The structure and function of the kidney

• What is the primary function of the kidneys?

  • Maintaining a steady water potential of the blood (osmoregulation)
  • removes urea and nitrogenous waste products from the body
• What is the role of the renal vein?

  carries blood away from the kidney after filtration
• What is the significance of the network of capillaries around the nephron?

  The network of capillaries provides blood supply to the nephron for filtration.
• describe the structure of a nephron

  • Bowman's/renal capsule- contains glomerulus
  • PCT- region after Bowman's, found in the cortex. Where substances needed by the body are reabsorbed into the blood OUT OF the PCT
  • Loop of Henle- descending loop, hairpin bend, ascending loop. creates very high solute concentration in the tissue fluid deep in the kidney medulla
  • DCT- some osmoregulation takes place. permeability of DCT walls vary depending on the [ADH] in the blood. Regulates ion balance in the blood and blood pH
  • CD- osmoregulation takes place and walls vary in permeability in response to ADH levels in the blood. Runs through medulla to pelvis

  
• True or false? There are millions of nephrons in the kidney

  TRUE
• describe the gross structure of a kidney

  structure:

  A) nephron

  B) capsule

  C) renal cortex

  D) renal medulla

  E) renal artery

  F) renal vein

  G) pelvis

  H) ureter

  I) renal artery

  J) renal vein

  K) pyramid

  
• what do light micrographs of kidneys look like?


  labelled kidney:

  A) Bowman's capsule

  B) glomerulus