Lesson 4 - Renal Physiology

Question 1

What are the important functions of the kidney?

Answer 1

Ability to maintain the stability of the ECF volume, electrolyte composition, and osmolarity

Question 2

What is the percentage of water concentration in the body?

Answer 2

60%

Question 3

Give the breakdown of water concentration in the body.

Answer 3

40% intracellular fluid
20% extracellular fluid = 15% interstitial fluid + 5% plasma

Question 4

Where is the kidney located and situated in?

Answer 4

Located along T12-L3 and situated in the retroperitoneum

Question 5

What are the outer and inner divisions of the kidney called?

Answer 5

Renal Cortex and Renal Medulla, respectively

Question 6

Formed urine exits the kidney through the _________, into the _________, and is stored in the _________.

Answer 6

Renal pelvis, ureter, and urinary bladder

Question 7

What are the functions of the kidney? (Maintenance, Production, Elimination, and Conversion)

Answer 7

Maintenance of:
- H2O
- Osmolarity
- Electrolytes
- Plasma volume
- Acid-base balance

Production of:
- Erythropoietin
- Renin

Elimination of:
- Waste products
- Drugs

Conversion of:
- Vitamin D into its active form

Question 8

What is the unit of the kidney?

Answer 8

Nephron

Question 9

What are the two major types of nephrons?

Answer 9

1. Cortical nephrons
2. Juxtamedullary nephrons

Question 10

Nephrons are made up of what 3 components?

Answer 10

1. Vascular component
2. Tubular component
3. Combined component

Question 11

This nephron is located in the renal cortex; has shorter Loops of Henle; has peritubular capillaries

Answer 11

Cortical Nephron

Question 12

This nephron makes up 25% of nephrons; is located in the corticomedullary junction; has longer Loops of Henle; has vasa recta

Answer 12

Juxtamedullary Nephron

Question 13

This carries blood to the glomerulus

Answer 13

Afferent arteriole

Question 14

It is a tuft of capillaries that filters plasma into the tubular component

Answer 14

Glomerulus

Question 15

It carries blood away from the glomerulus

Answer 15

Efferent arteriole

Question 16

Involved in the exchange of substances with the fluid in the tubular component

Answer 16

Peritubular capillaries

Question 17

Serves as an osmotic exchange for the concentration of urine

Answer 17

Vasa recta

Question 18

Collects the glomerular filtrate

Answer 18

Boman’s capsule

Question 19

How much glucose must be reabsorbed?

Answer 19

100% Glucose

Question 20

Loop of Henle: The descending limb is permeable to _________; the ascending limb is permeable to _________

Answer 20

Water and solutes, respectively

Question 21

What happens in the distal tubule?

Answer 21

• Reabsorption of Na
• Secretion of H+
• Reabsorption and secretion of K

Question 22

What are the basic steps in urine formation?

Answer 22

1. Glomerular Filtration
2. Tubular Reabsorption
3. Tubular Secretion
4. Excretion

Question 23

It is the process of expelling urine

Answer 23

Micturition

Question 24

Micturition is initiated by a nervous reflex that causes the contraction of the _________

Answer 24

Detrusor muscle

Question 25

What is the average volume of urine?

Answer 25

0.5 - 1.5 mL/kg/hour

Question 26

After examination, a patient is revealed to have nitrite but no leukocyte esterase. What can you conclude?

Answer 26

The condition must be treated as UTI.

Question 27

After examination, a patient is revealed to have no nitrite but has leukocyte esterase. What can you conclude?

Answer 27

Patient has urine culture; treat if with symptoms

Question 28

End product of bilirubin metabolism

Answer 28

Urobilinogen

Question 29

What are the normal levels of proteinuria and albuminuria?

Answer 29

Proteinuria: <150 mg/day Albuminuria: <30 mg/day

Question 30

This disease is caused by low reabsorption at proximal tube.

Answer 30

Fanconi syndrome

Question 31

What is the normal range of pH in urine?

Answer 31

pH 5.5 - pH 6.5

Question 32

Presence of blood cells in urine

Answer 32

Hematuria

Question 33

Most common type of stone linked to high consumption of food high in oxalate

Answer 33

Calcium oxalate

Question 34

Caused by hyperparathyroidism, renal tubular acidosis, or UTI

Answer 34

Calcium Phosphate

Question 35

Result of certain types of UTI

Answer 35

Struvite

Question 36

Occur in people who don’t drink enough water or have a diet high in animal protein

Answer 36

Uric Acid

Question 37

Caused by a genetic disorder called cystinuria —> excessive cystine in urine

Answer 37

Cystine

Question 38

Urinary casts are formed from an aggregation of proteins called ___________.

Answer 38

Tamm-Horsfall proteins