Functions of the Kidney
Glomerulus
Ball of capillaries in the renal corpuscle
Glomerular Capsule/Bowman’s Capsule
Performs the first step in filtration of blood to form urine
Located in the renal corpuscle
Proximal Convoluted Tubule
Beginning of the nephron
Regulates the pH of the filtrate by exchanging hydrogen ions for bicarbonate ions
Secretes creatinine
Descending Loop of Henle/Nephron Loop
Thin limb
Low permeability to ions and urea, high permeability to water
Water passes by osmosis from tubule to ECF, leaving NaCl
Ascending Loop of Henle/Nephron Loop
Thick and thin segment
Drains urine into the distal convoluted tubule
Has pumps that cotransport Na, K, and Cl into ECF
Distal Convoluted Tubule
End of the nephron
Responsible for the reabsorption of sodium, water, and secretion of hydrogen potassium
Collecting Duct
Pathway Flow of Glomerular Filtrate
Ureters Function and Physiological Valve
Drain urine from bladder to urethra
Valve is a fold of bladder mucosa by hydrostatic backpressure that prevents the backflow of urine
Serosa
Tissue of a serous membrane
Mucosa
Mucous membrane
Bladder Location
Muscular sac on the floor of the pelvic cavity, inferior to the peritoneum and posterior to the pubic symphysis
Bladder Mucosa Epithelium
Transitional epithelium
Detrusor of Bladder
Muscularis that consists of three layers of smooth muscle
Trigone of Bladder
Openings of two ureters and urethra from this smooth-surfaced triangular area
3 Urethral Regions for Males
Cystitis
Bacterial contamination of the urethra is more common in females because of their shorter urethra and location of orifice
Blood Supply to the Nephron
Artery –> Capillary –> Artery –> Capillary –> Vein blood flow
3 Basic Processes by the Nephron
Glomerular Filtration
Portion of blood plasma is filtered into the kidney
Capillary exchange
Tubular Reabsorption
Water and useful substances reabsorbed into the blood
Tubule to Blood
Tubular Secretion
Wastes are removed from the blood and secreted into the urine
Blood to Tubule
Difference Between Blood and Glomerular Filtrate
Blood plasma contains large molecules and protein that are not present in glomerular filtrate