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Questions and Answers
What are the three main parts of the kidney, and what is the function of each part?
What are the three main parts of the kidney, and what is the function of each part?
The three main parts of the kidney are the cortex, medulla, and pelvis. The cortex contains nephrons which filter blood. The medulla contains the loops of Henle and collecting ducts which concentrate urine. The pelvis collects and drains urine into the ureter.
What are the three main steps involved in urine formation? Briefly describe each step.
What are the three main steps involved in urine formation? Briefly describe each step.
Urine formation involves three steps: filtration, reabsorption, and secretion. Filtration occurs in the glomerulus, where blood is filtered and primary urine is formed. Reabsorption occurs in the proximal convoluted tubule, where essential substances are reabsorbed back into the blood. Secretion occurs in the distal convoluted tubule and collecting ducts, where final adjustments to the urine composition are made.
What is the difference between albuminuria and hematuria? How do these conditions indicate kidney damage?
What is the difference between albuminuria and hematuria? How do these conditions indicate kidney damage?
Albuminuria is the presence of protein in urine, while hematuria is the presence of blood in urine. Both conditions indicate kidney damage because healthy kidneys should not allow these substances to pass into the filtrate.
Why is the presence of glucose in urine a potential indicator of diabetes mellitus?
Why is the presence of glucose in urine a potential indicator of diabetes mellitus?
Explain the role of the loop of Henle and collecting ducts in concentrating urine.
Explain the role of the loop of Henle and collecting ducts in concentrating urine.
What is uremia? What are its causes, and how is it treated?
What is uremia? What are its causes, and how is it treated?
What is renal failure, and what are the potential outcomes?
What is renal failure, and what are the potential outcomes?
What are renal calculi (kidney stones), and what are their potential complications?
What are renal calculi (kidney stones), and what are their potential complications?
What is glomerulonephritis, and what are its causes?
What is glomerulonephritis, and what are its causes?
Why is excretion crucial for maintaining the body's health?
Why is excretion crucial for maintaining the body's health?
Flashcards
Excretory System
Excretory System
Removes metabolic waste from the body.
Nephrons
Nephrons
Functional units of the kidney, about one million per kidney.
Glomerulus
Glomerulus
Cluster of capillaries in the nephron that filters blood.
Bowman’s Capsule
Bowman’s Capsule
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Filtration
Filtration
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Albuminuria
Albuminuria
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Reabsorption
Reabsorption
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Uremia
Uremia
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Renal Calculi
Renal Calculi
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Glomerulonephritis
Glomerulonephritis
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Study Notes
Excretory System Overview
- The excretory system eliminates metabolic waste from the body.
- It differs from defecation (removing undigested food) and secretion (releasing useful substances).
- Key organs include kidneys, lungs, liver, and skin.
Kidney Structure and Function
- The kidney has three main parts: cortex, medulla, and pelvis.
- The cortex contains nephrons, the kidney's functional units.
- Nephrons consist of glomerulus (filters blood), Bowman's capsule (collects filtrate), and renal tubules (reabsorb/filter).
- The medulla contains Henle's loop and collecting ducts (concentrate urine).
- The pelvis collects and drains urine to the ureter.
Urine Formation
- Urine formation involves three stages: filtration, reabsorption, and augmentation.
- Filtration: Blood passes through glomerulus, filtering small molecules into Bowman's capsule (primary urine).
- Albuminuria = Protein in urine (kidney damage).
- Hematuria = Blood in urine (glomerular damage).
- Reabsorption: Essential substances (glucose, amino acids, ions, water) are reabsorbed into the blood, mainly in the proximal convoluted tubule.
- Glucose in urine suggests diabetes mellitus.
- Augmentation: Distal convoluted tubule and collecting ducts adjust water, salts, and urea to form urine.
- Urine consists of urea, uric acid, ammonia, creatinine and other waste. Urine travels from ureter to bladder to urethra for excretion.
Excretory Disorders
- Uremia: High levels of nitrogenous waste in blood (treated with hemodialysis).
- Renal failure: Kidney malfunction (severe cases need transplants).
- Renal calculi (kidney stones): solid crystals in kidney.
- Glomerulonephritis (Bright's disease): glomerulus inflammation from protein/RBC leakage.
Other Excretory Organs
- Lungs: Remove carbon dioxide and water vapor via exhalation.
- Liver: Processes waste (e.g., converts ammonia to urea) and breaks down toxins.
- Skin: Removes waste through sweat; regulates body temperature.
Skin as a Sensory Organ
- The skin detects sensations, including:
- Cold (Krause's corpuscles)
- Heat (Ruffini's corpuscles)
- Pressure (Pacinian corpuscles)
- Touch (Meissner's corpuscles)
- Pain (free nerve endings)
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