Kidney

• Through which arteries do the kidneys receive blood?

  Renal arteries
• What happens to blood in the kidneys?

  It is filtered to produce urine
• Where does urine pass after being filtered in the kidneys?

  Into the ureters
• What is the function of the ureters?

  To transport urine to the bladder
• Where is urine stored in the body?

  In the bladder
• How is urine removed from the body?

  Via the urethra
• What returns filtered blood to the heart?

  The renal vein
• Through which vein does the renal vein return blood to the heart?

  Via the vena cava
• What are the main components of the kidney's internal structure?

  • Fibrous capsule
  • Renal cortex
  • Renal medulla
  • Renal pelvis
• What is the function of the fibrous capsule in the kidney?

  To surround and protect the kidney
• What does the renal cortex contain?

  Bowman's capsules, convoluted tubules, blood vessels
• What structures are found in the renal medulla?

  Pyramids, loops of Henle, collecting ducts
• What is the renal pelvis?

  A funnel-shaped cavity collecting urine
• What is the role of the renal pelvis in the urinary system?

  To collect urine into the ureters
• How many nephrons does each kidney contain?

  Approximately one million
• What are the main functions of nephrons?

  Filter blood, reabsorb substances, remove wastes
• What is the basic structural and functional unit of the kidney?

  A nephron
• What is the material initially filtered from blood in a nephron called?

  Filtrate
• What is the order of structures that filtrate moves through in a nephron?

  1. Bowman's capsule
  2. Proximal convoluted tubule (PCT)
  3. Loop of Henle
  4. Distal convoluted tubule (DCT)
  5. Collecting duct
• What surrounds the glomerulus in a nephron?

  Bowman's capsule
• What type of cells are found in the inner layer of Bowman's capsule?

  Podocytes
• What is the function of the proximal convoluted tubule (PCT)?

  Reabsorbs useful substances into capillaries
• What structures increase the surface area of the epithelial cells in the PCT?

  Microvilli
• What does the Loop of Henle create in the medulla?

  A high solute gradient
• What is the role of the distal convoluted tubule (DCT)?

  Fine-tunes water balance influenced by hormones
• What hormone influences the reabsorption of water in the DCT?

  Antidiuretic hormone
• What does the collecting duct do with filtrate?

  Further fine-tunes water balance
• What is the function of the afferent arteriole?

  Supplies blood to the glomerulus
• What happens to fluid in the glomerulus?

  It is forced into Bowman's capsule
• What carries blood away from the glomerulus?

  The efferent arteriole
• What do the capillaries around the proximal and distal convoluted tubules absorb?

  Salts, glucose, and water
• What are the key components of the nephron and their functions?

  • Bowman's capsule: surrounds glomerulus, forms filtrate
  • Proximal convoluted tubule (PCT): reabsorbs useful substances
  • Loop of Henle: creates high solute gradient
  • Distal convoluted tubule (DCT): fine-tunes water balance
  • Collecting duct: collects filtrate, adjusts water balance