Module 8: The Urinary
System\\\Module 8: The Urinary
System – Complete Study Guide 2026
Describe the location of the hilus and its significance.
Concave cleft where ureters, blood vessels, and nerves enter the kidney
Describe the functions of the nephron
It could control concentration of water and soluble materials by filtering the blood, reabsorbing
needed materials and excreting waste products as urine. It Eliminates wastes from the body, regulates
blood
volume, pH and pressure, and controls the levels of electrolytes
Name the structures of the nephron and describe their individual functions.
Glomerular capsule (renal corpuscle) and renal tubule. They are
connected through the tubule to the associated collecting ducts.
Glomerular capsule filters blood
Renal tubule
reabsorbs needed materials, collecting ducts carry remaining material away as urine to be excreted.
Compare and contrast the renal cortex and renal medulla. Discuss the structures found in each.
The outer cortex houses the glomeruli and convoluted tubules (proximal and distal) of the nephron as
well as blood vessels. The inner medulla is comprised of the Loop of Henle of the nephron and cone-
shaped masses also known as the renal pyramids.
Explain the difference between cortical nephrons and juxtamedullary nephrons.
Cortical nephrons make up 85% of all nephrons. They originate superficially in the cortex and have
shorter loops of Henle that extend only a short distance into the medulla. Juxtamedullary nephrons
make up the remaining 15% of all nephrons. They originate deeper in the cortex, and their loops of
Henle are thinner and extend into the medulla entirely
Explain the differences in the two systems providing the blood supply to the nephron. How does their
structure determine their role?
Nephrons receive their blood supply from 2 systems known as the glomerulus and peritubular capillary
network. The glomerulus is a unique system in that it is located between 2 arterioles, afferent and
efferent. Arterioles are high resistance vessels resulting in an extremely high-pressure system which can
easily force fluid and solutes out of the blood into the glomerular capillary along its entire length. The
, peritubular capillaries are low-pressure vessels better suited for reabsorption as opposed to filtration.
These capillaries surround the tubules in their entirety allowing rapid movement of solutes and water.
Name two specialized structures of the glomerular capillaries that contribute to the filtration of blood.
Fenestrations and podocytes
List the 4 segments of the nephron tubule.
Proximal convoluted tubule (highly coiled) which drains Bowman capsule,
Loop of Henle, Distal convoluted tubule, Collecting tubule which joins with other nephron tubules to
collect the
filtrate
What are the 3 processes involved in urine formation? Describe where they occur.
Filtration (renal corpuscle), reabsorption, and secretion (renal tubules)
What is the norm value for the GFR? Discuss why maintenance of this value is important.
120-125 mL/min or 180 mL a day. Maintenance is important for
adequate reabsorption of water and other nutrients from the filtrate.;
List the 3 regulatory mechanisms of the GFR.
Auto regulation, nervous system, hormonal control
Be familiar with the RAA system and Figure 8.4
responds when the blood pressure drops too low. When bp drops, renin is released by
juxtaglomerular cells of the nephron. Renin causes constriction of afferent and efferent arterioles and
converts
angiotensinogen to angiotensin I. Angiotensin I is converted (in the lungs) to angiotensin II. Angiotensin
II
increases vasoconstriction which in turn increases peripheral blood pressure. When circulating
angiotensin II
reaches the adrenal cortex, it causes the release of aldosterone. Aldosterone increases the reabsorption
of
sodium and water from the filtrate;
Be familiar with the process of tubular reabsorption and Figures 8.5 and 8.6
List 3 ways that the kidney acts as an endocrine organ.
Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone RAA, through regulation of red blood cell production
through the formation of erythropoietin, calcium metabolism by the activation of vitamin D
Describe the action of ADH.
acts on the collecting tubule to increase water absorption; inhibits urine output by increasing
number of water channels in the cell membrane of the collecting ducts.
System\\\Module 8: The Urinary
System – Complete Study Guide 2026
Describe the location of the hilus and its significance.
Concave cleft where ureters, blood vessels, and nerves enter the kidney
Describe the functions of the nephron
It could control concentration of water and soluble materials by filtering the blood, reabsorbing
needed materials and excreting waste products as urine. It Eliminates wastes from the body, regulates
blood
volume, pH and pressure, and controls the levels of electrolytes
Name the structures of the nephron and describe their individual functions.
Glomerular capsule (renal corpuscle) and renal tubule. They are
connected through the tubule to the associated collecting ducts.
Glomerular capsule filters blood
Renal tubule
reabsorbs needed materials, collecting ducts carry remaining material away as urine to be excreted.
Compare and contrast the renal cortex and renal medulla. Discuss the structures found in each.
The outer cortex houses the glomeruli and convoluted tubules (proximal and distal) of the nephron as
well as blood vessels. The inner medulla is comprised of the Loop of Henle of the nephron and cone-
shaped masses also known as the renal pyramids.
Explain the difference between cortical nephrons and juxtamedullary nephrons.
Cortical nephrons make up 85% of all nephrons. They originate superficially in the cortex and have
shorter loops of Henle that extend only a short distance into the medulla. Juxtamedullary nephrons
make up the remaining 15% of all nephrons. They originate deeper in the cortex, and their loops of
Henle are thinner and extend into the medulla entirely
Explain the differences in the two systems providing the blood supply to the nephron. How does their
structure determine their role?
Nephrons receive their blood supply from 2 systems known as the glomerulus and peritubular capillary
network. The glomerulus is a unique system in that it is located between 2 arterioles, afferent and
efferent. Arterioles are high resistance vessels resulting in an extremely high-pressure system which can
easily force fluid and solutes out of the blood into the glomerular capillary along its entire length. The
, peritubular capillaries are low-pressure vessels better suited for reabsorption as opposed to filtration.
These capillaries surround the tubules in their entirety allowing rapid movement of solutes and water.
Name two specialized structures of the glomerular capillaries that contribute to the filtration of blood.
Fenestrations and podocytes
List the 4 segments of the nephron tubule.
Proximal convoluted tubule (highly coiled) which drains Bowman capsule,
Loop of Henle, Distal convoluted tubule, Collecting tubule which joins with other nephron tubules to
collect the
filtrate
What are the 3 processes involved in urine formation? Describe where they occur.
Filtration (renal corpuscle), reabsorption, and secretion (renal tubules)
What is the norm value for the GFR? Discuss why maintenance of this value is important.
120-125 mL/min or 180 mL a day. Maintenance is important for
adequate reabsorption of water and other nutrients from the filtrate.;
List the 3 regulatory mechanisms of the GFR.
Auto regulation, nervous system, hormonal control
Be familiar with the RAA system and Figure 8.4
responds when the blood pressure drops too low. When bp drops, renin is released by
juxtaglomerular cells of the nephron. Renin causes constriction of afferent and efferent arterioles and
converts
angiotensinogen to angiotensin I. Angiotensin I is converted (in the lungs) to angiotensin II. Angiotensin
II
increases vasoconstriction which in turn increases peripheral blood pressure. When circulating
angiotensin II
reaches the adrenal cortex, it causes the release of aldosterone. Aldosterone increases the reabsorption
of
sodium and water from the filtrate;
Be familiar with the process of tubular reabsorption and Figures 8.5 and 8.6
List 3 ways that the kidney acts as an endocrine organ.
Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone RAA, through regulation of red blood cell production
through the formation of erythropoietin, calcium metabolism by the activation of vitamin D
Describe the action of ADH.
acts on the collecting tubule to increase water absorption; inhibits urine output by increasing
number of water channels in the cell membrane of the collecting ducts.
