Kidney - Structure, Function And Disease

Question 1

What is the urinary system made up of?

Answer 1

Kidneys, ureters, urinary bladder and urethra

Question 2

What are the 3 main functions of the urinary system?

Answer 2

Excretion
Elimination
Homeostatic regulation

Question 3

What is excretion and elimination in the urinary system?

Answer 3

Excretion - The removal of waster products from bodily fluids/blood
Elimination - the removal of these waste products in the form on of urine

Question 4

What homeostatic involvement does the urinary system have?

Answer 4

Regulating blood volume and blood pressure by adjusting how much water is in your blood
Regulating plasma concentrations of ions
Stabilises blood pH
Conserves valuable nutrients
Assists the liver

Question 5

How many kidneys do we have?

Answer 5

2

Question 6

Where are the kidneys located?

Answer 6

Posteriorly either side of the vertebral column level with T12-L3

Question 7

Where is the suprarenal gland located on the kidney?

Answer 7

It is located at the apex of each kidney

Question 8

What colour and shape are kidneys?

Answer 8

Reddish brown colour and shaped like a kidney bean

Question 9

What are kidneys suspended by?

Answer 9

They hang suspended by collagen fibres of the renal fascia

Question 10

What is the working part of the kidney embedded in?

Answer 10

A thick layer of fat ( perinephric fat capsule)

Question 11

What 2 parts make up the kidney?

Answer 11

Renal cortex and renal medullary

Question 12

What is the renal cortex?

Answer 12

The outer part of the kidney

Question 13

What are the projections of the renal cortex that extend down between renal pyramids called?

Answer 13

Cortical columns

Question 14

Where does ultrafiltration occur?

Answer 14

In the renal cortex

Question 15

What part of the kidney contains the glomeruli?

Answer 15

Renal cortex

Question 16

What is the renal medulla?

Answer 16

Inner part of the kidney

Question 17

Which part of the kidney contains the collecting ducts?

Answer 17

Renal medulla

Question 18

What makes up a renal lobe?

Answer 18

Renal pyramid
Renal cortex (in that area)
Adjacent cortical column

Question 19

What does a renal lobe do?

Answer 19

Produces urine

Question 20

Describe the blood supply to the kidney, starting at the renal artery and finishing at the renal vein

Answer 20

Renal artery
Segmental arteries
Interlobar arteries
Arcutate arteries
Cortical radiate arteries
Afferent arterioles
Glomerulus
Efferent arteriolar
Peritubular capillaries
Venules
Cortical radiate veins
Arcute veins
Interlobar veins
Renal vein

Question 21

What is the nephron?

Answer 21

The functioning unit of the kidney
It is a tubular structure within the cortex of each renal lobe

Question 22

What does the nephron consist of?

Answer 22

Renal tubule and a renal corpuscle

Question 23

What does the renal corpuscle contain?

Answer 23

The glomerular capsule or bowman capsule and the glomerulus

Question 24

What is the glomerulus?

Answer 24

The capillary network

Question 25

Where does filtration occur in the kidney?

Answer 25

The nephron

Question 26

What is the pneumonic to remember the functions of the kidney?

Answer 26

A WET BED

Question 27

What are the functions of the kidney

Answer 27

A - acid based balance
W - water balance/regulation
E - enthropoiesis -> the making of RBC
T - Toxin removal
B - blood pressure regulation
E - electrolyte balance
D - vitamin D activation

Question 28

What is nephritis?

Answer 28

Inflammation of the kidneys

Question 29

Name some types of nephritis

Answer 29

Interstitial nephritis
Pyelonephritis
Glomerulonephritis

Question 30

What are the symptoms of nephritis?

Answer 30

Pelvic/kidney/abdominal pain
Pain/burning sensation on urination
Nocturia
Cloudy/pus or blood in urine
Swelling of hands, feet and face
Vomiting
High blood pressure

Question 31

How do you get a diagnosis of nephritis?

Answer 31

Inflammatory/infective markers
Urine tests
Scans
Raised creatine and BUN (blood urea nitrogen)
Renal biopsy

Question 32

What is nephrosis?

Answer 32

Non inflammatory disease of the kidneys, chiefly affecting the nephrons

Question 33

What is nephrosis characterised by?

Answer 33

The leaking ion blood protein into the urine -> oedema

Question 34

What are the symptoms of nephrosis?

Answer 34

Sever swelling of eyes, ankles and feet
Foamy urine
Weight gain
Fatigue
Loss of appetite

Question 35

How do you diagnose nephrosis?

Answer 35

Urine analysis
Blood tests -> increased cholesterol

Question 36

What are the treatments for nephrosis?

Answer 36

Medication to reduce blood pressure and cholesterol, to thin blood and suppress immune system

Question 37

What is acute renal failure?

Answer 37

Both kidneys temporarily stop working
There is a sudden onset but failure is reversible

Question 38

What is chronic renal failure?

Answer 38

Gradual irreversible destruction of the kidney over a long period of time

Question 39

What are some of the causes of chronic renal failure?

Answer 39

Chronic kidney disease
HTN
DM

Question 40

What are the stages of chronic renal failure?

Answer 40

Decreased reserve
Renal insufficiency
End stage renal failure

Question 41

What happens in the decreased reserve stage of chronic renal failure?

Answer 41

Glomerula filtration rate and creatine levels decrease but within normal range
Around 60% of nephrons lost

Question 42

What happens in the renal insufficiency stage of chronic renal failure?

Answer 42

Change in blood chemistry with increase in waste products in the blood
Decrease in RBC production and increase in blood pressure
Large volumes of dilute urine
Around 75% of nephrons lost

Question 43

What happens in the end stage of renal failure?

Answer 43

All body systems affected by the retention of waste products
Andria develops
Regular dialysis or treatment is required
More than 90% of nephrons lost