Renal Physiology Flashcards Preview

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Flashcards in Renal Physiology Deck (58)
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1
Q

What are the components of the urinary system?

A
  • Kidneys (2).
  • Ureter (2).
  • Bladder.
  • Urethra.
2
Q

Describe the kidneys?

A
  • Right kidney lower than left.

- Remove urea from blood –> expel it in urine.

3
Q

What is urea?

A

Waste product of protein metabolism.

4
Q

What does the kidneys help maintain a balance of?

A
  • Fluids.
  • Salts.
  • Other substances in the blood.
5
Q

What do kidneys produce?

A

Erythropoietin =

  • a hormone that aids red blood cell formation.
6
Q

What is the purpose of the ureters?

A

Carry urine from kidneys to bladder.

7
Q

What type of muscle does the ureter walls contain?

A

Smooth muscle.

8
Q

How do the ureters force urine down to the bladder?

A

Smooth muscle walls contract and relax forcing urine downwards, away from the kidneys.

9
Q

Why do the ureters enter the bladder posteriorly and horizontally?

A

To prevent urine backflow (during increased pressure in bladder).

10
Q

Where is the bladder located?

A

Lower abdomen.

11
Q

How much urine can your bladder hold?

A

500ml –> but can hold up to 1L.

12
Q

What does the bladder use to help it empty urine?

A

The urethra.

13
Q

What is the urethra?

A

The rube that allows urine to be excreted from the body.

14
Q

What is the size of the male/female urethra?

A

Male = 20cm.

Female = 3-4cm.

15
Q

What do the kidneys do?

A

1) . Filter blood.
2) . Regulate blood volume + pressure.
3) . Eliminate waste.
4) . Control osmolarity.
5) . Contribute to calcium homeostasis.
6) . Secrete erythropoietin (EPO).

16
Q

What is the structure of the kidneys?

A
  • Renal vein.
  • Renal artery.
  • Adrenal gland (sits on top).
  • Calyx.
  • Cortex.
  • Medulla.
  • Renal pelvis.
  • Ureter.
17
Q

What are the 3 main areas of the kidneys?

A
  • Outer cortex.
  • Inner medulla.
  • Renal pelvis.
18
Q

Where does the kidneys receive its blood from?

A

Renal arteries.

19
Q

Does the ureter and renal vein leave or enter the kidneys?

A

Leaves.

20
Q

How many nephrons are there in each kidney?

A

1.2 million.

21
Q

What are the nephrons responsible for in the kidneys?

A

Microscopic functional units =

  • purification.
  • filtration of blood.
22
Q

What are the 2 parts of the nephrons?

A

1) . Renal corpuscle.

2) . Renal tubule.

23
Q

What is the renal corpuscle responsible for?

A

Filtration of blood.

24
Q

What is the renal tubule responsible for?

A

Reabsorption and secretion (converts filtrate to urine).

25
Q

What are the 2 structures of the renal corpuscle?

A

1) . Bowman’s capsule.

2) . Glomerulus.

26
Q

What brings blood to the glomerulus?

A

Afferent arteriole =

  • brings blood at high pressure.
27
Q

Where is the glomerulus?

A

Enclosed in the Bowmans capsule =

  • containing a knot of capillaries.
28
Q

What happens when blood is pushed through the capillaries of the glomerulus?

A

Filtration of blood takes place (glomerulus filtrate).

29
Q

What does glomerulus filtrate contain?

A
  • Water.
  • Electrolytes.
  • Urea.
  • Amino acids.
  • Glucose.
30
Q

Where does blood leave the glomerulus?

A

Efferent arteriole.

31
Q

What are the 2 layers of the Bowman’s capsule?

A

1) . Outer layer =
- simple squamous epithelial.
2) . Inner layer =
- cells known as podocytes.
- wrapped around capillaries of glomerulus.

32
Q

Whats the difference between the afferent/efferent arteriole?

A

Afferent has a larger diameter.

33
Q

Where does blood go once it has left the Bowman’s capsule?

A

Renal tubule.

34
Q

What are the 3 sections of the renal tubule?

A

1) . Proximal convoluted tubule (PCT).
2) . Loop of Henle.
3) . Distal convoluted tubule (DCT).

35
Q

Which part of the renal tubule does the filtrate go once it has left the Bowman’s capsule?

A

Proximal convoluted tubule =

  • process of reabsorption.
36
Q

What is reabsorbed at the proximal convoluted tubule?

A
  • Glucose.
  • Amino acids.
  • Electrolytes.
  • NaCI (salt).
37
Q

Where does the distal convoluted tubule (DCT) receive the filtrate from?

A

Loop of Henle.

38
Q

What is reabsorbed in the Henle?

A

Sodium and water.

39
Q

What is the role of the DCT?

A

Secretion of electrolytes.

40
Q

What electrolytes does the DCT secrete?

A
  • H+ ions.
  • Nitrogenous wastes.
  • Toxins.
41
Q

What happens to the secreted electrolytes?

A

Now become urine which flows to the collecting ducts.

42
Q

Where does the removal of water take place?

A

In the collecting ducts.

43
Q

How do the pores in the collecting ducts work?

A

Influence of anti-diuretic hormone (ADH).

44
Q

Summarise the process of filtration in the nephrons?

A

1) . Glomerulus and Bowman’s capsule =
- plasma filtration.
2) . PCT =
- tubular reabsorption.
3) . Loop of Henle =
- adjusts water concentration in urine.
4) . DCT =
- tubular secretion.
5) . ADH =
- water reabsorption (collecting tubules).

45
Q

What are the 3 functions of the nephrons?

A

1) . Filtration.
2) . Reabsorption.
3) . Secretion.

46
Q

What is the main role of the glomerulus?

A

Filters blood.

47
Q

What is the main role of the Proximal convoluted tubule (PCT)?

A

1). Reabsorbs =

  • ions.
  • water.
  • nutrients.

2) . Removes =
- toxins.
3) . Adjusts filtrate pH.

48
Q

What is the main role of the loop of Henle?

A

Reabsorbs =

  • water.
  • sodium.
  • chloride.
49
Q

What is the main role of the distal convoluted tubule (DCT)?

A

Secretes =

  • H+.
  • Nitrogenous wastes.
  • Toxins.

Transported from plasma into urine.

50
Q

What is the main role of the collecting duct?

A

Reabsorbs =

  • water.

Concentrates urine.

51
Q

What is antidiuretic hormone (ADH) also known as?

A

Vasopressin.

52
Q

Where is ADH secreted?

A

Hypothalamus.

53
Q

Where is ADH stored?

A

Posterior pituitary gland.

54
Q

What factors influence the release of ADH?

A

1) . Osmoreceptors =
- detect changes in concentration of solutes in blood.
2) . Baroreceptors =
- responds to changes in plasma volume.

55
Q

What are the 2 functions of ADH?

A

1) . Regulating fluid balance (water retention).

2) . Vasoconstriction (peripheral resistance).

56
Q

What is the ADH role in water retention?

A

Increase water reabsorption by:

  • increasing the permeability of the distal tubule and collecting duct.
57
Q

What is the ADH role in vasoconstriction?

A

Increases peripheral resistance =

  • leads to a rise in blood pressure.
58
Q

Why is ADH important?

A
  • Regulation of water in the blood.

- Long-term control of blood pressure.