Anatomy & Physiology 235

Renal/Urinary System 1

Learning Objectives

1. Students will be able to explain the role of the renal system in the maintenance of homeostasis.

2. Students will know the anatomy of the mammalian kidney and be able to describe the major
functions of each region of the nephron.

3. Students will be able to explain the basic renal processes (filtration, secretion, reabsorption, and
excretion) and predict changes in urine volume and composition based on changes in the
processes.

4. Students will be able to explain what clearance measures and predict how substances are
filtered, reabsorbed and/or secreted by the kidney using clearance measurements.

5. Students will understand the intrinsic (local) and extrinsic (global) mechanisms regulating the
glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and predict changes in urine volume and composition based on
changes in GFR.

Key Terms
urine, portal circulation, body fluid compartments
filtration, reabsorption, secretion, excretion
glomerular filtration, filtration fraction, filtrate
fenestrated capillaries, podocytes, filtration slits
net filtration pressure (NFP), glomerular filtration rate (GFR)
glomerular capillary blood pressure (PGC)
plasma-colloid osmotic pressure (GC)
Bowman’s capsule hydrostatic pressure (PBC)
Bowman’s capsule colloid osmotic pressure (BC)
autoregulation (intrinsic regulation)
myogenic mechanism
tubuloglomerular feedback: juxtaglomerular apparatus (JGA), macula densa, granular cells
extrinsic regulation
baroreceptor reflex (sympathetic)
transport epithelia
saturation, transport maximum (Tm), renal threshold
glucosuria
clearance, inulin, creatinine, PAH
bladder, internal sphincter, external sphincter, micturition

Anatomy
The anatomy of the urinary system is crucial to its function. Therefore, it is important to know the
names of the structures listed below and to be able to outline how each contributes to the function of
the kidney. Label the figures provided.
medulla
kidney
cortex Vascular Anatomy

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Janet L. Branchaw, Ph.D.
 Anatomy & Physiology 235

renal artery proximal tubule

afferent arteriole Loop of Henle: descending limb, ascending limb
glomerulus distal tubule
efferent arteriole collecting duct
peritubular capillaries renal pelvis
vasa recta ureter
renal vein bladder
urethra

Tubular Anatomy Juxtaglomerular apparatus (JGA)

nephron (cortical and juxtamedullary) macula densa cells
Bowman’s capsule (BC) juxtaglomerular cells

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Janet L. Branchaw, Ph.D.
 Anatomy & Physiology 235

Questions
1. List the major functions of the kidney and briefly describe the importance of each to
homeostasis.

2. Compare the osmolarities and ionic compositions of blood plasma, interstitial fluid (ISF) and
intracellular fluid. How do the types of barriers that separate these body fluid compartments
(capillary walls and plasma membranes) account for the similarities and differences?

3. In a human, what is the normal blood volume, plasma volume and plasma osmolarity? How
much plasma is filtered per day by the kidneys? How much water is reabsorbed by the kidneys
per day? How much urine is excreted per day?

4. What is a nephron and what does it do?

5. What is the difference between cortical and juxtameduallary nephrons? What important
function do juxtameduallary nephrons serve?

6. Describe the relationship between filtration, reabsorption, secretion and excretion in the kidney
(equation).

7. Describe the composition of the filtrate (primary urine) in Bowman’s capsule.

8. What are the components of the filtration barrier and what is the filtration fraction?

9. Identify, in order, the structures of the nephron through which filtrate flows after it has been
filtered into Bowman’s capsule. How are the peritubular capillaries that surround the nephron
arranged? In which direction does blood flow through the vasa recta relative to the direction of
fluid flow through the loop of Henle?

10. What is plasma clearance? What is the formula to calculate the clearance of a substance? What
is relative clearance?

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Janet L. Branchaw, Ph.D.
 Anatomy & Physiology 235

11. How do the hydrostatic and osmotic pressures at the glomerular capillary bed determine
glomerular filtration?

12. Describe the two mechanisms of autoregulation (or intrinsic regulation) of glomerular filtration
rate (GFR): 1) myogenic mechanism and 2) tubuloglomerular feedback. Why is autoregulation of
GFR important?

13. Describe the extrinsic mechanism of regulation of GFR: baroreceptor reflex. Why is extrinsic
regulation of GFR important?

14. What are transport epithelia and how are they involved in kidney function?

15. A symptom of diabetes mellitus is the appearance of glucose in the urine. Explain why glucose
appears in the urine in this disease.

16. Complete the table by listing the primary functions of each section of the nephron.

Nephron Section Primary Functions

Bowman’s Capsule
Proximal Tubule
Descending Loop
Ascending Loop
Distal Tubule
Collecting Duct

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Janet L. Branchaw, Ph.D.