renal structure and function

Question 1

What colour and shape are the kidneys?

Answer 1

It is a reddish colour and a bean shape

Question 2

2. How much does each kidney weigh?

Answer 2

134 grams

Question 3

Where does each kidney lie?

Answer 3

They are lying on either side of the vertebral column between the levels of the 12th thoracic and third lumbar vertebrae (T12 and L3)

Question 4

What does lack of blood supply lead to in the kidney?

Answer 4

kidney shrinkage

Question 5

Between what levels are the kidneys found?

Answer 5

T12 and L3

Question 6

Outside which membrane are the kidneys found?

Answer 6

outside the peritoneum

Question 7

7. Which kidney is slightly inferior (lower) and why?

Answer 7

right kidney to accommodate for the Liver.

Question 8

9. What two types of pole are found in each kidney?

Answer 8

superiorandinferior pole

Question 9

10. What shape is the lateral surface of the kidney?

Answer 9

convex

Question 10

11. What shape is the medial surface of the kidney?

Answer 10

concave

Question 11

12. What is the vertical cleft of the kidney called?

Answer 11

the renal hilus

Question 12

13. Where does the renal hinus lead to?

Answer 12

the renal sinus

Question 13

15. What gland can be located on top of the kidney?

Answer 13

suprarenal glandor theadrenal gland

Question 14

16. What is the general main function of the kidneys ?

Answer 14

To filter the blood

Question 15

17. What is are the 4 homeostatic functions of the kidney?

Answer 15

1. Maintains body water balance
2. Regulates quantity & concentration of ECF ions
3. Maintains plasma volume & osmolarity
4. Assists in acid-base balance

Question 16

18. What are the excretory functions of the kidneys?

Answer 16

1. Excretes end-products of body metabolism
2. Urea (protein), creatinine (muscle), uric acid (DNA & RNA), bilirubin (haemoglobin)
3. Excretes foreign compounds

Question 17

19. What are the secretory functions of the kidneys?

Answer 17

1. Produces & secretes erythropoietin
2. Secretes renin, kalikrein, prostaglandins
3. Converts vitamin D into its active form (1,25 dihydroxycholecalciferol (D3)

Question 18

23. What percentage of cardiac circulation do both kidneys receive?

Answer 18

25%

Question 19

24. How are both renal arteries positioned relative to the renal veins

Answer 19

posteriorly

Question 20

26. Which renal vein is longer and why

Answer 20

the left because it goes over the aorta

Question 21

28. Which renal artery is longer and why

Answer 21

right because it goes under the inferior vena cava

Question 22

30. Outline the order of the types of vessels starting with the aorta and ending with the glomerulus

Answer 22

1. aorta
2. renal artery
3. segmental artery
4. interlobar artery
5. afferent arteriole
6. Glomerulus

Question 23

Outline the order of the types of vessels starting with the Glomerulus and ending with the inferior vena cava

Answer 23

1. efferent arteriole
2. Peritubular capillaries and vasa recta
3. Interlobular vein
4. Renal vein
5. inferior vena cava

Question 24

32. What percentage of nephrons in the kidney are juxtamedullary

Answer 24

20%

Question 25

what percentage of the nephrons in the kidney are cortical?

Answer 25

80%

Question 26

34. What is the function of the juxtamedullary nephron

Answer 26

Concentrating urine

Question 27

35. What are 2 features of the juxtamedullary nephron

Answer 27

1. Thin/thick ascending limbs of Loop of Henle 2. §Vasa recta (hair-pin loop capillaries)

Question 28

36. What is the function of the cortical nephron

Answer 28

Filtration

Question 29

37. What is a feature of the cortical nephron

Answer 29

has peritubular capillaries

Question 30

37. Outline the basic structure of the nephron starting with afferent arteriole and ending with urine into ureter

Answer 30

1. Afferent arteriole, 2. bowman’s capsule/ efferent artiole, 3. proximal convoluted tubule, 4. loop of henle, 5. distal convoluted tubule, 6. collecting duct, 7. duct of benini 8. urine to ureter

Question 31

38. What is the condition called when you have no blood travelling to the kidneys

Answer 31

Renal Artery stenosis

Question 32

39. What is the origin of the interlobular artery

Answer 32

segmented artery

Question 33

40. What is the arteriole that enters the kidney called?

Answer 33

afferent arteriole

Question 34

41. What is the arteriole that exits the kidney called

Answer 34

efferent arteriole

Question 35

43. What is the function of the Proximal convoluted tubule (PCT)?

Answer 35

Most reabsorption of substances like glucose, water, ions and amino acids

Question 36

44. What are the 3 features of the PCT that help it perform its function

Answer 36

Microvilli Long & thin Mitochrondia

Question 37

What is the function of the loop of henle?

Answer 37

to produce concentrated urine by reabsorbing water and sodium chloride

Question 38

46. What are the 2 features of the loop of henle that help it perform its function?

Answer 38

- has thick and thin portions - descending limb (thin) and Ascending limb (thick) have different permeabilities

Question 39

what are 3 features of the Distal convoluted tubule?

Answer 39

- hormonally regulated action - less microvilli - Low water permeability

Question 40

what are 3 features of the collecting duct

Answer 40

- intercalated and principal cells - hormonally regulated action (ADH, Aldosterone, atrial natriuretic peptide