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GMS6401 RENAL FINAL EXAM QUESTIONS
WITH DETAILED VERIFIED ANSWERS
what is the main/primary function of the kidney Ans: to maintain
homeostasis
what does the kidney excrete Ans: waste products like urea
drugs
what does the kidney make Ans: -glucose (for emergencies)
-ammonia
-bicarbonate
-arginine (an amino acid)
-renin (an enzyme)
-erythropoietin (hormone)
-1-25 (OH)2 (form of vitamin d) (hormone) (essential for mineral
metabolism)
what is the role of renin Ans: critical for balance of sodium
what is the role of erythropoietin Ans: acts on bone marrow to help with
RBC release
how many kidneys are there are what lies on top of them Ans: -2
-adrenal gland
what is the kidneys location in the abdominal cavity Ans: retroperitoneal
(means at back of cavity)
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and encased in fat (stabilizes the kidney)
where do the kidneys receive blood from Ans: the abdominal aorta to
renal artery
where do kidneys send blood to Ans: through the renal vein to the vena
cava
how many lobes make up the kidneys Ans: 10-12
what is the outer part of the kidney called Ans: the cortex
what is the inner part of the kidney called Ans: the medulla
once urine leaves the medulla, what does it go through Ans: the minor
and major calyces
what is the process of voluntarily removing urine from the body called
Ans: micturition
the kidney tubules are made up of what kind of cells Ans: epithelial
what are the two main sets of structures that make up the kidneys Ans:
-tubules
-blood vessels
what are the names of the successive branches that come off the renal
artery into the kidney Ans: -segmental arteries
-interlobar arteries (surround each lobe in kidney)
-arcuate arteries (between medulla and cortex)
-interlobular arteries (aka cortical radial)
what is the first resistant site in the kidney Ans: the interlobular/cortical
radial arteries
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what kinds of arteries come off the cortical radial arteries Ans: -afferent
arterioles (go into glomerulus)
-glomerular capillaries
-efferent arterioles (go away from glomerulus)
where are the peritubular capillaries located Ans: -entirely in the cortex
-surround proximal and distal tubules
where are all glomeruli located Ans: in the cortex
where are the resistance vessels located for the glomerular capillaries
Ans: both before and after it
what are the two types of glomeruli Ans: -cortical (90%, outer 2/3 of
cortex)
-juxtamedullary (10%, inner 1/3rd of cortex)
what is the nephron composed of Ans: glomerulus and tubule
what is the role of the vasa recta Ans: -make a concentrated and dilute
urine
what is the main thing that happens in the tubule Ans: modification of
the filtrate
what makes up the renal corpuscle Ans: -glomerular capillary
-surrounding epithelial layer
-bowman's capsule
are there any contractile cells in the glomerular capillaries Ans: no
what is the unique type of cell found in the glomerulus Ans: -mesangial
cells
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-have a contractile function
-found in middle of glomerulus
what type of cells are found in each glomerular capillary Ans: -
endothelial cells, on basement membrane
what are the specialized epithelial cells in the glomerulus called Ans:
podocytes
what is another name for the inner medulla Ans: the papilla
where is the proximal convoluted tubule located Ans: entirely in the
cortex
comes out of the bowman's capsule
what part of the kidney tubule is in both the cortex and the outer medulla
Ans: thick ascending loop of henle
what part of the kidney tubules goes through the cortex, the inner and
the outer medulla Ans: the collecting duct
what makes up the distal nephron Ans: -distal collecting tubule
-collecting duct
what is the macula densa Ans: -where thick ascending loop of henle
makes contact with the afferent arteriole as it switches to become the
collecting duct
-an area of communication
-between tubule and blood vessel supply
which type of glomeruli have long/thin loops of henle Ans: -glomeruli in
inner cortex/juxtamedullary nephrons
-are also bigger and have faster GFR
GMS6401 RENAL FINAL EXAM QUESTIONS
WITH DETAILED VERIFIED ANSWERS
what is the main/primary function of the kidney Ans: to maintain
homeostasis
what does the kidney excrete Ans: waste products like urea
drugs
what does the kidney make Ans: -glucose (for emergencies)
-ammonia
-bicarbonate
-arginine (an amino acid)
-renin (an enzyme)
-erythropoietin (hormone)
-1-25 (OH)2 (form of vitamin d) (hormone) (essential for mineral
metabolism)
what is the role of renin Ans: critical for balance of sodium
what is the role of erythropoietin Ans: acts on bone marrow to help with
RBC release
how many kidneys are there are what lies on top of them Ans: -2
-adrenal gland
what is the kidneys location in the abdominal cavity Ans: retroperitoneal
(means at back of cavity)
, Page | 2
and encased in fat (stabilizes the kidney)
where do the kidneys receive blood from Ans: the abdominal aorta to
renal artery
where do kidneys send blood to Ans: through the renal vein to the vena
cava
how many lobes make up the kidneys Ans: 10-12
what is the outer part of the kidney called Ans: the cortex
what is the inner part of the kidney called Ans: the medulla
once urine leaves the medulla, what does it go through Ans: the minor
and major calyces
what is the process of voluntarily removing urine from the body called
Ans: micturition
the kidney tubules are made up of what kind of cells Ans: epithelial
what are the two main sets of structures that make up the kidneys Ans:
-tubules
-blood vessels
what are the names of the successive branches that come off the renal
artery into the kidney Ans: -segmental arteries
-interlobar arteries (surround each lobe in kidney)
-arcuate arteries (between medulla and cortex)
-interlobular arteries (aka cortical radial)
what is the first resistant site in the kidney Ans: the interlobular/cortical
radial arteries
, Page | 3
what kinds of arteries come off the cortical radial arteries Ans: -afferent
arterioles (go into glomerulus)
-glomerular capillaries
-efferent arterioles (go away from glomerulus)
where are the peritubular capillaries located Ans: -entirely in the cortex
-surround proximal and distal tubules
where are all glomeruli located Ans: in the cortex
where are the resistance vessels located for the glomerular capillaries
Ans: both before and after it
what are the two types of glomeruli Ans: -cortical (90%, outer 2/3 of
cortex)
-juxtamedullary (10%, inner 1/3rd of cortex)
what is the nephron composed of Ans: glomerulus and tubule
what is the role of the vasa recta Ans: -make a concentrated and dilute
urine
what is the main thing that happens in the tubule Ans: modification of
the filtrate
what makes up the renal corpuscle Ans: -glomerular capillary
-surrounding epithelial layer
-bowman's capsule
are there any contractile cells in the glomerular capillaries Ans: no
what is the unique type of cell found in the glomerulus Ans: -mesangial
cells
, Page | 4
-have a contractile function
-found in middle of glomerulus
what type of cells are found in each glomerular capillary Ans: -
endothelial cells, on basement membrane
what are the specialized epithelial cells in the glomerulus called Ans:
podocytes
what is another name for the inner medulla Ans: the papilla
where is the proximal convoluted tubule located Ans: entirely in the
cortex
comes out of the bowman's capsule
what part of the kidney tubule is in both the cortex and the outer medulla
Ans: thick ascending loop of henle
what part of the kidney tubules goes through the cortex, the inner and
the outer medulla Ans: the collecting duct
what makes up the distal nephron Ans: -distal collecting tubule
-collecting duct
what is the macula densa Ans: -where thick ascending loop of henle
makes contact with the afferent arteriole as it switches to become the
collecting duct
-an area of communication
-between tubule and blood vessel supply
which type of glomeruli have long/thin loops of henle Ans: -glomeruli in
inner cortex/juxtamedullary nephrons
-are also bigger and have faster GFR
