Urinary System 10-15
Q: What is the renal capsule?
A: A tough fibrous shell that surrounds each kidney.
Q: What is the renal cortex?
A: The outer portion of the kidney.
Q: What is the renal medulla?
A: The inner portion of the kidney where filtration takes place.
Q: What are medullary pyramids?
A: Cone-shaped masses of tissue in the renal medulla.
Q: What is the kidney papilla?
A: The location where medullary pyramids empty into the minor calyx.
Q: What are renal columns?
A: Structures between the pyramids that anchor the cortex.
Q: What is the minor calyx?
A: Located directly below the renal papillae; collects urine from the pyramid.
Q: What is the major calyx?
A: Formed by the convergence of several minor calyces; collects urine to pass into the renal pelvis.
Q: What is the renal pelvis?
A: The center of the kidney where urine collects before moving to the ureter.
Q: What are ureters?
A: Tubes that transport urine from the kidneys to the urinary bladder.
Q: What is the urinary bladder?
A: An expandable muscular sac that stores urine.
Q: What is the trigone?
A: A triangular region at the base of the urinary bladder.
Q: What is the pathway of urine from the nephron to excretion?
A: Glomerular capsule → Proximal convoluted tubule → Loop of Henle → Distal convoluted tubule → Collecting duct → Papillary duct → Minor calyx → Major calyx → Renal pelvis → Ureter → Urinary bladder → Urethra.
Q: What is the function of the internal urethral sphincter?
A: Regulates involuntary control of urine release.
Q: What is the function of the external urethral sphincter?
A: Regulates voluntary control of urine release.
Q: What is micturition?
A: The process by which urine is expelled from the urinary bladder to the outside of the body.
Q: What is the role of the loop of Henle in urine concentration?
A: The descending limb is permeable to water, allowing water reabsorption; the ascending limb is impermeable to water but allows ion reabsorption, contributing to urine concentration.
Q: What is the function of the distal convoluted tubule (DCT)?
A: Responds to hormones like ADH and aldosterone to make homeostatic changes in ion and water balance.
Q: How does ADH affect the collecting ducts?
A: ADH causes aquaporins to open in the collecting ducts, increasing water reabsorption.