OVERVIEW OF THE URINARY SYSTEM AND FLUID
BALANCE |MEDSERG EXAM 2 | GUARANTEED
SUCCESS STARTS HERE! LEARN, PRACTICE &
EXCEL!
Kidneys Answer: These filter 200 liters of blood every day and provide a means to rid the
body of toxins, metabolic wastes, and excess ions. The kidneys produce urine.
Ureters Answer: These transport urine from the kidneys to the bladder.
Urinary bladder Answer: This is a temporary holding tank for urine until an opportunity to
void (urinate, 'pee') presents itself.
Urethra Answer: This transports urine from the bladder to the nearest tree...(kidding).
Kidneys Functions Answer: Rid body of toxins, wastes through urine; regulate volume and
chemical makeup of the blood; maintain the proper balance between water and salts, and
acids and bases; produce renin to help regulate blood pressure and erythropoietin to
stimulate red blood cell production; activate vitamin D and produce glucose during
prolonged fasting.
Renal capsule Answer: On kidney surface.
Adipose capsule Answer: Cushions the kidney and helps attach it to the body wall.
Renal fascia Answer: Dense fibrous connective tissue that anchors the kidney.
Cortex Answer: The light colored, granular superficial region of the kidney.
Medulla Answer: Exhibits cone-shaped medullary (renal) pyramids.
APPHIA – Crafted with Care and Precision for Academic Excellence. 1
, Renal pelvis Answer: Flat, funnel-shaped tube within the renal sinus.
Glomerulus Answer: Fenestrated capillaries that allow water and solutes to pass but not
cells or proteins.
Glomerular (Bowman's) capsule Answer: Cup-shaped end of a renal tubule that wraps
around the glomerulus.
Renal corpuscle Answer: Term refers to both the glomerulus and its glomerular capsule.
Proximal convoluted tubule (PCT) Answer: Reabsorbs water and solutes from filtrate and
secretes substances into it.
Nephron Loop (of Henle) Answer: A hairpin-shaped loop of the renal tubule, featuring a
thin segment and a thick segment.
Distal convoluted tubule (DCT) Answer: Function in secretion.
Capillary Beds of the Nephron Answer: Every nephron has two capillary beds: 1)
Glomerulus; and 2) Peritubular capillaries.
Afferent arterioles Answer: Have larger diameters than efferent arterioles, which leads to
high blood pressure in the glomerulus.
Peritubular beds Answer: Low-pressure, porous capillaries involved in absorption.
Vasa recta Answer: Long, straight efferent arterioles of juxtamedullary nephrons.
Urine formation Answer: Involves three major processes: Glomerular filtration, Tubular
reabsorption, and Secretion.
Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR) Answer: The total amount of filtrate formed per minute by
the kidneys.
APPHIA – Crafted with Care and Precision for Academic Excellence. 2
BALANCE |MEDSERG EXAM 2 | GUARANTEED
SUCCESS STARTS HERE! LEARN, PRACTICE &
EXCEL!
Kidneys Answer: These filter 200 liters of blood every day and provide a means to rid the
body of toxins, metabolic wastes, and excess ions. The kidneys produce urine.
Ureters Answer: These transport urine from the kidneys to the bladder.
Urinary bladder Answer: This is a temporary holding tank for urine until an opportunity to
void (urinate, 'pee') presents itself.
Urethra Answer: This transports urine from the bladder to the nearest tree...(kidding).
Kidneys Functions Answer: Rid body of toxins, wastes through urine; regulate volume and
chemical makeup of the blood; maintain the proper balance between water and salts, and
acids and bases; produce renin to help regulate blood pressure and erythropoietin to
stimulate red blood cell production; activate vitamin D and produce glucose during
prolonged fasting.
Renal capsule Answer: On kidney surface.
Adipose capsule Answer: Cushions the kidney and helps attach it to the body wall.
Renal fascia Answer: Dense fibrous connective tissue that anchors the kidney.
Cortex Answer: The light colored, granular superficial region of the kidney.
Medulla Answer: Exhibits cone-shaped medullary (renal) pyramids.
APPHIA – Crafted with Care and Precision for Academic Excellence. 1
, Renal pelvis Answer: Flat, funnel-shaped tube within the renal sinus.
Glomerulus Answer: Fenestrated capillaries that allow water and solutes to pass but not
cells or proteins.
Glomerular (Bowman's) capsule Answer: Cup-shaped end of a renal tubule that wraps
around the glomerulus.
Renal corpuscle Answer: Term refers to both the glomerulus and its glomerular capsule.
Proximal convoluted tubule (PCT) Answer: Reabsorbs water and solutes from filtrate and
secretes substances into it.
Nephron Loop (of Henle) Answer: A hairpin-shaped loop of the renal tubule, featuring a
thin segment and a thick segment.
Distal convoluted tubule (DCT) Answer: Function in secretion.
Capillary Beds of the Nephron Answer: Every nephron has two capillary beds: 1)
Glomerulus; and 2) Peritubular capillaries.
Afferent arterioles Answer: Have larger diameters than efferent arterioles, which leads to
high blood pressure in the glomerulus.
Peritubular beds Answer: Low-pressure, porous capillaries involved in absorption.
Vasa recta Answer: Long, straight efferent arterioles of juxtamedullary nephrons.
Urine formation Answer: Involves three major processes: Glomerular filtration, Tubular
reabsorption, and Secretion.
Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR) Answer: The total amount of filtrate formed per minute by
the kidneys.
APPHIA – Crafted with Care and Precision for Academic Excellence. 2
