Renal System Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What are the renal functions?

Regulate blood glucose levels

Remove toxic wastes (correct)

Release erythropoietin (correct)

Regulate fluid in vascular system (correct)

What is the glomerulus?

Vascular part of nephron

What do afferent arterioles do?

Enter nephrons

What do efferent arterioles do?

Exit nephrons Signup and view all the answers

What are tubules in the nephron?

Hollow tubes that filtrate Signup and view all the answers

What does the juxtaglomerular apparatus produce?

Renin and erythropoietin Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of ureters?

Transport urine to bladder Signup and view all the answers

What is the main function of the bladder?

Stores urine Signup and view all the answers

What is a neurogenic bladder?

Loss of innervation occurs in the bladder Signup and view all the answers

Flap closes off ureter during voiding to prevent ____________ of kidneys.

reflux Signup and view all the answers

What is the urethra responsible for?

How urine exits the body Signup and view all the answers

What is glomerular filtration?

First step of urine formation Signup and view all the answers

What does glomerular hydrostatic pressure do?

Pushes fluid out of capillaries into Bowman's Capsule Signup and view all the answers

What is the Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR)?

Rate at which waste is cleared from blood Signup and view all the answers

What is the normal BUN level range?

18-20 Signup and view all the answers

What is a normal creatinine level?

1.5 Signup and view all the answers

What happens when GFR is decreased?

Results in hypervolemia, metabolic acidosis, and increased BUN/Creatinine Signup and view all the answers

What is tubular reabsorption?

Second step of urine formation, selective Signup and view all the answers

Where does tubular reabsorption occur?

From tubules back into blood Signup and view all the answers

What is the proximal convoluted tubule responsible for?

Majority of fluid, electrolytes & glucose reabsorption Signup and view all the answers

What does the Loop of Henle consist of?

Descending and ascending limbs Signup and view all the answers

What does the descending limb of the Loop of Henle do?

Reabsorbs water & concentrates urine Signup and view all the answers

What does the ascending limb of the Loop of Henle do?

Reabsorbs electrolytes & dilutes urine Signup and view all the answers

What happens in the distal convoluted tubule and collecting ducts?

Smaller amounts of water & electrolytes are reabsorbed Signup and view all the answers

What is tubular secretion?

Last step of urine formation Signup and view all the answers

What does tubular secretion involve?

Fluid & electrolytes leave blood & enter tubules Signup and view all the answers

What is the final urine concentration dependent on?

All 3 steps of urine formation Signup and view all the answers

What does specific gravity refer to?

The concentration of urine Signup and view all the answers

What specific gravity indicates concentrated urine?

1.030 Signup and view all the answers

What common organism from the bowel causes UTIs?

E.coli Signup and view all the answers

What is used to diagnose UTIs?

Urinalysis and culture Signup and view all the answers

What does a urinalysis test for?

Cells in urine, casts Signup and view all the answers

What does a culture involve in diagnosing UTIs?

Organism growth on a petri dish for 3 days Signup and view all the answers

What are some predisposing factors for UTIs? (Select all that apply)

Females (short urethra) Signup and view all the answers

What is cystitis?

Bladder infection (lower UTI) Signup and view all the answers

What are the signs and symptoms of cystitis?

Dysuria, urgency, frequency, cloudy/odor urine, suprapubic pain Signup and view all the answers

What is the treatment for cystitis?

Acidic urine, increase fluids, void frequently Signup and view all the answers

What is pyelonephritis?

Kidney infection (upper UTI) Signup and view all the answers

What is another term for the flank area?

Costovertebral angle Signup and view all the answers

What are the signs and symptoms of pyelonephritis?

Costovertebral angle tenderness, fever, chills, N/V, increased WBC Signup and view all the answers

What are antibiotics used for?

To treat any UTI Signup and view all the answers

What is acute renal failure (ARF)?

Sudden onset, inability of kidneys to excrete excess water & wastes Signup and view all the answers

What is a general cause for ARF?

Impaired blood flow to kidneys (decreased GFR) Signup and view all the answers

What are some examples of pre-renal causes?

Hypovolemia, CHF, renal arterial clot or embolism Signup and view all the answers

What is intra-renal failure?

Damage to nephrons Signup and view all the answers

What are some examples of intra-renal causes?

Glomerular damage, acute tubular necrosis Signup and view all the answers

What is post-renal failure?

Bilateral obstruction of urine flow, leads to hydronephrosis Signup and view all the answers

What are some examples of post-renal causes?

Renal calculi, BPH, tumors, congenital strictures Signup and view all the answers

What is the first phase of ARF?

Oliguric Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Renal Functions

Regulate fluid balance, blood pressure, electrolytes, and acid/base equilibrium.
Eliminate toxic substances and waste products from the body.
Produce erythropoietin for red blood cell production.
Activate vitamin D for calcium homeostasis.

Nephron Components

Glomerulus: Vascular component of the nephron responsible for filtration.
Afferent Arterioles: Blood vessels that supply nephrons with incoming blood.
Efferent Arterioles: Blood vessels that carry away filtered blood from the nephron.

Tubule Functions

Tubules: Hollow structures within nephrons that receive filtrate.
Proximal Convoluted Tubule: Site of significant reabsorption for water, electrolytes, and glucose.
Loop of Henle: Contains descending and ascending limbs; key in urine concentration.
- Descending Limb: Reabsorbs water and concentrates urine.
- Ascending Limb: Reabsorbs electrolytes and dilutes urine.
Distal Convoluted Tubule & Collecting Ducts: Final site of water and electrolyte reabsorption; influenced by aldosterone and ADH.

Urine Formation Steps

Glomerular Filtration: Initial step for urine formation where blood is filtered through the glomerulus.
Tubular Reabsorption: Selective process returning vital substances from tubules back into the bloodstream.
Tubular Secretion: Final step where substances are moved from blood into tubules for elimination; necessary for fine-tuning urine composition.

Urine Concentration

Final Urine Concentration: Depends on all three stages of urine formation.
Specific Gravity: Indicator of urine concentration; a value of 1.030 signifies concentrated urine.

Diagnostic Markers

Normal BUN (Blood Urea Nitrogen) level: 18-20 mg/dL.
Normal Creatinine level: 1.5 mg/dL.
Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR): Measurement of the kidney's ability to clear waste (creatinine) from blood.

Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)

E. coli: Common bacterium responsible for urinary tract infections.
Diagnosis involves Urinalysis and Culture: Requires 150,000 organisms for confirmation.
Cystitis: Lower urinary tract infection characterized by dysuria, urgency, and frequency.
Pyelonephritis: Upper urinary tract infection identified by costovertebral angle tenderness and systemic symptoms.

Acute Renal Failure (ARF)

Definition: Sudden inability of kidneys to excrete waste and maintain homeostasis.
Pre-renal Causes: Resulting from impaired blood flow to the kidneys; examples include dehydration and heart failure.
Intra-renal Causes: Involving damage to renal tissue, including glomerular and tubular injuries.
Post-renal Causes: Resulting from urinary obstruction leading to hydronephrosis; includes renal calculi and enlarged prostate.

Renal Failure Phases

Oliguric Phase: Initial phase of ARF characterized by decreased urine output.

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Description

Explore the essential terminology and functions of the renal system with these flashcards. Each card covers important aspects such as renal functions, glomerulus, and the roles of afferent and efferent arterioles. Ideal for students looking to deepen their understanding of kidney anatomy and physiology.