Flashcards: Kidney Function and Urinary System Overview — 22 cards

Urinary system — main functions?

Excretion, elimination, homeostatic regulation.

Excretion — definition?

Removal of organic wastes from body fluids.

Elimination — role?

Discharge of waste products from the body.

Kidney position — location?

On either side of vertebral column, left higher.

Protective layers — kidney?

Renal capsule, adipose capsule, renal fascia.

Renal capsule — function?

Protects and stabilizes the kidney.

Blood supply pathway — kidney?

Renal artery → segmental → interlobar → arcuate → interlobular → afferent arteriole → glomerulus → efferent arteriole → capillaries → renal vein.

Nephrons — types?

Cortical and juxtamedullary nephrons.

Cortical nephron — location?

Superficial cortex; short Loop of Henle.

Juxtamedullary nephron — location?

Near corticomedullary border; long Loop of Henle.

Renal corpuscle — components?

Bowman’s capsule and glomerulus.

Filtration membrane — layers?

Fenestrated endothelium, lamina densa, filtration slits.

Glomerular filtration — driven by?

Hydrostatic pressure in glomerulus.

Renal tubule segments?

Proximal convoluted tubule, Loop of Henle, distal convoluted tubule, collecting duct.

Countercurrent mechanism — purpose?

Concentrate urine by establishing medullary osmotic gradient.

Urine formation — processes?

Filtration, reabsorption, secretion, excretion.

Ureters — function?

Transport urine from kidneys to bladder via peristalsis.

Bladder — role?

Stores urine temporarily; contains detrusor muscle.

Urethra — function?

Excretes urine outside body during micturition.

Micturition — process?

Bladder contraction and sphincter relaxation for urination.

External urethral sphincter — type?

Skeletal muscle; voluntary control.

Detrusor muscle — location?

Muscular layer of the bladder wall.