The mammalian kidney: structure 5.2.5 Flashcards
(16 cards)
How many kidneys do humans have
Two
What are the two important functions of the kidney
- They regulate the water content of the blood as an osmoregulatory organ
- They excrete the toxic waste products of metabolism as an excretory organ
What are 6 structures found within the kidney?
- Renal artery
- Renal vein
- Kidney
- Ureter
- Bladder
- Urethra
What is the function of the renal artery?
Carries oxygenated blood (containing urea and salts) to kidneys
What is the function of the renal vein?
Carries deoxygenated blood (that has urea and excess salts removed) away from kidneys
What is the function of the ureter?
Carries urine from kidneys to bladder
What is the function of the bladder?
Stores urine (temporarily)
What is the function of the urethra?
Releases urine outside of the body
What is the kidney itself surrounded by?
A fairly tough outer layer known as the fibrous capsule
What are the three main areas of the kidney?
- The cortex
- The medulla
- The renal pelvis
What is found in the cortex?
Contains the glomerulus, as well as the Bowman’s capsule, proximal convoluted tubule, and distal convoluted tubule of the nephrons)
What is found in the medulla?
The loop of Henle and collecting duct of the nephrons
What is found in the renal pelvis?
Where the ureter joins the kidney
What does each kidney contain?
Thousands of tiny tubes, known as nephrons
What is a nephron?
The functional unit of the kidney - the nephrons are responsible for the formation of urine
What is associated with each nephron?
There is a network of blood vessels
- Within the Bowman’s capsule of each nephron is a structure known as the glomerulus - which is supplied with blood from an afferent arteriole. The capillaries rejoin to form an efferent arteriole which then flows from here into a network of capillaries that run closely along the side of the nephron.
Blood from here eventually flows into the renal vein
