Renal (Urinary) System Flashcards

Flashcards based on the Renal System lecture notes.

What are the main components of the renal system?

Kidney, Ureter, Bladder, Sphincter, and Urethra

List the functions of the renal (urinary) system.

Disposal of waste, regulation of blood pH, osmoregulation and electrolyte balance, regulation of blood volume and pressure, and hormone production (erythropoietin).

What hormone does the kidney produce and what is its function?

Erythropoietin, which stimulates red blood cell production in bone marrow.

What are the four main processes of the renal/urinary system?

Filters blood, transports urine to bladder, expels urine from body, stores urine.

What is the function of the detrusor muscle?

Bladder wall made of smooth muscle.

In males, what gland is associated with the bladder and urethra?

Prostate gland

Which nerve pathways are involved in urination (micturition)?

Autonomic and somatic nerve pathways

What are some common bladder problems and renal complications?

Cystitis, Vesicoureteral reflux, Obstruction, Pyelonephritis

What can ascending UTI damage?

Kidney

Describe the location of the kidneys.

Posterior wall of abdomen, either side of spine, around level of twelfth rib, just above the waist.

Approximately what percentage of resting cardiac output do the kidneys receive?

20-25%

What are the layers of internal anatomy of the kidneys?

capsule, cortex, renal pyramids in medulla, renal columns, calyces, renal pelvis, ureter

What is the functional unit of the kidney?

Nephron

List the blood flow through of nephrons.

Glomerular Filtration, Tubular Reabsorption, Tubular Secretion, Excretion

What does the renal corpuscle consist of?

Glomerulus (network of blood capillaries) and Bowman's capsule (start of renal tubule)

What occurs during glomerular filtration?

Blood pressure in the glomerulus forces fluids and small dissolved substances through the filtration membrane.

What are the three layers of the filtration membrane?

Endothelium, Basal lamina, Filtration slit (formed by podocyte)

What does glomerular filtrate consist of?

Water, ions (Na+, K+, Cl-, H+ etc), glucose, amino acids, i.e., plasma minus plasma proteins.

List the parts of the renal tubule.

Bowman's capsule, Proximal convoluted tubule (PCT), Loop of Henle, Distal convoluted tubule (DCT), Collecting Duct.

What is the function of afferent and efferent arterioles?

Afferent arteriole takes blood into glomerulus (A for arrive), Efferent arteriole takes blood away from glomerulus (E for exit).

Where does reabsorption occur in the nephron?

The tubules

What substances are reabsorbed in the tubules?

Water, glucose, amino acids, ions, bicarbonate.

What are the processes of diffusion and osmosis?

Diffusion - molecules move from an area of high concentration to an area of lower concentration; Osmosis - diffusion of water molecules from an area of high concentration to an area of lower concentration through a partially permeable membrane.

What are some examples of substances that are secreted?

Ions, Creatinine, Urea, Drugs

How does the kidney contribute to regulation of blood pH?

By controlling H+ secretion and Bicarbonate (HCO3-) reabsorption.

What is the normal pH of urine?

Around 6

How do kidneys contribute to osmoregulation and electrolyte balance?

Regulate the amount of water reabsorbed from glomerular filtrate and maintain electrolyte (ion) concentration by controlling reabsorption and secretion of electrolytes.