 layers surrounding each kidney?
renal capsule, adipose capsule, renal fascia
What is the difference between the renal capsule and renal fascia layers?
capsule - transparent membrane that is continuous with ureter; barrier for protection and maintains organ shape
fascia - dense irregular CT that holds kidney against back body wall
What are minor and major calyces?
minor - cuplike structures that collect urine from papillary ducts of papilla
both - empty into renal pelvis which empties into ureter
What are the 3 capillary beds of kidneys?
- glomerular capillaries (where blood is filtered)
- peritubular capillaries in cortex
- vasa recta in medulla
* both 2&3 carry away reabsorbed substances from filtrate
What are the 3 functions of a nephron?
filtration, reabsorption, secretion
What are the 2 major parts of a nephron?
renal corpuscle - filters blood
renal tubule - where filtered fluid passes through
What are parts of the renal corpuscle and what is its function?
glomerulus and Bowman’s capsule
- site of plasma filtration
What are the parts of the renal tubule and what is its function?
- PCT,
- loop of Henle (dips into medulla, descending/ascending limbs)
- DCT
- collecting ducts (where it empties; converge to form papillary ducts to drain urine to renal pelvis and ureter)
What are the 2 types of nephrons?
cortical and juxtamedullary
How do cortical and juxtamedullary nephrons differ?
cortical - short nephron loop, receives blood from peritubular capillaries, creates urine with similar osmolarity to blood
juxtamedullary - long nephron loop, receives blood from peritubular cap & vasa recta, thick/thin ascending limbs, secrete concentrated urine
What do efferent arterioles around the nephron give rise to?
peritubular cap & vasa recta
What does the glomerular capsule comprise of?
- visceral layer: consists of podocytes (modified simple sq cells)
- parietal layer: consist of simple sq e that forms outer wall of capsule
What is the JG apparatus?
macula densa + JG cells that regulate BP in kidney (with ANS)
What is the macula densa? JGC?
macula densa - where ascending loop contacts the afferent arteriole
JGC - smooth musc cells on wall of afferent arteriole
What are the 3 basic processes of nephrons/collecting ducts?
- glomerular filtration - portion blood plasma filters into kidney
- tubular reabsorption - water & substances are reabsorbed into blood
- tubular secretion - wastes are removed from blood and secreted in urine
What is the rate of excretion?
filtration + secretion - reabsorption
What is glomerular filtrate?
fluid that enters the capsular space
What is the filtration fraction?
fraction of plasma in kidney’s aff arteriole that becomes filtrate
What are the 3 barriers filtered substances must cross?
- glomerular endothelial cells
- basal lamina
- filtration slit formed by podocytes
What are mesangial cells?
contractile cells that increase glomerular filtration when relaxed
- located bt aff and eff arterioles, among glomerular cap
What is the purpose of the basal lamina? What is it composed of?
prevents filtration of larger proteins; collagen fibers and proteoglycans
What is the slit membrane? Filtration slits?
thin membrane that extends across filtration slit; permits passage of molec that have a smaller diameter; spaces between pedicels