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Questions and Answers
What is the location of the kidneys in the abdominal cavity?
What is the location of the kidneys in the abdominal cavity?
What is the renal capsule?
What is the renal capsule?
What is the purpose of the hilus?
What is the purpose of the hilus?
What is the outer region of the kidney called?
What is the outer region of the kidney called?
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What is the function of the nephrons?
What is the function of the nephrons?
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What is the glomerulus?
What is the glomerulus?
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What is the Loop of Henle?
What is the Loop of Henle?
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What is the distal convoluted tubule?
What is the distal convoluted tubule?
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How many kidneys do human beings possess?
How many kidneys do human beings possess?
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What is the function of the collecting duct?
What is the function of the collecting duct?
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Study Notes
Anatomy of the Kidneys
- Human kidneys are located below the diaphragm, on either side of the vertebral column in the abdominal cavity.
- The right kidney is slightly smaller and positioned lower than the left kidney.
- Kidneys are dark brown, bean-shaped organs, featuring both a concave and a convex side.
- The concave side faces the vertebral column, with a notable area called the hilus where the renal artery enters and the renal vein and ureter exit.
- Each kidney is encased in a protective tissue known as the renal capsule.
Structural Regions of the Kidney
- A longitudinal section reveals two distinct regions: the renal cortex (outer region) and the renal medulla (inner region).
- The renal medulla contains cone-shaped structures known as renal pyramids, with their bases facing the cortex and tips leading to a cavity called the renal pelvis.
- The renal pelvis is a funnel-like structure that extends to form the ureter, connecting to the urinary bladder.
Functional Units of the Kidney
- Nephrons serve as the functional units of the kidneys, with each kidney containing over one million nephrons.
- Each nephron consists of two main parts: the renal corpuscle and the renal tubule.
Components of the Nephron
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Renal Corpuscle: Comprises the glomerulus (a network of capillaries) encased in the Bowman's capsule (cup-shaped structure surrounding the glomerulus).
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Renal Tubule: A long tubular structure attached to the Bowman's capsule, divided into three parts:
- Proximal Convoluted Tubule: The first segment, highly convoluted to enhance absorption.
- Loop of Henle: U-shaped section functioning in concentration of urine.
- Distal Convoluted Tubule: The final convoluted part that leads to the collecting duct.
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Many distal convoluted tubules from various nephrons converge into a single collecting duct, which facilitates urine transport.
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Description
Learn about the location, structure, and features of the human kidneys, including their position, shape, and functional areas.
