17.2 Kidneys

By Yoon Kim and Allen Shin

IntroductionUrinary System removes certain slats and

nitrogenous wastes

Helps maintain the normal concentrations of water and electrolyses within body fluids, regulates pH and volume of body fluids, and help control red blood cell production and blood pressure

Pair of kidneys – remove substance from blood

Pair of tubular ureters- transport urine from kidney

Tubular urethra- conveys urine to the outside of the body

Kidneys Kidney is a reddish-brown, bean-shaped organ

Kidneys are located on either side of the vertebral column and are positioned retroperitoneally (behind parietal peritoneum)

Connective tissues and adipose tissues surround the kidneys to hold them in position

Structure of the kidneys Medial depression caused by the lateral and

medial surface of the kidneys creates a depression into hollow chamber called renal sinus

Inside the renal pelvis, a funnel-shaped sac expands from the end of the ureter.

Functions of the Kidneys

Secretes hormone erythropoietin to help control the rate of red blood cell production

Activates vitamin D

Helps maintain blood volume and blood pressure by secreting the enzyme renin

Renal Blood Vessels Renal arteries : Supply blood to the kidneys

Afferent arterioles : the final branches of the interlobular arteries; lead to the nephrons

Renal Vein: joins the inferior vena cava as it courses through the abdominal cavity

Nephrons Kidney contains 1 million nephrons

Nephrons consists of renal corpuscle and renal tubule

Fluid flows through renal tubules out of the body

Nephrons Renal corpuscle is composed of glomerulus

blood capillaries.

Glomerulus capillaries filter fluids

Thin walled, saclike structure called glomerular capsule surrounds the glomerulus

Nephron Blood SupplyAfter passing through the glomerular

capillaries, blood enters efferent arteriole

Efferent arteriole resists blood flow which then backs up blood into the glomerulus

Peritubular capillary system surrounds the renal tubule

Juxtaglomerular Apparatus

Juxtaglomerular cells: smooth muscle cells attached to the walls of arterioles near glomerulus

Juxtaglomerular apparatus: fuction in the control of renin secretion

Review Questions

Review Questions1. Kidneys activates vitamin ____

2. __________: Supply blood to the kidneys

3. _______________: the final branches of the interlobular arteries; lead to the nephrons

4. ________: joins the inferior vena cava as it courses through the abdominal cavity

5. ________ capillaries filter fluids