Renal system Flashcards
(117 cards)
how much do the kidneys weigh?
kidneys represent less than 1% of the body weight
how much of the cardiac output do kidneys receive?
receive approx. 20-25% of CO (over 1 L/min)
look at kidney structure
fig 19.1b
what are the 7 main functions of the kidney?
1) maintenance of water balance in the body
2) regulate body fluid osmolarity and balance of specific ions
3) help maintain proper acid base balance of the body
4) eliminate unwanted materials from the body
5) an endocrine gland that secretes useful hormones
6) conversion of vitamin D into its active form
7) gluconeogenesis
how do the kidneys maintain water balance in the body?
by maintaining extracellular fluid volume
-vasopressin, ADH
which ions do the kidneys regulate?
Na+, Cl-, K+, Ca++, Mg++, PO4 3-
- each of these is regulated independently of one another
- this indirectly maintains plasma volume and hence, blood pressure
how do the kidneys help maintain proper acid base balance of the body
adjust urinary output of H+ and HCO3-
how do the kidneys eliminate unwanted materials from the body
- excrete end products of metabolism (urea, creatinine)
- excrete foreign compounds (drugs, pesticides)
- also eliminates things that are not produced by your body such as medications
which 4 functions of the kidneys are performed by specialized tubular structures called nephrons?
- water balance
- body fluid osmolarity and ion balance
- acid base balance
- eliminate waste
which useful hormones do the kidneys secrete?
- erythropoietin (stimulates reaction important for RBC production)
- renin (triggers reaction important for salt conservation a.k.a. angiotensin I - angiotensin II)
why is gluconeogenesis important?
important during fasting to help maintain glucose levels
functional unit of the kidney
nephron
what are the two components of the nephron
1) vascular elements - two sets of arterioles and two sets of capillaries
2) tubular elements - divided into different zones, with each having specific functions/cell types (where urine gets formed an heavily modified)
what are the two categories of nephrons?
1) cortical nephrons
2) juxtamedullary nephrons
cortical nephrons
- 80% of nephrons
- corpuscle originates in outer layer of the cortex
- loop of Henle is short and ends slightly before or just dips into the medulla
- important for reabsorption, secretion, filtration
juxtamedullary nephrons
- originate deep in the cortex and extend deep into the medulla
- both the ascending and descending tubules have thick and thin components
- important for the production of dilute or concentrated urine by allowing us to keep or get rid of water, regulates salt balance and hence, FLUID VOLUME
- 20% of nephrons
what are the basic processes of the nephron
1) glomerular filtration
2) tubular reabsorption
3) tubular secretion
what is glomerular filtration
the passage of near PROTIN FREE plasma from the glomerular capillaries in the lumen of Bowman’s capsule
- basically forming serum
- Gives colloid forces drawing fluid back into capillaries after it’s been filtered
- without this, kidneys wouldn’t work
-20% of plasma is filtered per pass - blood leaving the glomerulus has less volume but higher [protein]
what is tubular reabsorption
the SELECTIVE movement of substances from the tubular lumen back into the venous system (drawn to plasma colloid osmotic pressure)
- via peritubular capillaries
- 99% of filtrate is typically reabsorbed (unless there are other hormonal signals)
- filter 180 L/day
what is tubular secretion
the SELECTIVE transfer of substances from the peritubular capillaries and tubular cells into the tubular lumen
-mechanism for rapid elimination of unwanted substances
anything filtered or secreted but not reabsorbed is excreted
true or false?
true
urine formation begins with what?
glomerular filtration, which occurs at the interface between the golmerulus and Bowman’s capsule
is glomerular filtration a passive or an active process?
this bulk flow of fluid is extracellular and passive
- extremely leaky
- follows Starling forces (hydrostatic pressure and protein osmolarity)
how much plasma enters the afferent arteriole during glomerular filtration per day?
900 L/day
-20% of plasma is filtered (180L/day)