Renal Function
Cortex : outer area of the kidney
- Elimination of the end-product of metabolism
- Elimination of the excess body water
- Maintenance of electrostatic balance
- Secretion of hormone: ERYTHROPOIETIN
Parts of Kidney
1.
2. Medulla : inner area of the kidney
3. Renal Pyramid – striated, triangular structure
within the medulla whose bases face the
cortex and tips point to the center of the
kidney (renal papillae)
4. Renal Column – cortical material that extends
between the pyramids
5. Minor Calyx – funnel-shaped structures that
surround the tip of the renal pyramid
6. Major Calyx – union of the minor calyces,
7. Renal Pelvis – union of major calyces, large
collecting funnel which narrows to form ureter
8. Hilus – notch in the concave center of the
kidney through which a ureters leaves the
kidney and blood vessels, nerve, lymph vessels
and exit the kidney.
Renal Physiology
Nephron – the functional unit of kidney
(Approximately 1 to 1.5 million units)
- 2 TYPES OF NEPHRON
1. Cortical nephron – primarily found in cortex
of the kidney
Functions:
 - removal of waste products
- reabsorption of nutrients
2. Juxtamedullary nephron -extends
deep into the medullary of the kidney.
Functions:
- Concentration of urine
Renal Blood Flow
*Renal Artery – supplies blood to the kidney
(receives approximately 25% of blood)
*Afferent arteriole – capillaries of the nephron
where the blood enters
*Efferent arteriole – is where the blood flows
out of the glomerulus
Major exchange of H2O and Na – Ascending and
Descending Loop of Henle

RAAS – Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone-System
Glomerular filtration - Regulate the flow of blood to and within the
*Glomerulus – consist of capillary lobes within the glomerulus.
Bowman’s Capsule
Macula densa senses change → ↓blood
*Less than 70,000 M can only pass through pressure ↓ plasma Na → Renin secretion
 (Angiotensinogen)→ Angiotensin I (Angiotensin  Urea – PCT and Ascending loop of
converting enzymes) → Angiotensin II → henle
Note: The body cannot lose 120 ml of water
- Vasoconstriction
containing essentials every minute
- Proximal convulated tubule Na reabsorption
- Aldosterone – Distal convulated tubule Na Tubular Concentration
reabsorption - Renal concentration – begins in descending
- Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH) – Collecting duct and ascending loop of henle
Water reabsorption o Water is removed in descending loop of
Tubular Reabsorption henle
o Na and Cl is reabsorbed in ascending
- Reabsorption Mechanism
loop of henle
o Active transport – must combine with
o Collecting Duct – where the final
carrier protein.
concentration of the filtrate
 Glucose
 Water reabsorption begind in the
 160 to 180 mg/dL Renal
late DCT and continues to the
threshold
Collecting Duct
 Amino acids
 ADH – makes collecting ducts
 Cl – Ascending loop of henle
more permeable to water
 NA – Proximal DCT
o Passive Transport – can move across
↑Body Hydration = ↓ADH =
membrane
↑urine volume
 Ascending loop of henle is
↓Body Hydration = ↑ADH =
impermeable to water
↓urine volume
 Na - Ascending loop of henle