RENAL ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY Flashcards
(62 cards)
● a body fluid that flushes out waste products from the body
● It is formed in our urinary system as blood is filtered by the kidney in order to remove unneeded products of metabolism that are somehow considered deleterious to one’s health.
Urine
4 organs involved in the mechanism of urine formation
Kidneys
Ureters
Bladder
Urethra
Organs that are involved in the mechanism of urine formation must be:
Sterile
Lined by special cells
The only organ that don’t contain urothelial cells
Kidneys
is a bean shaped paired organ, where the urine is formed, located at the posterior wall of the abdomen.
Kidneys
Each kidney is composed of approximately ________ of nephrons.
1-1.5 millions
2 types of nephron
a. Cortical Nephrons
b. Juxtamedullary nephrons
Size of kidney
● Length = 12.5 cm
● Width = 6cm
● Thickness = 2.5 cm
seen in the cortex alone and is intended for tubular reabsorption and secretion. This type of nephron constitute approximately 85% of the nephron in the kidneys
Cortical nephron
have longer henle’s loops that extend deep into the medulla of the kidney. It plays a significant role in the concentration of the urine.
Juxtamedullary nephron
In detail, nephrons are known to be composed of two parts:
Glomerulus
Loop of Henle
is comprised of highly specialized tuft of capillaries that is intended for the filtration of blood. It consists of a coil of approximately 8 capillary lobes, the walls of which are referred to as glomerular filtration barrier
Glomerulus
is specialized for reabsorption and secretion processes. It plays a crucial role in adjusting urine concentration before micturition.
Loop of Henle
Connects the kidneys to the bladder - Length = 25cm
Ureter
Serves as storage
Stores 150ml of urine
Causes the “micturition reflex”
Bladder
medical term for urination
Micturation
Size of urethra
Male -
Female -
24cm
4cm
- Urethra becomes swollen or sore
- Usually seen in female young adults who are sexually active
Urethritis
Infection of the urinary bladder
Lower urinary tract infection / cystitis
Infection of the kidneys
Upper urinary tract infection / pyelonephritis
Renal function
Renal blood flow
Glomerular filtration
Tubular reabsorption
Tubular secretion
supplies blood to the kidney
Renal artery
carry blood to enter the capillaries of nephron
Kidneys
Once blood has entered the nephron, it goes to the __________ where it is filtered.
glomerulus