BIOL 252 Human Anatomy & Physiology II
w/Lab Module 6 Exam: The Urinary System
100 Questions with Correct Answers and
Expert Rationales
SECTION A: Overview of the Urinary System (Questions 1-20)
1. The primary function of the urinary system is to:
A) Regulate blood glucose levels
B) Produce hormones for digestion
C) Maintain homeostasis by regulating blood volume, pH, and
electrolyte balance
D) Transport oxygen to tissues
Correct Answer: C) Maintain homeostasis by regulating blood
volume, pH, and electrolyte balance
Expert Rationale: The urinary system's primary function is to
maintain homeostasis by regulating blood volume, blood pressure,
pH, and electrolyte balance through urine formation. It also
eliminates metabolic wastes such as urea, uric acid, and creatinine .
,2. Which of the following is NOT a function of the kidneys?
A) Production of erythropoietin
B) Activation of vitamin D
C) Production of digestive enzymes
D) Regulation of blood pressure
Correct Answer: C) Production of digestive enzymes
Expert Rationale: The kidneys do NOT produce digestive enzymes;
this is the function of the pancreas and digestive tract. The kidneys
produce erythropoietin (EPO) for red blood cell production, activate
vitamin D (calcitriol), and regulate blood pressure through the
RAAS .
3. The functional unit of the kidney is the:
A) Nephron
B) Glomerulus
C) Renal corpuscle
D) Collecting duct
Correct Answer: A) Nephron
,Expert Rationale: The nephron is the functional unit of the kidney
responsible for filtering blood and forming urine. Each kidney
contains approximately 1 million nephrons. The glomerulus is part
of the nephron, and the collecting duct receives urine from multiple
nephrons .
4. The outer region of the kidney is called the:
A) Renal medulla
B) Renal cortex
C) Renal pelvis
D) Renal pyramid
Correct Answer: B) Renal cortex
Expert Rationale: The renal cortex is the outer region of the kidney
where most of the nephrons are located. The renal medulla is the
inner region containing the renal pyramids. The renal pelvis is the
funnel-shaped structure that collects urine .
5. Blood enters the kidney through which vessel?
A) Renal vein
B) Renal artery
, C) Glomerular capillary
D) Efferent arteriole
Correct Answer: B) Renal artery
Expert Rationale: The renal artery branches from the abdominal
aorta and carries blood into the kidney. Blood exits the kidney
through the renal vein, which returns blood to the inferior vena
cava .
6. The renal vein carries blood:
A) Into the kidney
B) Out of the kidney
C) To the glomerulus
D) From the glomerulus to the peritubular capillaries
Correct Answer: B) Out of the kidney
Expert Rationale: The renal vein carries filtered blood out of the
kidney and returns it to systemic circulation via the inferior vena
cava. The renal artery carries blood into the kidney .
w/Lab Module 6 Exam: The Urinary System
100 Questions with Correct Answers and
Expert Rationales
SECTION A: Overview of the Urinary System (Questions 1-20)
1. The primary function of the urinary system is to:
A) Regulate blood glucose levels
B) Produce hormones for digestion
C) Maintain homeostasis by regulating blood volume, pH, and
electrolyte balance
D) Transport oxygen to tissues
Correct Answer: C) Maintain homeostasis by regulating blood
volume, pH, and electrolyte balance
Expert Rationale: The urinary system's primary function is to
maintain homeostasis by regulating blood volume, blood pressure,
pH, and electrolyte balance through urine formation. It also
eliminates metabolic wastes such as urea, uric acid, and creatinine .
,2. Which of the following is NOT a function of the kidneys?
A) Production of erythropoietin
B) Activation of vitamin D
C) Production of digestive enzymes
D) Regulation of blood pressure
Correct Answer: C) Production of digestive enzymes
Expert Rationale: The kidneys do NOT produce digestive enzymes;
this is the function of the pancreas and digestive tract. The kidneys
produce erythropoietin (EPO) for red blood cell production, activate
vitamin D (calcitriol), and regulate blood pressure through the
RAAS .
3. The functional unit of the kidney is the:
A) Nephron
B) Glomerulus
C) Renal corpuscle
D) Collecting duct
Correct Answer: A) Nephron
,Expert Rationale: The nephron is the functional unit of the kidney
responsible for filtering blood and forming urine. Each kidney
contains approximately 1 million nephrons. The glomerulus is part
of the nephron, and the collecting duct receives urine from multiple
nephrons .
4. The outer region of the kidney is called the:
A) Renal medulla
B) Renal cortex
C) Renal pelvis
D) Renal pyramid
Correct Answer: B) Renal cortex
Expert Rationale: The renal cortex is the outer region of the kidney
where most of the nephrons are located. The renal medulla is the
inner region containing the renal pyramids. The renal pelvis is the
funnel-shaped structure that collects urine .
5. Blood enters the kidney through which vessel?
A) Renal vein
B) Renal artery
, C) Glomerular capillary
D) Efferent arteriole
Correct Answer: B) Renal artery
Expert Rationale: The renal artery branches from the abdominal
aorta and carries blood into the kidney. Blood exits the kidney
through the renal vein, which returns blood to the inferior vena
cava .
6. The renal vein carries blood:
A) Into the kidney
B) Out of the kidney
C) To the glomerulus
D) From the glomerulus to the peritubular capillaries
Correct Answer: B) Out of the kidney
Expert Rationale: The renal vein carries filtered blood out of the
kidney and returns it to systemic circulation via the inferior vena
cava. The renal artery carries blood into the kidney .
