Nephrology Chapter Quiz

Paired, bean-shaped organs responsible for filtering blood, regulating blood volume and composition, and producing hormones.

The functional unit of the kidney, responsible for forming urine.

The initial filtering component of a nephron, consisting of the glomerulus and Bowman's capsule.

The part of the nephron that extends from the renal corpuscle, responsible for reabsorbing water and nutrients back into the blood.

The process by which blood is filtered through the glomerulus into Bowman's capsule.

The process by which substances are reabsorbed back into the blood from the renal tubule.

The process by which substances are secreted from the blood into the renal tubule.

The hormone produced by the kidneys that helps regulate blood pressure and kidney function.

The hormone produced by the kidneys that stimulates red blood cell production.

The kidneys activate vitamin D, which is important for calcium absorption in the intestines.

These nephrons have long loops of Henle that extend deep into the medulla, and consist of both thin and thick segments in their ascending limbs. They receive blood supply from vasa recta, which arise from peritubular capillaries.

These nephrons have short loops of Henle, only consisting of a thick segment in their ascending limbs. They receive blood supply from peritubular capillaries that arise from efferent arterioles.

These blood vessels run parallel to the loops of Henle in the medulla, supplying blood to the nephrons and helping to maintain the concentration gradient in the kidney.

These capillaries surround the tubules of the nephron in the cortex, providing them with blood supply and taking away reabsorbed substances.

These ducts collect urine from multiple nephrons and transport it to the renal pelvis. They unite and converge into larger papillary ducts which eventually drain into the ureters.

The functional unit of the kidney, responsible for forming urine by filtering blood and reabsorbing essential components.

The initial filtering component of a nephron, consisting of the glomerulus and Bowman's capsule.

The process by which small molecules like water, glucose, and electrolytes move from the blood in the glomerulus into Bowman's capsule.

A measure of how well the kidneys are functioning by determining the amount of blood filtered by the glomeruli each minute.

The pressure difference across the glomerular capillary wall that drives filtration. It's calculated as the difference between the glomerular capillary pressure, the hydrostatic pressure in Bowman's capsule, and the osmotic pressure of the blood.

The hormone angiotensin II constricts both the afferent and efferent arterioles, reducing blood flow and glomerular filtration rate.

The glomerular filtration rate is regulated by hormones and other factors like blood pressure and blood flow.

A hormone released from the posterior pituitary gland in response to low blood flow in the brain. It increases water permeability of principal cells in the distal convoluted tubule and collecting duct, promoting water reabsorption and concentrating urine.

A hormone released from the parathyroid glands. It stimulates calcium reabsorption in the early distal convoluted tubule and inhibits phosphate reabsorption in the proximal convoluted tubule, promoting calcium uptake and phosphate excretion.

A potent vasoconstrictor hormone produced by the liver, acting on blood vessels to increase blood pressure. It also stimulates thirst and aldosterone release, contributing to sodium and water retention.

A hormone produced by the adrenal cortex. It acts on the kidneys to increase sodium reabsorption and potassium excretion, promoting water retention and elevating blood pressure.

A hormone released by the heart's atria. It promotes sodium and water excretion, reducing blood volume and lowering blood pressure.

A hormone secreted by the atria of the heart when blood pressure increases. ANP promotes the relaxation of the glomerulus, increasing the surface area available for filtration, and ultimately decreasing blood volume.

The mechanisms that regulate the rate at which blood is filtered through the glomerulus, ensuring proper filtration and waste removal.

The movement of substances from the renal tubules back into the bloodstream. This is essential for reabsorbing valuable nutrients, water, and essential electrolytes.

The transport of substances from the bloodstream into the renal tubules, where they are ultimately excreted in urine. This is important for removing waste products and regulating blood pH.

The movement of substances between the cells of the tubular epithelium, passing through the tight junctions connecting these cells.

The movement of substances across tubular epithelial cells, going through the cell membrane and cytoplasm.

The proximal convoluted tubule (PCT) is the first segment of the renal tubule where most reabsorption occurs. This includes essential nutrients such as glucose, amino acids and electrolytes. Water is also reabsorbed here.

Sodium (Na+) is actively pumped out of the PCT cells into the interstitial fluid. This creates a concentration gradient, driving the reabsorption of other substances such as glucose, amino acids, and water.

Sodium reabsorption in the PCT can be linked to secreting hydrogen ions (H+). This process is crucial for regulating blood pH.

Bicarbonate ions (HCO3-) are reabsorbed in the PCT. This is important for maintaining blood pH. The process involves carbonic anhydrase, which converts CO2 and water into carbonic acid, which then dissociates into H+ and HCO3- ions.

In the second half of the Proximal Convoluted Tubule, reabsorption of certain substances happens passively, driven by the concentration gradient created by active reabsorption in the first half.

The loop of Henle plays a significant role in regulating water and electrolyte balance. The thick ascending limb actively reabsorbs sodium, chloride, and other electrolytes, while relatively little water is reabsorbed.

The distal convoluted tubule (DCT) fine-tunes electrolyte balance, primarily by reabsorbing sodium and secreting potassium. This contributes to regulating blood pressure and volume.

The collecting duct further regulates water reabsorption and electrolyte excretion. The action of hormones like aldosterone and antidiuretic hormone (ADH) plays a crucial role here. Aldosterone stimulates sodium reabsorption and potassium secretion, while ADH promotes water reabsorption.