The Kidney Flashcards
(17 cards)
What does the kidney do?
The kidney excretes waste products such as urea and regulates the water potential of the blood
What does the kidney contain thousands of?
Nephrons
What are nephrons and what is their function?
Nephrons are tiny tubes that are responsible for the formation of urine
Nephrons have tubules that absorb anything small, e.g water, glucose, amino acids and urea. They do not absorb anything large e.g cells, proteins
They reabsorb things we want, -all glucose, -some water, -no urea. This is called selective reabsortion
How are water levels regulated in the body?
The hypothalamus in the brain detects the conc of water in the bloodstream, if water levels are too low a signal is sent from the hypothalamus through nerve cells or sometimes through the release of chemical messengers to the pituitary gland, which releases ADH (anti-diuretic hormone), ADH then travels to the kidney via the bloodstream and increases reabsoption of water as well as increasing permeability of tubule. More water moves into the bloodstream via osmosis and less volume of urine is produced.
How are water levels are regulated if too high?
The hypothalamus stops sending signals to the pituitary gland, meaning it won’t release as much ADH, therefore less water will be reabsorbed.
What does ADH stand for?
Anti-diuretic hormone
What is the function of ADH?
To regulate water balance in the body, by controlling how much water is reabsorbed from the kidneys into the bloodstream
Where does ADH come from?
It is released from the pituitary gland and travels through the bloodstream
What is urodynamic testing?
Urodynamic testing/ urodynamic is a study that assesses how the bladder and urethra are performing their job of storing and releasing urine
What does urodynamic testing record?
-records the length of time it takes a person to produce a urinary sample
-records volume of urine produced
-records the ability or inability to stop the urine flow in midstream
What are other ways of testing urodynamics?
-imaging equiptment (cameras of bladder)
-pressure monitors to record pressure of bladder
-sensors to record muscle activity
-measurements of volume when filling/emptying bladder
What is urea and where is it made?
Urea is a waste product made in the liver
What is the water content of the body controlled by?
The kidneys
What makes up urine?
Urea, water and other waste
Where does urine travel down and where is it stored?
Travels down the ureter and is stored in the bladder
What is urine excreted through?
The urethra
What is the negative feedback loop?
When the body is constantly monitoring water levels and adjusting them to make them balance
