Structure and function of the kidney Flashcards Preview

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Flashcards in Structure and function of the kidney Deck (36)
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1
Q

Where are the kidneys located?

A

Posteriorly on the right lower part of the body.

2
Q

Where is the blood supply for the kidney from?

A

The renal arteries from the aorta.

3
Q

What is the protective tissue that surrounds the kidney?

A

The renal capsule.

4
Q

What is the hilum?

A

The opening for attachment of the renal artery and vein, nerves and ureter.

5
Q

What is the central cavity called of the kidney?

A

The renal sinus.

6
Q

What direction is the afferent arteriole to?

A

Towards the nephron.

7
Q

What direction is the efferent arteriole to?

A

Leaves the nephron.

8
Q

What is the name of the network of capillaries that surrounds the kidney?

A

Peritubular capillaries.

9
Q

What is the functional unit of the kidney?

A

The nephrons.

10
Q

What is the Bowman’s capsule?

A

It is where filtration occurs.

11
Q

What are the different types of nephron?

A

Cortical nephrons (close to the the cortex) and ones closer to the medulla - juxtamedullary.

12
Q

How many nephrons are there per kidney?

A

1.3 x 10^6.

13
Q

What percentage of the blood is filtered?

A

20%.

14
Q

Why is the glomerulus tangled?

A

It creates a large surface area for filtration.

15
Q

What is the renal corpuscle?

A

It contains the functional units of the kidneys such as the glomerulus and Bowman’s capsule.

16
Q

What is the brush border.

A

A microvilli-covered surface that provides a large surface area for processes to occur.

17
Q

What is the limb of Henle made up of?

A

Flattened squamous epithelial cells with few organelles.

18
Q

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

A

The visceral layer and the parietal layer. The visceral layer is in contact with the organs and the parietal is the outer layer.

19
Q

What is the visceral surface made up of?

A

It is covered with podocytes.

20
Q

Where is the juxta glomerular?

A

It is next to the glomerulus. It secretes hormones into the glomerulus. They are important for regulation.

21
Q

What are fenestrations in the capillaries?

A

Large gaps between endothelial cells.

22
Q

What is the basal lamina?

A

The thin layer of extracellular matrix that separates the endothelial cells from the podocytes.

23
Q

What are podocytes?

A

Narrow filtration slits that are the finest level of filtration.

24
Q

What are the three filtration barriers?

A

Fenestrations of the glomerular endothelial cells, the basal lamina of glomerulus and the slit membrane between pedicels

25
Q

What drives filtration?

A

The hydrostatic pressure of the glomerular capillaries.

26
Q

How does the relaxation of the arterioles drive filtration?

A

The afferent arteriole is more relaxed than the efferent arteriole leaving which forces filtration to occur.

27
Q

What is oncotic pressure?

A

Pressure due to osmotic forces.

28
Q

What is glomerular filtration rate?

A

The volume of filtrate produced by the kidneys per minute.

29
Q

What is the average healthy GFR for adults?

A

125ml/minute.

30
Q

Despite a relatively low filtration pressure, why is the volume of filtrate large?

A

The surface area of the glomerular capillaries is large, the glomerular capillary endothelium is fenestrated and the glomerular capillary blood pressure is high.

31
Q

What are some of the ways that GFR can be altered?

A

Changes in diameter of the afferent and efferent arterioles, The efferent arteriole usually has a smaller diameter than the afferent arteriole to help drive the GFR.

32
Q

What does the urinary excretion of a substance depend on?

A

FIltration, reabsorption and secretion.

33
Q

Where are most of the fluid and solutes reabsorbed?

A

In the proximal convoluted tubule.

34
Q

Where is most of the water reabsorbed in the loop of Henle?

A

At the end.

35
Q

What primarily controls the regulation of the loop of Henle and glomerulus?

A

Autoregulation - tubuloglomerular feedback.

36
Q

What primarily controls the regulation of collecting duct and DCT?

A

Hormones.