Mammalian Kidney

Question 1

What is ultrafiltration

Answer 1

Process that results in the formation of tissue fluid in the capillary beds of the body and is the result of the structure of glomerulus and the cells lining for the Bowman’s capsule

Question 2

What is the basement membrane?

Answer 2

Made up of a network of collagen fibres and other proteins that make up as a ‘second’ sieve. Most plasma contents can pass through this however but blood cells cannot pass due to size.

Question 3

What is the basement membrane?

Answer 3

Made up of a network of collagen fibres and other proteins that make up as a ‘second’ sieve. Most plasma contents can pass through this however but blood cells cannot pass due to size.

Question 4

How is blood forced out of the capillaries?

Answer 4

Glomerulus is supplied with blood from the afferent arteriole from the renal artery then the blood leaves through a narrower efferent arteriole and as a result causes a pressure in the capillaries of the glomerulus.

Question 5

What are the function and names of the cells located in the walls of the Bowman Capsule

Answer 5

• Podocytes acts as an additional filter

Question 6

Structure of podocytes

Answer 6

• Have extensions called pedicels which wrap around capillaries forming slits making sure cells or large plasma proteins can get through epithelial cells

Question 7

What substances were there in the filtrate which enters the capsule

Answer 7

• Salt, glucose, urea and many other substances in the same conc when they were in the blood plasma

Question 8

How is ultrafiltration so efficient

Answer 8

• Up to 20% of the water and solutes are removed from the plasma as it passes through the glomerulus

Question 9

What is the glomerular filtration rate

Answer 9

The volume of blood is filtered through the kidney in a given time

Question 10

What is the main function of a nephron after the Bowman’s capsule

Answer 10

• Return most of the filtered substances back into the blood

Question 11

What are anabolic steroids

Answer 11

Drugs that mimic the action of male hormones testosterone and the stimulation of muscles.

Question 12

How do they test the urine?

Answer 12

Using gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. Urine sample is vaporised by a known solvent and passed though a tube. Lining of a tube absorbs the gases and analysed to give a chromatogram.