Section One Chapter 24 Flashcards

What structures compose the urinary system?

Kidneys, ureters, urinary bladder, and urethra

What is the general function of the urinary system?

Removal of waste products and regulation of water and electrolyte balance

What is the shape and location of the kidneys?

Symmetrical bean-shaped organs located alongside the posterior abdominal wall

What do the kidneys do to blood?

Filter blood and convert filtrate into urine

What is urine?

Liquid waste from the kidneys

How does urine travel after being produced?

It is transported by the ureters to the urinary bladder

What structures make up the urinary tract?

Ureters, urinary bladder, and urethra

Why are these structures called the urinary tract?

Because they transport urine from the kidneys to outside the body

What waste products do the kidneys remove?

Metabolic wastes such as urea and uric acids

Why is waste removal by the kidneys important?

It prevents waste from reaching toxic levels in the blood

How do kidneys regulate ion levels?

By controlling blood ion balance and eliminating ions like sodium, potassium, calcium, and phosphate in urine

How do kidneys regulate acid-base balance?

By altering blood levels of hydrogen ions and bicarbonate ions through urine excretion

How do kidneys regulate blood pressure?

Through excretion of fluid in urine and release of renin

What is the relationship between fluid loss and blood pressure?

Regulation of fluid lost in urine regulates blood volume

What enzyme do kidneys release for blood pressure regulation?

Renin

What does angiotensin II do?

Increases blood pressure

What happens to biologically active molecules in the kidneys?

They are filtered from the blood, not reclaimed, and become part of urine

What is calcitriol?

The active form of vitamin D3

What does calcitriol do?

Increases absorption of calcium from the small intestine to raise blood calcium levels

What role do kidneys play in calcitriol formation?

They synthesize the final enzyme in its formation

How do kidneys respond to low blood oxygen levels?

They secrete erythropoietin (EPO)

What does erythropoietin do?

Stimulates erythropoiesis

What is erythropoiesis?

Increased production of erythrocytes in red bone marrow

When is gluconeogenesis initiated?

During prolonged starvation or fasting

What do kidneys do during gluconeogenesis?

Produce glucose from noncarbohydrate sources