Dialysis Technician notes questions and
answers
Kidney position - ANSWER>>Located in retroperitoneal space held by connective
tissue and adipose fat tissues.
Adrenal Gland - ANSWER>>On top of each kidney, releases Aldosterone -->
retains Na+ --> High blood pressure
Nephron - ANSWER>>Functional unit of kidney. Each kidney has 1 million of these
structures. Think of nephron as a microscopic dialyzer. Each heart beat pumps
blood to the kidneys.
Nephron composition - ANSWER>>Renal corpuscle: Contains the Glomerulus
located inside the Bowman's capsule. Also includes the Tubule system. Nephrons
start in cortex and end in medulla.
3 primary functions of kidneys - ANSWER>>1) Remove wastes
2) Regulates electrolyte & fluid balance
3) Regulates acid & base balance
How does kidney remove waste? - ANSWER>>Urea builds up both in intracellular
& extracellular space --> When urea levels are very high, kidneys excrete urea -->
becomes byproduct of protein metabolism
Ureter - ANSWER>>Tube that drains urine to bladder from renal pelvis. Urine
moves from kidney to bladder via ureter by peristalsis
Peristalsis - ANSWER>>Smooth muscle contraction which pushes urine toward the
bladder
,Bladder - ANSWER>>Holding tank before urine is released, has stretch receptors
to tell us when to urinate
Urethra - ANSWER>>Tube delivers urine from bladder to outside of body.
Adrenal Glands - ANSWER>>On top of each kidney, release hormones such as
aldosterone
Aldosterone - ANSWER>>Affects blood pressure. Secreted by adrenal cortex that
results in Na+ retention --> H2O retention --> increase in vascular volume -->
Inceasing BP
Aorta - ANSWER>>Artery with oxygen-rich blood
Inferior vena cava - ANSWER>>Oxygen poor blood
Renal blood vessels - ANSWER>>Arteries & veins serve as point of entry and exit
of the blood to the kidney.
Glomerulus - ANSWER>>Ball of capillaries in the Bowman's capsule. Looks like the
dilated 'C' portion of the proximal convoluted tubule.
Formation/Regulation of urine - ANSWER>>Removal of wastes, regulation of
electrolytes, fluid balance, regulation of acid/base balance
What does urine remove? - ANSWER>>Urea = byproduct of protein metabolism.
Urea builds up in the intracellular and extracellular space. Kidneys excrete urea in
urine when levels get too high.
Regulation of electrolytes & fluid balance - ANSWER>>Intake of fluid/electrolytes
- body's demand of fluid/electrolytes = urine excretion. Hormones, infections,
diseases, stretch receptors, and metabolic demands influence kidney regulation.
, Regulation of acid/base balance - ANSWER>>Body's internal pH regulated by
lungs and kidneys, kept between 7.35-7.45. Kidneys compensate slower than the
lungs, but are less demanding on body.
Kidneys regulating pH - ANSWER>>HCO3 must be reabsorbed primarily in the
proximal tubule. H+ must be excreted primarily in collecting duct.
Erythropoietin (EPO) - ANSWER>>Is produced which stimulates bone marrow to
produce RBCs.
Calcitriol - ANSWER>>Kidneys produce this hormone to help balance Ca and PO4
levels. Known as active form of Vitamin D, affects neuromuscular and immune
function.
Parathyroid hormone - ANSWER>>Assists with good bone metabolism, secreted
by parathyroid gland.
Renin - ANSWER>>Secreted by juxtaglomerular apparatus to regulate BP by
vasoconstriction and Na+ reabsorption. Renal blood flow reduction --> renal
artery secretion of renin --> catalyzes angiotensinogen to angiotensin I in liver -->
angiotensin I converts to angiotensin II in lungs.
Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH) - ANSWER>>Released by pituitary gland -->
Collecting ducts retain fluids --> increasing water permeability in distal tube and
collecting ducts --> blood vessels constrict --> increase vascular resistance -->
Increases BP --> Urine becomes more concentrated. If blood pressure or volume is
high, ADH is not released and urine becomes more diluted.
Kidney failure - ANSWER>>No longer maintain homeostasis. No clinical symptoms
until > 70% of nephrons are lost. Can be acute or chronic.
Acute Kidney injury - ANSWER>>Due to illness, injury, toxin. Kidneys suddenly are
unavailable to filter waste products from blood. More than 1 out of 2 people with
answers
Kidney position - ANSWER>>Located in retroperitoneal space held by connective
tissue and adipose fat tissues.
Adrenal Gland - ANSWER>>On top of each kidney, releases Aldosterone -->
retains Na+ --> High blood pressure
Nephron - ANSWER>>Functional unit of kidney. Each kidney has 1 million of these
structures. Think of nephron as a microscopic dialyzer. Each heart beat pumps
blood to the kidneys.
Nephron composition - ANSWER>>Renal corpuscle: Contains the Glomerulus
located inside the Bowman's capsule. Also includes the Tubule system. Nephrons
start in cortex and end in medulla.
3 primary functions of kidneys - ANSWER>>1) Remove wastes
2) Regulates electrolyte & fluid balance
3) Regulates acid & base balance
How does kidney remove waste? - ANSWER>>Urea builds up both in intracellular
& extracellular space --> When urea levels are very high, kidneys excrete urea -->
becomes byproduct of protein metabolism
Ureter - ANSWER>>Tube that drains urine to bladder from renal pelvis. Urine
moves from kidney to bladder via ureter by peristalsis
Peristalsis - ANSWER>>Smooth muscle contraction which pushes urine toward the
bladder
,Bladder - ANSWER>>Holding tank before urine is released, has stretch receptors
to tell us when to urinate
Urethra - ANSWER>>Tube delivers urine from bladder to outside of body.
Adrenal Glands - ANSWER>>On top of each kidney, release hormones such as
aldosterone
Aldosterone - ANSWER>>Affects blood pressure. Secreted by adrenal cortex that
results in Na+ retention --> H2O retention --> increase in vascular volume -->
Inceasing BP
Aorta - ANSWER>>Artery with oxygen-rich blood
Inferior vena cava - ANSWER>>Oxygen poor blood
Renal blood vessels - ANSWER>>Arteries & veins serve as point of entry and exit
of the blood to the kidney.
Glomerulus - ANSWER>>Ball of capillaries in the Bowman's capsule. Looks like the
dilated 'C' portion of the proximal convoluted tubule.
Formation/Regulation of urine - ANSWER>>Removal of wastes, regulation of
electrolytes, fluid balance, regulation of acid/base balance
What does urine remove? - ANSWER>>Urea = byproduct of protein metabolism.
Urea builds up in the intracellular and extracellular space. Kidneys excrete urea in
urine when levels get too high.
Regulation of electrolytes & fluid balance - ANSWER>>Intake of fluid/electrolytes
- body's demand of fluid/electrolytes = urine excretion. Hormones, infections,
diseases, stretch receptors, and metabolic demands influence kidney regulation.
, Regulation of acid/base balance - ANSWER>>Body's internal pH regulated by
lungs and kidneys, kept between 7.35-7.45. Kidneys compensate slower than the
lungs, but are less demanding on body.
Kidneys regulating pH - ANSWER>>HCO3 must be reabsorbed primarily in the
proximal tubule. H+ must be excreted primarily in collecting duct.
Erythropoietin (EPO) - ANSWER>>Is produced which stimulates bone marrow to
produce RBCs.
Calcitriol - ANSWER>>Kidneys produce this hormone to help balance Ca and PO4
levels. Known as active form of Vitamin D, affects neuromuscular and immune
function.
Parathyroid hormone - ANSWER>>Assists with good bone metabolism, secreted
by parathyroid gland.
Renin - ANSWER>>Secreted by juxtaglomerular apparatus to regulate BP by
vasoconstriction and Na+ reabsorption. Renal blood flow reduction --> renal
artery secretion of renin --> catalyzes angiotensinogen to angiotensin I in liver -->
angiotensin I converts to angiotensin II in lungs.
Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH) - ANSWER>>Released by pituitary gland -->
Collecting ducts retain fluids --> increasing water permeability in distal tube and
collecting ducts --> blood vessels constrict --> increase vascular resistance -->
Increases BP --> Urine becomes more concentrated. If blood pressure or volume is
high, ADH is not released and urine becomes more diluted.
Kidney failure - ANSWER>>No longer maintain homeostasis. No clinical symptoms
until > 70% of nephrons are lost. Can be acute or chronic.
Acute Kidney injury - ANSWER>>Due to illness, injury, toxin. Kidneys suddenly are
unavailable to filter waste products from blood. More than 1 out of 2 people with
