Kidney and Urinary System Flashcards

Flashcards for the kidney and the urinary system.

What are the three main waste products excreted by the urinary system?

Urea, Uric acid, Creatinine

From where does urea derive from?

Breakdown of protein

From where does uric acid derive from?

Breakdown of nucleic acid

From where does creatinine derive from?

Breakdown of ATP (metabolism)

What are the protective external layers surrounding the kidney?

Hilum, Fibrous capsule, Perirenal fat capsule, Renal fascia

What is the hilum of the kidney?

Concave surface where blood vessels and nerves enter and exit.

What is the fibrous capsule of the kidney?

Dense CT that surrounds the kidney; protects from the spread of infection.

What is the perirenal fat capsule?

External to the renal capsule for added protection.

What is the renal fascia?

External to perirenal fat; anchors kidney to structures.

What does retroperitoneal mean?

Behind the peritoneum

Where are the kidneys located in relation to the vertebrae?

Between T12 and L3 vertebrae

What are the regions of the internal anatomy of the kidney?

Renal cortex, Renal medulla, Minor calices, Major calices, Renal pelvis

What is the renal cortex?

Superficial region; granular appearance; glomeruli.

What is the renal medulla?

Cone-shaped renal pyramids separated by renal columns.

What are minor calices?

Small cups that enclose papilla

What are major calices?

Extensions of the renal pelvis; receive fluid from minor calices.

What is the renal pelvis?

Expanded superior portion of the ureter.

Trace the flow of blood from the renal artery through the major vessels of the kidney and out to the renal vein.

Renal artery -> Segmental artery -> Interlobar artery -> Arcuate artery -> Cortical radiate artery -> Afferent arteriole -> Glomerulus -> Efferent arteriole -> Peritubular capillaries -> Cortical radiate vein -> Arcuate vein -> Interlobar vein -> Renal Vein -> IVC

What happens during filtration in the nephron?

Filtrate from the blood leaves kidney capillaries.

What happens during resorption in the nephron?

From filtrate to body/blood.

What happens during secretion in the nephron?

From body/blood to filtrate.

What does the renal corpuscle contain?

Glomerulus and glomerular capsule

What is the function of the glomerulus?

Filtration of blood

What are the two layers of the glomerular capsule?

Parietal (simple squamous ET) and visceral layer podocytes

What are the parts of the Renal Tubules?

Proximal convoluted tubule, Distal convoluted tubule, Nephron Loop, and collecting ducts

Where is the proximal convoluted tubule located?

In the renal cortex; long microvilli specialized for resorbing water.

What type of epithelium makes up the Distal convoluted tubule?

Simple cuboidal epithelium; specialized for secretion and resorption.

What is the function of long collecting ducts?

Receive filtrate from several nephrons; conserve body fluids and determine final urine volume & concentration.

What percentage of nephrons are cortical nephrons?

85% of nephrons

What percentage of nephrons are juxtamedullary nephrons?

15% of nephrons

What is the function of juxtamedullary nephrons?

Contribute to the kidney's ability to concentrate urine.

What is the function of the JG apparatus?

Regulates BP; specialized contact between terminal end of ascending limb and afferent arteriole.

What is the function of granular cells?

Have secretory granules; contain the hormone renin in order to regulate BP.

What is the role of macula densa cells?

End of nephron loop; closely packed epithelial cells that monitor solute concentration in filtrate & signal granular cells to secrete renin (NaCl).

What is the function of mesangial cells?

Around the base of the glomerulus; regulate blood flow within the glomerulus.

What is the function of extraglomerular mesangial cells?

Interact with macula densa and granular cells; help regulate BP.

What is the function of glomeruli?

Produce filtrate that becomes urine.

What is the function of peritubular capillaries?

From the efferent arterioles draining cortical glomeruli; adapted for absorption, drain into the renal venous system. Molecules that are secreted by nephrons into urine and from peritubular capillaries.

What is the function of the vasa recta?

From efferent arterioles of juxtamedullary nephrons; thin-walled looping vessels that descend into the medulla and are a part of the kidney's urine concentrating mechanism.

List all the organs in the urinary system.

Kidney, ureters, urinary bladder, urethra

What processes occur in the kidney?

Filtration, reabsorption, secretion, urine production

What is the function of the ureters?

Transport urine from kidney to bladder.

What is the function of the urinary bladder?

Stores urine

What is the function of the urethra?

Conducts urine out of the body.

Describe the microscopic anatomy of the ureters.

Lined with transitional epithelium, mucosa, muscularis, and adventitia.

What are the ureter's 3 main layers?

Transitional epithelium, inner longitudinal layer, outer circular layer, connective tissue.

What type of organ is the urinary bladder?

Hollow, muscular organ

What is the function of rugae in the bladder?

Allows expansion.

What type of tissue is the internal urethral sphincter?

Involuntary smooth muscle

What is the function of the external urethral sphincter?

Voluntary; inhibits urination; relaxes when one urinates.

What is the prostatic urethra?

Passes through the prostate gland.