BIO102 Unit 8 The Urinary System Assignment 1
1. Characterize the roles of each of the parts of the urinary system.
(Kidneys, nephrons, ureters, urinary bladder, and urethra)
Kidneys: Excretes unwanted substances, such as cellular metabolic waste,
excess salts, toxins, and urea, water balance, pH balance, blood pressure
regulation, and regulation of RBC production.
Nephrons: A nephron is to the urinary system as the neuron is to the
nervous system. There are about 1 Million in each kidney.
Ureters: The ureters are 2 long and slender muscular tubes that uses
peristalsis and gravity to move urine along. They extend from the kidneys.
Urinary Bladder: The urinary bladder is a temporary reservoir for urine, and
it has many layers. It is lined with mucous membrane, and it has transitional
epithelium. The bladder has rugae when it is empty.
Urethra: The urethra is the tube that extends from the bladder, and it leads
to the outside of the body.
2. Trace the flow of blood through the kidney and describe how blood is
filtered in the kidney nephron.
Renal artery through arcuate arteries through cortical radiate arteries
through Afferent arteriole through Glomerulus through Efferent arteriole
through Peritubular capillaries and vasa recta through Arcuate vein through
Renal vein through Inferior vena cava.
3. Provide symptoms of kidney failure and describe the normal versus
abnormal urine composition. (normal range of pH, osmolarity, and
volume)
, Normal Urine- pH 4.5-8.9 (6.0 average) and Specific gravity- 1.001-1.035
also contains urea, sodium, potassium, phosphate, sulfate, creatinine, uric
acid, and other ions.
Abnormal Urine- High glucose: Diabetes; High ketones: Starvation, if
contains sugar as well-Diabetes; Proteins: High protein diet or UTI; Albumin:
Glomerular damage; RBCs- Renal calculi, Infection, Trauma; Hemoglobin:
Transfusion Rxn, Hemolytic Anemia, Burns; WBCs: Inflammation, UTI;
Bilirubin, Liver problems (HepC)
Blood Osmolarity: Is a measure of the overall concentration of particles in
the blood and is a good indicator of hydration status. Normal range is 285-
295 (285-301 in older adults)
4. List some of the solutes filtered, secreted, and reabsorbed in different
parts of the nephron.
Glomerular Filtration: 1st step in urine production, most solutes in blood
plasma move across walls of glomerular capillaries, into glomerular capsule
and renal tubule.
Tubular Reabsorption: Return important substances to body, 99% of filtered
water is reabsorbed. almost every membrane transport method is used
Tubular Secretion: Fluid flows along renal tubules and collecting ducts.
tubules and ducts secrete waste, drugs, and excess ions from blood into
fluid
5. Describe the role of a portal system in the kidney.
It filters fluid out of blood and into tubule lumen (glomerular capillaries)
and it reabsorbs fluid from tubule lumen back into blood (peritubular
capillaries).
6. Explain how urine osmolarity is hormonally regulated and describe the
regulation of major ions by the kidney.
1. Characterize the roles of each of the parts of the urinary system.
(Kidneys, nephrons, ureters, urinary bladder, and urethra)
Kidneys: Excretes unwanted substances, such as cellular metabolic waste,
excess salts, toxins, and urea, water balance, pH balance, blood pressure
regulation, and regulation of RBC production.
Nephrons: A nephron is to the urinary system as the neuron is to the
nervous system. There are about 1 Million in each kidney.
Ureters: The ureters are 2 long and slender muscular tubes that uses
peristalsis and gravity to move urine along. They extend from the kidneys.
Urinary Bladder: The urinary bladder is a temporary reservoir for urine, and
it has many layers. It is lined with mucous membrane, and it has transitional
epithelium. The bladder has rugae when it is empty.
Urethra: The urethra is the tube that extends from the bladder, and it leads
to the outside of the body.
2. Trace the flow of blood through the kidney and describe how blood is
filtered in the kidney nephron.
Renal artery through arcuate arteries through cortical radiate arteries
through Afferent arteriole through Glomerulus through Efferent arteriole
through Peritubular capillaries and vasa recta through Arcuate vein through
Renal vein through Inferior vena cava.
3. Provide symptoms of kidney failure and describe the normal versus
abnormal urine composition. (normal range of pH, osmolarity, and
volume)
, Normal Urine- pH 4.5-8.9 (6.0 average) and Specific gravity- 1.001-1.035
also contains urea, sodium, potassium, phosphate, sulfate, creatinine, uric
acid, and other ions.
Abnormal Urine- High glucose: Diabetes; High ketones: Starvation, if
contains sugar as well-Diabetes; Proteins: High protein diet or UTI; Albumin:
Glomerular damage; RBCs- Renal calculi, Infection, Trauma; Hemoglobin:
Transfusion Rxn, Hemolytic Anemia, Burns; WBCs: Inflammation, UTI;
Bilirubin, Liver problems (HepC)
Blood Osmolarity: Is a measure of the overall concentration of particles in
the blood and is a good indicator of hydration status. Normal range is 285-
295 (285-301 in older adults)
4. List some of the solutes filtered, secreted, and reabsorbed in different
parts of the nephron.
Glomerular Filtration: 1st step in urine production, most solutes in blood
plasma move across walls of glomerular capillaries, into glomerular capsule
and renal tubule.
Tubular Reabsorption: Return important substances to body, 99% of filtered
water is reabsorbed. almost every membrane transport method is used
Tubular Secretion: Fluid flows along renal tubules and collecting ducts.
tubules and ducts secrete waste, drugs, and excess ions from blood into
fluid
5. Describe the role of a portal system in the kidney.
It filters fluid out of blood and into tubule lumen (glomerular capillaries)
and it reabsorbs fluid from tubule lumen back into blood (peritubular
capillaries).
6. Explain how urine osmolarity is hormonally regulated and describe the
regulation of major ions by the kidney.
