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).
Functions of Kidneys 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.
Renal pelvis Answer: Flat, funnel-shaped tube within the renal sinus.
APPHIA – Crafted with Care and Precision for Academic Excellence. 1
, 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: Functions in secretion.
Capillary Beds of the Nephron Answer: Every nephron has two capillary beds: 1)
Glomerulus; and 2) Peritubular capillaries.
Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR) Answer: The total amount of filtrate formed per minute by
the kidneys.
Net filtration pressure (NFP) Answer: The difference between the hydrostatic pressure and
the osmotic pressure in the glomerulus.
Renal autoregulation Answer: Maintains a nearly constant glomerular filtration rate
(responds to changes in pressure in the renal blood vessels).
Tubular reabsorption Answer: A transepithelial process that returns most tubule contents
to the blood.
APPHIA – Crafted with Care and Precision for Academic Excellence. 2
|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).
Functions of Kidneys 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.
Renal pelvis Answer: Flat, funnel-shaped tube within the renal sinus.
APPHIA – Crafted with Care and Precision for Academic Excellence. 1
, 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: Functions in secretion.
Capillary Beds of the Nephron Answer: Every nephron has two capillary beds: 1)
Glomerulus; and 2) Peritubular capillaries.
Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR) Answer: The total amount of filtrate formed per minute by
the kidneys.
Net filtration pressure (NFP) Answer: The difference between the hydrostatic pressure and
the osmotic pressure in the glomerulus.
Renal autoregulation Answer: Maintains a nearly constant glomerular filtration rate
(responds to changes in pressure in the renal blood vessels).
Tubular reabsorption Answer: A transepithelial process that returns most tubule contents
to the blood.
APPHIA – Crafted with Care and Precision for Academic Excellence. 2
