The renal system - The Kidneys

7 important questions on The renal system - The Kidneys

What is the Renal Medulla? What does it do?

The renal medulla is the area between the renal cortex and the renal pelvis. It contains the renal pyramids and the tubules of the nephrons.

The pyramids consist mainly of tubles that transport filtrated (filtered fluid) through papillary ducts. The pappillary ducts drain into calyces. Or cup-shaped cavities once filtrate enters the calyces it becomes urine as no further reabsorption can occur. From the calyces, urine drains into a single large cavity called the renal pelvis.

What is the renal pelvis? What does it do?

The renal pelvis is the point where the two or three major calyces join together. The renal pelvis has a mucus membrane and is covered with epithelium tissue and forms the upper portion of the ureter.

The renal pelvis functions as a funnel for unrine flowing to the ureter.

What are nephrons? What do they do? Give two interesting facts about the nephrons.

The nephron is the microscopic functional unit of the kidney. Each nephron consists of two parts: a renal corpuscle and a renal tubule. The components of a renal corpuscle are the glomerulus (capillary network) and the glmerular capsule or Bowman's capsule.

Filter blood

perfom selective reabsorption

Excrete waste and excess water which becomes urine.

There are about 1 million nephrons per kidney, if the tubules were uncoiled they would equate to 75 miles in length.
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What is the Glomerular (Bownan's) capsule? What does it do?

The glomerular capsule is a cup-like sac is the first part of the nephron. It contains a network of capillaries called glomerulus.

It filters the blood, (ultra filtration)

What is the proximal convoluted tubule?

Tubule attached to the glomerular capsule. It is where filtrate from the glomerular (Bowman's) capsule drains into.

Reabsorption of
Salt
Water
Glucose

What is the distal convoluted tubule?

The part of the tubule that is the furthest away from the glomerular capsule. The distal convoluted tubule is located between the loop of Henle and the collecting duct.

secreting ions and acids
Reaborption of water
Regulation of urine ph.

What are the collecting ducts? What do they do?

Last part of the nephron where the distal convoluted tubules drain into. The collecting ducts transport the filtrate into the calyces. They are impermeable to water. However during dehydration antidiuretic hormone (ADH) is released to activate permeability and allow for fluid reabsorbtion/ secreation.

Participate in elecrolyte and fluid balance by:
Reabsorption
excretion   

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