,BIOD 152 A&P 2 Module 7 | Actual study Questions and Answers + Rationales | 2026/27
Updates | NEWEST VERSION
1. Which of the following is the primary function of the kidneys?
A) Producing hormones that regulate blood sugar
B) Filtering blood to remove waste products and maintain fluid and electrolyte balance
C) Storing urine until it can be excreted
D) Transporting urine from the bladder to the outside of the body
Correct Answer: Filtering blood to remove waste products and maintain fluid and electrolyte
balance
Rationale: The kidneys are the primary organs of the urinary system and their main functions
include fluid homeostasis, filtration of metabolic wastes from the blood, and homeostasis of
blood volume and chemical composition . They do not store urine (the bladder does this) or
transport it out of the body (the urethra does this).
2. A patient sustains blunt force trauma to the back at the L1 level, with no spinal cord injury.
Would you suspect the kidneys to be damaged and why?
A) No, because the kidneys are located in the pelvic cavity
B) No, because the kidneys lie between the T-12 and L-3 vertebrae and are protected by the rib
cage
C) Yes, because the kidneys are located directly at the L1 level and are unprotected
D) Yes, because any trauma to the back will always damage the kidneys
Correct Answer: No, because the kidneys lie between the T-12 and L-3 vertebrae and are
protected by the rib cage
,Rationale: The kidneys are located between the T-12 and L-3 vertebrae, mostly protected by the
rib cage . Because the trauma was at the L1 level without spinal cord injury, the kidneys are
likely undamaged as they are within their normal anatomical position and protected.
3. Which of the following correctly describes the three layers of protective tissue surrounding
the kidney, from innermost to outermost?
A) Adipose capsule → Renal fascia → Renal capsule
B) Renal capsule → Renal fascia → Adipose capsule
C) Renal capsule → Adipose capsule → Renal fascia
D) Renal fascia → Adipose capsule → Renal capsule
Correct Answer: Renal capsule → Adipose capsule → Renal fascia
Rationale: The kidney is protected by three layers: the inner renal capsule (tough fibrous outer
skin protecting from injury/infection), the middle adipose capsule (fatty layer protecting from
trauma), and the outer renal fascia (dense fibrous connective tissue keeping the kidney in place)
.
4. The kidney's medial surface has a cleft called the renal hilus. What structures enter the
kidney at the hilus?
A) Only the ureter and blood vessels
B) Only nerves and lymphatic vessels
C) Ureters, blood vessels, and nerves
D) Only the ureter and lymphatic vessels
Correct Answer: Ureters, blood vessels, and nerves
, Rationale: The renal hilus is the concave medial cleft of the kidney that leads to the renal sinus.
The ureters, blood vessels, and nerves enter the kidney at the hilus . This is the entry/exit point
for these structures.
5. The functional unit of the kidney responsible for filtering blood and forming urine is the:
A) Renal pyramid
B) Nephron
C) Renal pelvis
D) Calyx
Correct Answer: Nephron
Rationale: The nephron is the structural and functional unit of the kidney, with each kidney
containing approximately 1 million nephrons . The nephron performs filtration, reabsorption,
and secretion to produce urine.
6. Which region of the kidney contains the glomerular capsule, distal convoluted tubule, and
proximal convoluted tubule?
A) Renal medulla
B) Renal pelvis
C) Renal cortex
D) Renal sinus
Correct Answer: Renal cortex
Rationale: The renal cortex is the outer region of the kidney that contains the glomerular
capsule and the distal and proximal convoluted tubule sections of the nephrons along with
associated blood vessels . The medulla contains the loop of Henle and collecting ducts.
Updates | NEWEST VERSION
1. Which of the following is the primary function of the kidneys?
A) Producing hormones that regulate blood sugar
B) Filtering blood to remove waste products and maintain fluid and electrolyte balance
C) Storing urine until it can be excreted
D) Transporting urine from the bladder to the outside of the body
Correct Answer: Filtering blood to remove waste products and maintain fluid and electrolyte
balance
Rationale: The kidneys are the primary organs of the urinary system and their main functions
include fluid homeostasis, filtration of metabolic wastes from the blood, and homeostasis of
blood volume and chemical composition . They do not store urine (the bladder does this) or
transport it out of the body (the urethra does this).
2. A patient sustains blunt force trauma to the back at the L1 level, with no spinal cord injury.
Would you suspect the kidneys to be damaged and why?
A) No, because the kidneys are located in the pelvic cavity
B) No, because the kidneys lie between the T-12 and L-3 vertebrae and are protected by the rib
cage
C) Yes, because the kidneys are located directly at the L1 level and are unprotected
D) Yes, because any trauma to the back will always damage the kidneys
Correct Answer: No, because the kidneys lie between the T-12 and L-3 vertebrae and are
protected by the rib cage
,Rationale: The kidneys are located between the T-12 and L-3 vertebrae, mostly protected by the
rib cage . Because the trauma was at the L1 level without spinal cord injury, the kidneys are
likely undamaged as they are within their normal anatomical position and protected.
3. Which of the following correctly describes the three layers of protective tissue surrounding
the kidney, from innermost to outermost?
A) Adipose capsule → Renal fascia → Renal capsule
B) Renal capsule → Renal fascia → Adipose capsule
C) Renal capsule → Adipose capsule → Renal fascia
D) Renal fascia → Adipose capsule → Renal capsule
Correct Answer: Renal capsule → Adipose capsule → Renal fascia
Rationale: The kidney is protected by three layers: the inner renal capsule (tough fibrous outer
skin protecting from injury/infection), the middle adipose capsule (fatty layer protecting from
trauma), and the outer renal fascia (dense fibrous connective tissue keeping the kidney in place)
.
4. The kidney's medial surface has a cleft called the renal hilus. What structures enter the
kidney at the hilus?
A) Only the ureter and blood vessels
B) Only nerves and lymphatic vessels
C) Ureters, blood vessels, and nerves
D) Only the ureter and lymphatic vessels
Correct Answer: Ureters, blood vessels, and nerves
, Rationale: The renal hilus is the concave medial cleft of the kidney that leads to the renal sinus.
The ureters, blood vessels, and nerves enter the kidney at the hilus . This is the entry/exit point
for these structures.
5. The functional unit of the kidney responsible for filtering blood and forming urine is the:
A) Renal pyramid
B) Nephron
C) Renal pelvis
D) Calyx
Correct Answer: Nephron
Rationale: The nephron is the structural and functional unit of the kidney, with each kidney
containing approximately 1 million nephrons . The nephron performs filtration, reabsorption,
and secretion to produce urine.
6. Which region of the kidney contains the glomerular capsule, distal convoluted tubule, and
proximal convoluted tubule?
A) Renal medulla
B) Renal pelvis
C) Renal cortex
D) Renal sinus
Correct Answer: Renal cortex
Rationale: The renal cortex is the outer region of the kidney that contains the glomerular
capsule and the distal and proximal convoluted tubule sections of the nephrons along with
associated blood vessels . The medulla contains the loop of Henle and collecting ducts.
