Urinary System Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards for review of the urinary system lecture notes.

Kidneys

Located in the retroperitoneal space (posterior to the peritoneum), extend from T12 to L3 and are protected by the floating ribs.

Renal Fascia

Most superficial layer of the kidney, dense connective tissue, surrounds both kidneys and adrenal glands.

Perinephric/Perirenal Fat Capsule

Layer of adipose tissue around the kidney.

Renal Capsule

Directly covers the outer surface of the kidney.

Renal Cortex

Outer region of the kidney, granular, reddish-brown.

Renal Medulla

Inner region of the kidney, composed of renal pyramids with striped appearance.

Renal Columns

Separate renal pyramids.

Major and Minor Calyces

Collect urine from renal lobes.

Ureters

Carry urine out of the kidneys to the bladder, capable of peristalsis, connect to the bladder at an angle that prevents backflow.

Mucosa (Ureters)

Deepest layer of the ureters, transitional epithelium, readily stretches.

Muscularis (Ureters)

Middle layer of the ureters, senses distension and triggers reflexive peristalsis.

Adventitia (Ureters)

Superficial layer of the ureters, fibrous connective tissue, anchors the ureter in place.

Trigone

Triangular area at the bottom of the bladder marked by the openings for the paired ureters and the urethra

Inner Mucosa Bladder

Inner layer of bladder; transitional epithelium that folds into rugae.

Detrusor

Middle layer of the bladder, contains muscle that contracts to drive urination.

Internal Urethral Sphincter

Smooth muscle near the urethra.

External Urethral Sphincter

Ring of skeletal muscle for voluntary control of urination.

Female Urethra

3-5 cm in length in females; functions only in transport of urine.

Male Urethra

Longer (20 cm) in males; functions in transport of both urine and semen.

Nephron

Structural and functional unit of urine formation in the kidney.

Afferent Arterioles

Drains into the glomerulus.

Glomerulus

Fluid and solutes are forced from the blood here into Bowman’s capsule, is where filtration occurs.

Efferent Arterioles

Blood is drained from the glomerulus by these.

Proximal Convoluted Tubule (PCT)

Located entirely within the cortex of the kidneys, simple cuboidal epithelium with microvilli.

Descending Tube (DT)

Descends into the medulla, alternates between thick and thin segments.

Loop of Henle (LH)

Connects ascending and descending tubes.

Distal Convoluted Tubule (DCT)

Epithelium without microvilli.

Principal Cells

Adjust urine in order to maintain body’s water, Na+ and K+ balance

Intercalated Cells

Responsible for acid-base balance

Juxtamedullary Nephron

15% of nephrons, much longer nephron loop which extends deeper into the medulla.

Vasa Recta

Long, straight blood vessels which are associated with the extended loop

Juxtaglomerular Apparatus (JGA)

Occurs when a portion of the DCT comes into contact with the afferent arteriole.

Macula Densa Cells

Monitor concentrations of Cl- and Na+ in filtrate

Granular (Juxtaglomerular) Cells

Respond to changes in blood pressure in the afferent arteriole.

Intracellular Fluid

Inside cells.

Intravascular Fluid

In blood vessels.

Interstitial Fluid

Between cells.

Intracellular Fluid (ICF)

Water, electrolytes, small molecules, non-electrolytes, proteins

Extracellular Fluid (ECF)

Far less protein, electrolytes.

Dehydration

Excessive water loss

Hypotonic Hydration

Ingestion of too much water

Hypovolemia

Loss of plasma volume.

Hypervolemia

Too much plasma volume

Capillary Endothelium

Fenestrated; very permeable, Allows passage of anything smaller than a cell

Basement Membrane

Fused; not as permeable, Blocks all but small proteins

Podocytes of Glomerular Capsule

Pedicels create filtration slits, Prevents passage of most molecules

GBHP (Glomerular Blood Hydrostatic Pressure)

Blood pressure within the glomerulus, Drives filtration

CHP (Capsular Hydrostatic Pressure)

Hydrostatic pressure inside glomerular capsule, Opposes filtration

BCOP (Blood Colloid Osmotic Pressure)

Osmotic pull of proteins not being filtered, Opposes filtration

Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR)

The total volume of filtrate formed by all of the glomeruli of both kidneys each minute.

PCT (Tubular Reabsorption)

Na+ reabsorbed by primary active transport, Glucose, amino acids, proteins, vitamins reabsorbed by secondary active transport, HCO3-, Ca2+, Mg2+, PO43-, K+ also actively reabsorbed, Water and other ions passively reabsorbed by osmosis

Proximal Collecting Duct (PCT)

Kidneys regulate blood pH in the longer term, Na+ secretion drives the secretion HCO3- and the reabsorption of H+ in the blood, Lowers blood pH, Na+ is reabsorbed into the PCT epithelia in exchange for protons, Increases blood pH

Type A Intercalated Cells

Secrete HCO3- which is reabsorbed into the blood, and actively transport H+ into the lumen

Type B Intercalated Cells

Actively secrete H+ which is reabsorbed by the blood and secrete HCO3- into the lumen

Respiratory Acidosis

Inability to lose CO2 at the lungs, Commonly caused by cardiac failure, opioid overdose

Metabolic Acidosis

Overproduction of non-volatile organic acids – caused by diabetes, exercise, starvation, Kidney damage preventing proton secretion, Severe diarrhea causing excessive bicarbonate loss

Respiratory Alkalosis

Hyperventilation and excessive CO2 loss at the lungs, Can be acute (rare) or chronic (e.g. high altitude sickness)

Metabolic Alkalosis

Over-secretion of stomach acid or vomiting

Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD)

Cysts found primarily in the kidney, but can also affect liver, pancreas, spleen and ovaries

Kidneys

Located in the retroperitoneal space (posterior to the peritoneum), extend from T12 to L3 and are protected by the floating ribs.

Renal Fascia

Most superficial layer of the kidney, dense connective tissue, surrounds both kidneys and adrenal glands.

Perinephric/Perirenal Fat Capsule

Layer of adipose tissue around the kidney.

Renal Capsule

Directly covers the outer surface of the kidney.

Renal Cortex

Outer region of the kidney, granular, reddish-brown.

Renal Medulla

Inner region of the kidney, composed of renal pyramids with striped appearance.

Renal Columns

Separate renal pyramids.

Major and Minor Calyces

Collect urine from renal lobes.

Ureters

Carry urine out of the kidneys to the bladder, capable of peristalsis, connect to the bladder at an angle that prevents backflow.

Mucosa (Ureters)

Deepest layer of the ureters, transitional epithelium, readily stretches.

Muscularis (Ureters)

Middle layer of the ureters, senses distension and triggers reflexive peristalsis.

Adventitia (Ureters)

Superficial layer of the ureters, fibrous connective tissue, anchors the ureter in place.

Trigone

Triangular area at the bottom of the bladder marked by the openings for the paired ureters and the urethra

Inner Mucosa Bladder

Inner layer of bladder; transitional epithelium that folds into rugae.

Detrusor

Middle layer of the bladder, contains muscle that contracts to drive urination.

Internal Urethral Sphincter

Smooth muscle near the urethra.

External Urethral Sphincter

Ring of skeletal muscle for voluntary control of urination.

Female Urethra

3-5 cm in length in females; functions only in transport of urine.

Male Urethra

Longer (20 cm) in males; functions in transport of both urine and semen.

Nephron

Structural and functional unit of urine formation in the kidney.

Afferent Arterioles

Drains into the glomerulus.

Glomerulus

Fluid and solutes are forced from the blood here into Bowman’s capsule, is where filtration occurs.

Efferent Arterioles

Blood is drained from the glomerulus by these.

Proximal Convoluted Tubule (PCT)

Located entirely within the cortex of the kidneys, simple cuboidal epithelium with microvilli.

Descending Tube (DT)

Descends into the medulla, alternates between thick and thin segments.

Loop of Henle (LH)

Connects ascending and descending tubes.

Distal Convoluted Tubule (DCT)

Epithelium without microvilli.

Principal Cells

Adjust urine in order to maintain body’s water, Na+ and K+ balance

Intercalated Cells

Responsible for acid-base balance

Juxtamedullary Nephron

15% of nephrons, much longer nephron loop which extends deeper into the medulla.

Vasa Recta

Long, straight blood vessels which are associated with the extended loop

Juxtaglomerular Apparatus (JGA)

Occurs when a portion of the DCT comes into contact with the afferent arteriole.

Macula Densa Cells

Monitor concentrations of Cl- and Na+ in filtrate

Granular (Juxtaglomerular) Cells

Respond to changes in blood pressure in the afferent arteriole.

Intracellular Fluid

Inside cells.

Intravascular Fluid

In blood vessels.

Interstitial Fluid

Between cells.

Intracellular Fluid (ICF)

Water, electrolytes, small molecules, non-electrolytes, proteins

Extracellular Fluid (ECF)

Far less protein, electrolytes.

Dehydration

Excessive water loss

Hypotonic Hydration

Ingestion of too much water