Portage Learning Pathophysiology NURS
231 Unit 8 Exam
It is the cleft of hilus, which is concave, and this structure is considered to be the entry
point of the ureters, blood vessels, and nerves into the kidney.
Describe the location of the hilus, and why is it important.
The function of the nephron is to control the concentration of water and soluble
materials by filtering the blood, reabsorbing needed materials and excreting waste
products as urine. The nephron thereby eliminates wastes from the body, regulates
blood volume, pH and pressure, and controls the levels of electrolytes.
Describe the functions of the nephron.
Each nephron is composed of two major components: the glomerular capsule (renal
corpuscle) and the renal tubule. The two are attached-they are, in fact, a continuous
tubelocked (via the tubule) to the associated collecting ducts. The function of the
glomerular capsule is filtration of the blood; the renal tubule does the reabsorption of
what is to be reused, and the collecting ducts collect the waste to become urine to be
excreted.
Name the parts of the nephron and describe what each part does.
The outer cortex contains the glomeruli and convoluted tubules (both proximal and
distal) of the nephron along with blood vessels. The inner medulla contains the Loop of
Henle of the nephron and conical masses known also as the renal pyramids.
Renal Cortex and Renal Medulla Comparison Compare and contrast the renal cortex and
renal medulla, including the structures in each.
,Cortical nephrons account for 85 percent of all nephrons. They originate superficially in
the cortex and their loops of Henle are shorter, extending a short distance into the
medulla. The other 15 percent are juxtamedullary nephrons, which originate much
deeper in the cortex. Their loops of Henle are thinner and longer, extending into the
medulla completely.
This is an image depicting the similarities and differences in the structure between
cortical and juxtamedullary nephrons.
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.
Explain the differences in the two systems providing the blood supply to the nephron.
How does their structure determine their role?
Fenestrations and podocytes
Name two specialized structures of the glomerular capillaries that contribute to the
filtration of blood.
(1) the proximal convoluted tubule (highly coiled) which drains Bowman capsule; (2) the
loop of Henle; (3) the distal convoluted tubule; and (4) the collecting tubule which joins
with other nephron tubules to collect the filtrate.
, Name the 4 segments of the nephron tubule.
three processes involved in urine formation are:
(1) filtration (2) reabsorption and (3) secretion. Filtration takes place in the renal
corpuscle; reabsorption and secretion occur in the renal tubules.
What are the 3 processes involved in urine formation? Describe where they occur.
A normal GFR is 120-125 ml/min or 180 L/day. Maintenance of a relatively constant GFR
is important for adequate reabsorption of water and other needed nutrients from the
filtrate.
What is the norm value for the GFR? Discuss why maintenance of this value is important.
b
(1) renal autoregulation, (2) nervous system control, and (3) hormonal control.
List the 3 regulatory mechanisms of the GFR.
(1) through the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAA) a part of the
renin-angiotensin system and the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system is initiated to
both regulate volume by modulating sodium reabsorption and conserve sodium via its
effect on aldosterone, thereby not increasing the sodium levels in the blood, to be
described below, (2) through the regulation of red blood cell production through the
formation of erythropoietin, and (3) through calcium metabolism by the activation of
vitamin D.
List 3 ways that the kidney acts as an endocrine organ.
ADH acts on the collecting tubule to increase water absorption. The influence of ADH on
the collecting ducts fosters an increase in the number of water channels, or water
transport proteins, in the cell membrane, which inhibits the excretion of urine.
231 Unit 8 Exam
It is the cleft of hilus, which is concave, and this structure is considered to be the entry
point of the ureters, blood vessels, and nerves into the kidney.
Describe the location of the hilus, and why is it important.
The function of the nephron is to control the concentration of water and soluble
materials by filtering the blood, reabsorbing needed materials and excreting waste
products as urine. The nephron thereby eliminates wastes from the body, regulates
blood volume, pH and pressure, and controls the levels of electrolytes.
Describe the functions of the nephron.
Each nephron is composed of two major components: the glomerular capsule (renal
corpuscle) and the renal tubule. The two are attached-they are, in fact, a continuous
tubelocked (via the tubule) to the associated collecting ducts. The function of the
glomerular capsule is filtration of the blood; the renal tubule does the reabsorption of
what is to be reused, and the collecting ducts collect the waste to become urine to be
excreted.
Name the parts of the nephron and describe what each part does.
The outer cortex contains the glomeruli and convoluted tubules (both proximal and
distal) of the nephron along with blood vessels. The inner medulla contains the Loop of
Henle of the nephron and conical masses known also as the renal pyramids.
Renal Cortex and Renal Medulla Comparison Compare and contrast the renal cortex and
renal medulla, including the structures in each.
,Cortical nephrons account for 85 percent of all nephrons. They originate superficially in
the cortex and their loops of Henle are shorter, extending a short distance into the
medulla. The other 15 percent are juxtamedullary nephrons, which originate much
deeper in the cortex. Their loops of Henle are thinner and longer, extending into the
medulla completely.
This is an image depicting the similarities and differences in the structure between
cortical and juxtamedullary nephrons.
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.
Explain the differences in the two systems providing the blood supply to the nephron.
How does their structure determine their role?
Fenestrations and podocytes
Name two specialized structures of the glomerular capillaries that contribute to the
filtration of blood.
(1) the proximal convoluted tubule (highly coiled) which drains Bowman capsule; (2) the
loop of Henle; (3) the distal convoluted tubule; and (4) the collecting tubule which joins
with other nephron tubules to collect the filtrate.
, Name the 4 segments of the nephron tubule.
three processes involved in urine formation are:
(1) filtration (2) reabsorption and (3) secretion. Filtration takes place in the renal
corpuscle; reabsorption and secretion occur in the renal tubules.
What are the 3 processes involved in urine formation? Describe where they occur.
A normal GFR is 120-125 ml/min or 180 L/day. Maintenance of a relatively constant GFR
is important for adequate reabsorption of water and other needed nutrients from the
filtrate.
What is the norm value for the GFR? Discuss why maintenance of this value is important.
b
(1) renal autoregulation, (2) nervous system control, and (3) hormonal control.
List the 3 regulatory mechanisms of the GFR.
(1) through the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAA) a part of the
renin-angiotensin system and the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system is initiated to
both regulate volume by modulating sodium reabsorption and conserve sodium via its
effect on aldosterone, thereby not increasing the sodium levels in the blood, to be
described below, (2) through the regulation of red blood cell production through the
formation of erythropoietin, and (3) through calcium metabolism by the activation of
vitamin D.
List 3 ways that the kidney acts as an endocrine organ.
ADH acts on the collecting tubule to increase water absorption. The influence of ADH on
the collecting ducts fosters an increase in the number of water channels, or water
transport proteins, in the cell membrane, which inhibits the excretion of urine.
