Kidneys Flashcards
(28 cards)
The renal arteries
Each kidney is connected to the aorta by the renal artery.
Transport oxygenated blood from the heart and aorta to kidneys for filtration.
The renal veins
Transport the filtered, deoxygenated blood from kidneys to the posterior vena cava and finally the heart
Renal capsule
Outer membrane which encloses and protects kidneys against infections and trauma
The renal cortex
Outer layer of kidney that contains most of the nephrons
The renal medulla
Inner layer of the kidney..Site for salt, water and urea absorption
Nephron
Unit of kidney used for filtration of blood and reabsorption and secretion of materials
Afferent arteriole
Transport arterial blood to glomerulus for filtration
Efferent arteriole
Transports filtered blood from the glomerulus through the the peritubular capillaries and the vasa recta, and to the kidney venous system
Glomerulus
The site for blood filtration
Removes both useful and non-useful materials
The product of the glomerulus is - filtrate
Bowman’s capsule
A sac that encloses glomerulus
Transfers filtrate from the glomerulus to the proximal tubule
Descending limb of the loop of henle
Fully permeable to water and completely impermeable to salts
Receives filtrate from the pct, allows water to be absorbed and passes salty filtrate to the next segment
“Saves water passes salt”
Ascending limb of loop of henle
Impermeable to water and actively transports reabsorbed salt to the interstitial fluid of the medulla
“Saves salt and passes water”
Collecting duct
The last segment to save water for the body
The nephrons are the functional units of the kidney.
What are their functions?
>Filtration of blood >Maintenance of renal blood pressure > formation of urea > acid-base balance > regulation of electrolytes > reabsorption of materials > secretion of materials > excretion of waste
when we digest proteins what happens to them?
They turn into amino acids that are used to build our own proteins
we have more amino acids than we need where are they taken?
they are taken to the liver where they are stripped of a nitrogen-containing portion of the acid. This forms toxic ammonia, which is converted by the liver to a less toxic , but still poisonous, chemical called urea. which passes into the blood the into the kidneys.
what is one of the vital functions of the kidney?
The removal of urea from the blood and the body.
what do the Kidney nephrons do?
Help remove poisonous wastes from the blood (urea) as well as helping to control water, salts, PH and blood pressure levels.
what are the functions of the kidney’s?
removal of urea
regulation of water levels
what two parts of the nephron’s act as filters?
Glomerulus
Bowmans capsule
what happens to the amino acids that are taken to the liver?
they are stripped of their nitrogen- containing portion of acid to form a less toxic but still poisonous chemical called urea.
How does the blood enter the glomerulus?
at a high pressure, forcing the plasma out of the capillaries into the bowman’s capsule.
what is the rapid exit of plasma called?
ultrafiltration- which removes waste, nutrients and water from the plasma. ( which is later reabsorbed)
where does reabsorbtion occur?
reabsorbed in the proximal tubule- 95% of the water is reabsorbed along with glucose, amino aces, vitamins and most mineral salts.
