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.