Exam 3 Review

Question 1

Name all the organs in the urinary system

“KUBU”

Answer 1

Kidneys (2)

Ureters (2)

Urinary bladder

Urethra

Mnemonic: “KUBU” - Kidneys, Ureters, Bladder, Urethra

Question 2

Which kidney is slightly lower and why?

Answer 2

The right kidney is lower because the liver pushes it downward.

Tip: Think: Liver pushes it down like a heavy backpack on one side

Question 3

Name the three regions in the kidney & their key structures:

Answer 3

Cortex → Contains renal corpuscles

Medulla → Contains collecting ducts

Pelvis → Formed by major calyces

🧠 Analogy: Think of the kidney like a tree:

Cortex = leaves (where filtration starts)

Medulla = trunk (channels the urine down)

Pelvis = root (collects and sends it off)

Question 4

What are the two types of nephrons?

Answer 4

cortical and juxtamedullary

Question 5

What is the location, loop and function of a cortical nephron?

Answer 5

Mostly in cortex, short loop, general filtration

Question 6

What is the location, loop, and function of a juxtamedullary nephron?

Answer 6

Near medulla, long loop, concentrates urine

Question 7

Name Parts of a nephron:

Answer 7

Renal corpuscle

Proximal convoluted tubule (PCT)

Loop of Henle

Distal convoluted tubule (DCT)

Collecting duct

🧠 Mnemonic for flow:
“Really Pretty Ladies Don’t Cheat”
Renal corpuscle → PCT → Loop → DCT → Collecting duct

Question 8

What is the renal portal system?

Answer 8

A portal system connects two capillary beds.

Question 9

Name and describe the function of the two capillary beds associated with a nephron.

Answer 9

1. Glomerulus (filtration)
2. Peritubular capillaries or vasa recta (reabsorption/secretion)

Question 10

Describe the filtration membrane

Answer 10

Made of:

Fenestrated capillary endothelium

Basement membrane

Podocytes (filtration slits)

🧠 Analogy: Like a coffee filter—lets water through, but not coffee grounds (proteins)

Question 11

discuss two reasons why proteins are normally excluded from the filtrate.

Answer 11

Size barrier: too big

Charge barrier: negative charge repels proteins

Question 12

Discuss why the glomerulus is not considered a typical capillary bed in the human body

Answer 12

High pressure system designed for filtration, not exchange

It has afferent and efferent arterioles on both ends, not venules like most beds

Question 13

Name and describe the three processes involved in urine formation

Answer 13

Filtration – blood to nephron

Reabsorption – nephron to blood

Secretion – blood to nephron (toxins, H⁺, K⁺)

🧠 Mnemonic: “FRS = Filter, Reabsorb, Secrete”

Question 14

Explain why filtration is ALWAYS favored in the renal corpuscle – include the Starling forces in your explanation

Answer 14

Due to net outward pressure (Starling forces):

HPg (glomerular hydrostatic pressure) is high (~55 mmHg)

OPg (osmotic pressure) and HPc (capsular pressure) are lower
→ Net filtration pressure = HPg - (OPg + HPc)

Question 15

Under normal physiological condition, proteins and blood cells are not present in urine – explain

Answer 15

Proteins are too big/negatively charged

Blood cells are too large to fit through the filtration membrane

Question 16

Define the term glomerular filtration rate (GFR):

Answer 16

Volume of filtrate made per minute by kidneys (~125 mL/min)

Indicator of renal function

Question 17

Discuss how the HPg, Renal blood flow and GFR are affected

Answer 17

🧠 Key principle:

Constriction = less flow

Dilation = more flow

Efferent constriction = ↑ GFR (blood backs up = more filtration)

Question 18

If the blood pressure is 205/160, will the GFR increase, decrease or remain the same? Explain your answer.

Answer 18

Stays the same due to renal autoregulation (myogenic + tubuloglomerular feedback)

Unless extremely high for long → may damage nephrons

Question 19

What are JGA cell types and their functions?

Answer 19

A: Macula densa (chemoreceptor), Granular cells (mechanoreceptor)

Tip: Mnemonic: MD = Monitors Density; Granular = Gauge Pressure

Question 20

Countercurrent multiplier vs exchanger?

Answer 20

A: Multiplier (loop) sets gradient; Exchanger (vasa recta) maintains it

Tip: Analogy: Loop loads the slushie machine; vasa recta keeps it frozen

Question 21

RAA pathway?

Answer 21

Renin Angiotensin Aldosterone Na and water retention, BP

Mnemonic: RAA = Raise Arterial Activity

Question 22

Four acid-base imbalance types?

Answer 22

Respiratory/metabolic acidosis or alkalosis

Mnemonic: ROME - Respiratory Opposite, Metabolic Equal

Question 23

Compensation for metabolic acidosis?

Answer 23

Hyperventilation (short-term), renal H excretion/HCO retention (long-term)

Mnemonic: Acid = Air out + Acid out

Question 24

COPD causes which imbalance?

Answer 24

Respiratory acidosis

Mnemonic: CO Piles up in Disease

Question 25

Diabetes Type I causes which imbalance and why?

Answer 25

Metabolic acidosis - from ketoacids ## Footnote Mnemonic: DM = Drops pH with Metabolites

Question 26

Vomiting causes what imbalance?

Answer 26

Metabolic alkalosis - from acid loss ## Footnote Tip: Mnemonic: Vomit = Value up (alkalosis)

Question 27

Case: High H, HCO, and CO - what's the issue?

Answer 27

Respiratory acidosis with compensation ## Footnote Analogy: CO builds up like exhaust - kidneys try to clean it up

Question 28

Type of Imbalance- Diarrhea(Metabolic Acidosis) Why?

Answer 28

Loss of bicarbonate (HCO₃⁻) from intestines ## Footnote “Ass from the ass” = Acidosis from Diarrhea

Question 29

Compensatory mechanisms:

Answer 29

🫁 SHORT-TERM (respiratory) = Adjust breathing 🩸 LONG-TERM (renal) = Adjust H⁺ and HCO₃⁻ excretion/reabsorption

Question 30

Metabolic Acidosis:

Answer 30

Short-term: ↑ Ventilation → blow off CO₂ Long-term: Kidneys excrete H⁺, reabsorb HCO₃⁻

Question 31

Metabolic Alkalosis:

Answer 31

Short-term: ↓ Ventilation → retain CO₂ Long-term: Kidneys excrete HCO₃⁻

Question 32

Respiratory Alkalosis:

Answer 32

Kidneys excrete HCO₃⁻ (Lungs can't help because they caused it) ## Footnote 🧠 Mnemonic for renal responses: Acidosis → Acid Out Alkalosis → Base Out

Question 33

espiratory Acidosis:

Answer 33

Kidneys excrete H⁺, reabsorb HCO₃⁻ ## Footnote 🧠 Mnemonic for renal responses: Acidosis → Acid Out Alkalosis → Base Out

Question 34

Case Study 1: Woman, lethargic + hypoventilating Blood Results: ↑ [H⁺] (acidic) ↑ [HCO₃⁻] (compensating) ↑ PCO₂ (causing problem)

Answer 34

🔎 Diagnosis: Respiratory Acidosis Why: Hypoventilation → CO₂ retained → more H₂CO₃ → more H⁺ 💊 Compensation: Kidneys retain HCO₃⁻, excrete H⁺ ## Footnote 🧠 Analogy: Lungs are the trash collectors for CO₂. If they slack off (hypoventilation), the kidneys step in to mop up the acid.

Question 35

Case Study 2: Man with food poisoning (tuna) Blood Results: ↑ [H⁺] ↓ [HCO₃⁻] ↓ PCO₂ (compensating)

Answer 35

🔎 Diagnosis: Metabolic Acidosis Why: GI infection → diarrhea → loss of base (HCO₃⁻) 💊 Compensation: Hyperventilation (↓ PCO₂) to blow off acid ## Footnote 🧠 Mnemonic: “D for Diarrhea, D for Dumped base → Acidosis”