Kidney regions — main zones?
Cortex and medulla.
Renal sinus — role?
Receives renal pelvis and calyces.
Hilus — function?
Entry/exit point for vessels and ducts.
Cortex — location?
Outer kidney zone.
Medulla — location?
Inner kidney zone.
Nephron — basic unit?
Filtration and reabsorption structure.
Renal corpuscle — what?
Glomerulus + Bowman’s capsule.
Glomerulus — function?
Filters blood plasma.
Afferent arteriole — role?
Supplies blood to glomerulus.
Efferent arteriole — role?
Drains blood from glomerulus.
Filtration barrier — layers?
Endothelium, basement membrane, podocytes.
Filtration size limit?
≤68,000 molecular weight.
GFR — normal rate?
125 mL/min or 180 L/day.
Renal blood flow — relation?
Flow = Pressure / Resistance.
Autoregulation range?
80–180 mmHg arterial pressure.
Tubuloglomerular feedback — sensor?
Macula densa Na+ sensing.
Neural GFR control — mechanism?
Sympathetic vasoconstriction.
Hormonal GFR control — factors?
Angiotensin II, ANP, prostaglandins.
Proximal tubule — water reabsorption?
Isosmotic, ~65% reabsorbed.
Loop of Henle — descending limb?
Water-permeable, Na–Cl-impermeable.
Loop of Henle — ascending limb?
Water-impermeable, Na–Cl passively/actively reabsorbed.
Reabsorption — passive vs active?
Passive follows gradients; active uses ATP.
Glomerulotubular balance — purpose?
Matches reabsorption to GFR.
Inulin clearance — use?
Estimate GFR.
Test your knowledge with 24 questions on Kidney Structure and Function Fundamentals.
1. Which structure is the shallow C-shaped space that receives the renal pelvis and calyces through the hilus?
2. Which kidney region is the outer reddish-brown zone that contains mainly convoluted proximal and distal tubules?
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