(Summary questions) Ch. 35 Structure
and function/Renal and Urologic
systems
What is the primary function of the kidney? - correct answer-To maintain a stable internal
environment for optimal cell and tissue metabolism.
How do the kidneys accomplish these life-sustaining tasks? - correct answer-By balancing
solute and water transport, excreting metabolic waste products, conserving nutrients, and
regulating acids and bases.
What other functions do the kidneys have? - correct answer-Endocrine function: excrete
renin (regulation of blood pressure), erythropoietin (erythrocyte production), and
1,25-dihydroxyvitamin (calcium metabolism)
In times of severe fasting, what can the kidneys do? - correct answer-Synthesize glucose
from amino acids, which is called gluconeogenesis
What is the hilum of the kidney? - correct answer-A medial indentation which contains the
entry and exit for the renal blood vessels, nerves, lymphatic vessels, and ureter.
What is the functional unit of the kidney? - correct answer-Nephron
What are the subunits of the the nephron? - correct answer-Renal corpuscle, proximal
convoluted tubule, loop of Henle, distal convoluted tubule, and collecting ducts, all of which
contribute to the formation of final urine.
What are the three types of nephrons? - correct answer-1) superficial cortical nephrons
2) midcortical nephrons
3) juxtamedullary nephrons
What makes up the renal corpuscle? - correct answer-the glomerulus, Bowman capsule, and
mesengial cells
What is the important aspect of the juxtamedullary nephrons? - correct answer-They lie
close to and extend deep into the medulla and are important for the process of concentrating
urine. They are longer than the other nephrons, the longer they are, the more water is
reabsorbed.
The glomerular filtration membrane is made up of what three layers? - correct answer-1)
inner capillary endothelium
2) middle basement membrane
3) outer layer of capillary epithelium (also called podocytes or visceral epithelium)
, What is responsible for and how is leakage of proteins into urine is prevented? - correct
answer-Podocytes (visceral epithelium, outer layer of capillary epithelium)
It prevents the leakage of proteins into the urine through endoyctosis which allows molecules
to enter the cell without passing through the cell membrane
The glomerulus is supplied by the ______ arteriole and drained by the ______ arteriole. -
correct answer-Afferent
Efferent
What is the juxtaglomerular apparatus? - correct answer-A group of specialized cells that are
located around the afferent arteriole where it enters the glomerulus.
What does the juxtaglomerular apparatus do? - correct answer-Controls renal blood flow,
glomerular filtration, and renin secretion
The loop of Henle is composed of thin and thick segments. What is the difference between
these segments? - correct answer-The thin segment is made up of thin squamous cells with
no active transport function while the thick segments contain cuboidal cells with active
transport of several solutes except for water
The collecting duct is composed of two cell type, what are they? What do they do? - correct
answer-principal and intercalated cells
Principal cell: Resorb sodium and water and secrete postasium
Intercalated cells: secrete either hydrogen or bicarbonate and reabsorb postassium
Describe the vasa recta: - correct answer-Capillaries that are the only blood supply to the
medulla. It forms loops and closely follows the loops of Henle
The filtration of the plasma per unit of time is known as the ___ ___ ___, which is directly
related to the perfusion pressure in the glomerular capillaries. - correct answer-glomerular
filtration rate
What mechanisms regulate renal blood flow? - correct answer-Intrinsic autoregulatory
mechanism, neural regulation, and hormonal regulation
What is autoregulation in the kidney? - correct answer-A local mechanism that tends to keep
the rate of glomerular blood flow and therefore the GFR fairly constant over a range of
arterial pressures between 80-180 mmHg.
If systemic blood pressure increases, how does autoregulation affect the RBF and GFR? -
correct answer-The afferent arterioles will constrict and prevent an increase in glomerular
blood flow and filtration pressure.
Opposite process occur with a decrease in systemic blood pressure.
What is the purpose of renal autoregulation? - correct answer-To prevent wide fluctuations in
systemic arterial pressure from being transmitted to the glomerular capillaries which assists
the solute and water excretion to be maintained. It may also protect the kidney from damage
by hypertension
and function/Renal and Urologic
systems
What is the primary function of the kidney? - correct answer-To maintain a stable internal
environment for optimal cell and tissue metabolism.
How do the kidneys accomplish these life-sustaining tasks? - correct answer-By balancing
solute and water transport, excreting metabolic waste products, conserving nutrients, and
regulating acids and bases.
What other functions do the kidneys have? - correct answer-Endocrine function: excrete
renin (regulation of blood pressure), erythropoietin (erythrocyte production), and
1,25-dihydroxyvitamin (calcium metabolism)
In times of severe fasting, what can the kidneys do? - correct answer-Synthesize glucose
from amino acids, which is called gluconeogenesis
What is the hilum of the kidney? - correct answer-A medial indentation which contains the
entry and exit for the renal blood vessels, nerves, lymphatic vessels, and ureter.
What is the functional unit of the kidney? - correct answer-Nephron
What are the subunits of the the nephron? - correct answer-Renal corpuscle, proximal
convoluted tubule, loop of Henle, distal convoluted tubule, and collecting ducts, all of which
contribute to the formation of final urine.
What are the three types of nephrons? - correct answer-1) superficial cortical nephrons
2) midcortical nephrons
3) juxtamedullary nephrons
What makes up the renal corpuscle? - correct answer-the glomerulus, Bowman capsule, and
mesengial cells
What is the important aspect of the juxtamedullary nephrons? - correct answer-They lie
close to and extend deep into the medulla and are important for the process of concentrating
urine. They are longer than the other nephrons, the longer they are, the more water is
reabsorbed.
The glomerular filtration membrane is made up of what three layers? - correct answer-1)
inner capillary endothelium
2) middle basement membrane
3) outer layer of capillary epithelium (also called podocytes or visceral epithelium)
, What is responsible for and how is leakage of proteins into urine is prevented? - correct
answer-Podocytes (visceral epithelium, outer layer of capillary epithelium)
It prevents the leakage of proteins into the urine through endoyctosis which allows molecules
to enter the cell without passing through the cell membrane
The glomerulus is supplied by the ______ arteriole and drained by the ______ arteriole. -
correct answer-Afferent
Efferent
What is the juxtaglomerular apparatus? - correct answer-A group of specialized cells that are
located around the afferent arteriole where it enters the glomerulus.
What does the juxtaglomerular apparatus do? - correct answer-Controls renal blood flow,
glomerular filtration, and renin secretion
The loop of Henle is composed of thin and thick segments. What is the difference between
these segments? - correct answer-The thin segment is made up of thin squamous cells with
no active transport function while the thick segments contain cuboidal cells with active
transport of several solutes except for water
The collecting duct is composed of two cell type, what are they? What do they do? - correct
answer-principal and intercalated cells
Principal cell: Resorb sodium and water and secrete postasium
Intercalated cells: secrete either hydrogen or bicarbonate and reabsorb postassium
Describe the vasa recta: - correct answer-Capillaries that are the only blood supply to the
medulla. It forms loops and closely follows the loops of Henle
The filtration of the plasma per unit of time is known as the ___ ___ ___, which is directly
related to the perfusion pressure in the glomerular capillaries. - correct answer-glomerular
filtration rate
What mechanisms regulate renal blood flow? - correct answer-Intrinsic autoregulatory
mechanism, neural regulation, and hormonal regulation
What is autoregulation in the kidney? - correct answer-A local mechanism that tends to keep
the rate of glomerular blood flow and therefore the GFR fairly constant over a range of
arterial pressures between 80-180 mmHg.
If systemic blood pressure increases, how does autoregulation affect the RBF and GFR? -
correct answer-The afferent arterioles will constrict and prevent an increase in glomerular
blood flow and filtration pressure.
Opposite process occur with a decrease in systemic blood pressure.
What is the purpose of renal autoregulation? - correct answer-To prevent wide fluctuations in
systemic arterial pressure from being transmitted to the glomerular capillaries which assists
the solute and water excretion to be maintained. It may also protect the kidney from damage
by hypertension
