BMS175: Topic 2: The Renal System

What are the organs of the renal system?

Kidneys, Ureters, Urinary Bladder, Urethra

What is the primary function of the kidneys in the renal system?

To produce urine that removes unwanted and unneeded waste products from the body.

How do kidneys help regulate blood concentration?

By regulating the concentration of multiple ions in blood.

What role do kidneys play in maintaining blood osmolarity?

They help regulating the balance of water and electrolytes in the body

How do kidneys affect blood pressure?

If kidneys aren't functioning properly, they may retain excess fluid, leading to increased blood volume and subsequently, higher blood pressure.

What is a nephron?

Nephrons are the functional units of the kidney. A nephron is made of two parts: a renal corpuscle, which is the initial filtering component, and. a renal tubule that processes and carries away the filtered fluid.

How many nephrons are typically found in a kidney?

About 1 million nephrons.

What are the three processes involved in urine formation?

Glomerular filtration, Tubular reabsorption, Tubular secretion.

What is nitrogenous waste?

Waste products derived from nucleic acids and proteins containing nitrogen.

What is the most abundant nitrogenous waste?

Urea.

What occurs during glomerular filtration?

Molecules in the blood such as water, glucose, ions, and nitrogenous wastes pass from the blood to the nephron.

What is not retained in the blood during glomerular filtration?

Larger structures such as erythrocytes as they cannot enter the nephron.

What happens during tubular reabsorption?

Nutrients such as glucose and acids, as well as water and ions, are reclaimed back into the bloodstream.

What substances are passed from the blood to the nephron during tubular secretion?

Selected drugs, hormones, and urea.

How do kidneys regulate urine concentration when dehydrated?

They produce a small amount of concentrated urine.

How do kidneys respond to overhydration?

They produce a large amount of dilute urine.

Describe the flow of urine from the nephron to the ureter.

Urine moves through structures called calyces > renal pelvis > finally to the ureter.

What is the function of the ureters?

They transport urine from the kidneys to the bladder.

Where is the female bladder located?

Anterior to the vagina and uterus.

Where is the male bladder and urethra located?

The prostate gland lies inferior to the bladder neck, which empties into the urethra.

What two systems do kidneys help maintain?

the urinary system and the cardiovascular system

What do the kidneys adjust to help regulate blood pressure?

The volume and concentration of urine.

What type of filtration occurs at the glomerulus?

Ultrafiltration.

What happens to excess water in the body?

It is excreted as dilute urine.

How do the kidneys maintain acid-base balance?

By excreting hydrogen ions and reabsorbing bicarbonate.

What structure collects urine from the nephrons?

Renal calyces.

What triggers the kidneys to produce concentrated urine?

Dehydration.

What is the role of hormones in tubular secretion?

Hormones can regulate the secretion of specific substances into the nephron.

What does tubular reabsorption primarily reclaim?

Essential nutrients and water.

Why is the right kidney lower than the left?

Due to the presence of the liver.

What is the primary waste product excreted by the kidneys?

Urea.