Renal system

Question 1

What is the glomerulus

Answer 1

ball of capillaries

Question 2

What is the glomerular (bowman’s) capsule? What are it’s two layers?

Answer 2

cup-shaped end of the renal tubule
-parietal (outer) layer of capsule: simple squamous epithelium
-visceral (inner) layer of capsule: cells [podocytes] that wrap around capillaries of glomerulus

Question 3

What separates the two layers of glomerular capsule?

Answer 3

capsular space separates the two layers of glomerular capsule

Question 4

Define and contrast the vascular and urinary pole

Answer 4

-vascular pole: where afferent arteriole enters corpuscle & efferent arteriole leaves
-urinary pole :opposite side of corpuscle where renal tubule begins

Question 5

Describe aldosterone. What triggers it’s secretion?

Answer 5

‘salt-retaining hormone’ secreted by adrenal cortex following;
-blood Na^+ conc. falls
-blood K^+ conc. rises
-drop in blood pressure
-angiotensin II formation

Question 6

What parts of nephron are impacted by aldosterone? How?

Answer 6

collecting duct, distal convoluted tubule and proximal convoluted tubule

-promotes Na^+ & H_2 O reabsorption in DCT & CD
-stimulates Na^+ & H_2 O reabsorption in PCT
-stimulates posterior pituitary to secrete ADH - promotes H2O reabsorption by CD