Kidney structure

• Structure of kidneys 

  • Humans have 2 kidneys 
  • Kidneys are responsible for carrying out two very important functions 
  • Osmoregulatory organ 
  • Regulate water content of blood (blood pressure) 
  • Excretory organ 
  • Excretes toxic waste products of metabolism (urea) and substances in excess of requirements (salts) 
• Diagram of excretory system

  
• • Renal artery 
  • Carries oxygenated blood to kidneys (has urea and salt) 
• • Renal vein 
  • Carries deoxygenated blood (urea and salts removed) away from kidneys 
• • Kidney 
  • Regulates water content of blood and filters it 
• • Ureter 
  • Carries urine from kidneys to bladder 
• • Bladder 
  • Stores urine 
• • Urethra 
  • Releases urine  
• Kidneys are surrounded by a tough layer known as fibrous capsule 

  • Beneath capsule, three main areas 
• • Cortex  
  • Contains glomerulus, bowman’s capsule, proximal convoluted tubule and distal convoluted tubule of nephrons 
• • Medulla 
  • Loop of henle and collecting duct of nephrons 
• • Renal Pelvis 
  • Where ureter joins kidney 
• Diagram of the kidney