Renal Physiology Quiz

The nephron is the basic structural and functional unit of the kidney responsible for filtering blood and producing urine.

The outer layer of the kidney, containing the glomeruli and proximal and distal convoluted tubules of nephrons.

The inner layer of the kidney, containing the loops of Henle and collecting ducts of nephrons.

A triangular-shaped structure in the medulla of the kidney, containing the loops of Henle and collecting ducts.

A funnel-shaped structure in the kidney that collects urine from the calyces.

The indented region on the medial side of the kidney where blood vessels, nerves, and the ureter enter and exit.

Blood vessel that carries oxygenated blood to the kidney.

Blood vessel that carries deoxygenated blood away from the kidney.

The urinary system regulates plasma ion concentrations, blood volume, blood pressure, blood pH, eliminates waste, synthesizes calcitriol (active form of Vitamin D), prevents dehydration, and aids the liver in detoxifying poisons.

The kidneys produce urine, ureters transport urine to the bladder, the bladder stores urine, and the urethra conducts urine to the outside of the body.

The kidneys are located on either side of the vertebral column, the right kidney is slightly lower than the left due to the position of the liver.

The suprarenal glands, also known as adrenal glands, produce hormones that regulate various bodily functions, including stress response, blood pressure, and electrolyte balance.

The kidneys are protected by layers of connective tissue: the fibrous capsule, perirenal fat, renal fascia, and pararenal fat.

The right kidney is slightly lower than the left kidney due to the presence of the liver on the right side of the body.

The ureters are tubes that transport urine from the kidneys to the urinary bladder.

The urinary bladder is a muscular sac that stores urine until it is released from the body.

The urethra is a tube that carries urine from the bladder to the outside of the body.

A small artery that branches off from an arcuate artery and supplies blood to the renal cortex.

An artery that arches across the boundary between the renal cortex and medulla, supplying blood to the nephrons.

A small vein that collects blood from the renal cortex and drains into an arcuate vein.

A vein that runs along the boundary of the renal cortex and medulla, collecting blood from the cortical radiate veins.

A network of capillaries within the nephron that filters blood to produce filtrate.

A type of nephron located mostly in the renal cortex, with a short nephron loop.

A type of nephron located near the boundary of the renal cortex and medulla, featuring a long nephron loop.

A part of the nephron that extends into the renal medulla and plays a role in regulating water reabsorption.

A network of capillaries within the renal corpuscle, responsible for filtering blood.

Specialized epithelial cells that line the glomerular capillaries, forming filtration slits to control what passes into the capsular space.

The space between the glomerular capillaries and the parietal layer of Bowman's capsule, where filtered fluid accumulates.

Capillaries with pores in their endothelial lining, allowing for the passage of small molecules but preventing larger substances.

A thin, non-cellular layer that surrounds the glomerular capillaries, acting as a barrier to large proteins while permitting smaller molecules to pass through.

The renal corpuscle filters blood and produces a protein-free solution called glomerular filtrate. This is the first step in urine formation.

Podocytes are specialized cells that wrap around the capillaries of the glomerulus. They have extensions called foot processes that form filtration slits, helping to regulate what enters the glomerular filtrate.

The parietal layer is made up of epithelial cells that line the outer part of the capsule, while the visceral layer is made up of podocytes that wrap around the capillaries of the glomerulus. The parietal layer helps to maintain the structure of the capsule, while the visceral layer controls filtration.

The nephron loop, also known as the loop of Henle, is a U-shaped structure in the nephron that extends into the medulla of the kidney. It helps to concentrate urine by reabsorbing water and electrolytes.

The proximal convoluted tubule is the initial segment of the renal tubule closest to the renal corpuscle. It reabsorbs water, electrolytes, and nutrients from the glomerular filtrate. The distal convoluted tubule is located further downstream and plays a role in regulating the final composition of urine by reabsorbing or secreting specific electrolytes.

The glomerulus filters blood, producing a fluid called glomerular filtrate that is similar to blood plasma but lacks most of the blood cells and plasma proteins. This filtrate is essential for urine formation, as it contains waste products and excess fluids that need to be eliminated from the body.

The filtration membrane is a specialized structure within the glomerulus that filters blood plasma. It's composed of three layers: the capillary endothelium, the basal lamina, and the podocytes with their filtration slits.

Glomerular filtrate contains water, ions (like sodium, potassium, chloride), small organic molecules such as glucose, fatty acids, amino acids, and vitamins. It has very few plasma proteins due to their size.

The JGC is a specialized structure located at the point where the afferent arteriole enters the glomerulus and the distal convoluted tubule passes by. It has three cell types: juxtaglomerular cells, macula densa cells, and extraglomerular mesangial cells.

Juxtaglomerular cells, also known as granular cells, are specialized smooth muscle cells in the wall of the afferent arteriole. They sense blood pressure and release the enzyme renin, which initiates the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) to regulate blood pressure.

Macula densa cells are specialized epithelial cells in the distal convoluted tubule. They detect changes in the sodium chloride concentration of the filtrate and release signals to regulate glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and blood pressure.

Extraglomerular mesangial cells provide structural support for the JGC. They also help to regulate blood flow through the glomerulus.