Bio22 Human Physiology – Urinary System

1. What is the function of each of the following anatomical features of the urinary
system (section 25.1)

Kidney – remove wastes and extra fluid from your body

Ureter –transporting urine from the renal pelvis into the bladder
Urinary bladder –relax and expand to store urine, and contract and flatten to
empty urine through the urethra.
Urethra – empties urine from the bladder.
Renal artery –supplies blood to a kidney and its nearby adrenal gland and ureter.
Renal vein –carries the deoxygenated blood from the kidney to the inferior vena
cava.
Renal hilum – entry and exit site for structures servicing the kidneys: vessels,
nerves, lymphatics, and ureters.
Renal fascia – separates the perirenal fat from the pararenal fat
Perirenal fat capsule – prevents infections in surrounding regions from spreading
to the kidney
Fibrous capsule – provides support for the soft tissue that is inside.
Renal cortex – where the nephrons (blood-filtering units) begin.
Renal medulla/medullary – regulate concentration of the urine.
Renal pelvis –act as a funnel for urine flowing to the ureter.
Calyces – collect fluid before it moves into the bladder
Nephron –The nephron uses four mechanisms to convert blood into urine:
filtration, reabsorption, secretion, and excretion.

Renal corpuscle – deliver blood and create a large surface area for renal filtration
Glomerulus – filters your bloodGlomerular capsule – filters your blood
Podocytes – preventing plasma proteins from entering the urinary ultrafiltrate

2. Explain the functions of the urinary system.

a. removes waste from your blood in the form of urine. It also helps regulate
your blood volume and pressure, and controls the level of chemicals and
salts (electrolytes) in your body's cells and blood.
3. Label the parts of the nephron below.
 a.
i. A . Efferent arteriole
ii. B.Afferent arteriole
iii. C. Bowman's capsule
iv. D. Glomerulus
v. E. Proximal convoluted tubule
vi. F. Descending limb of loop of Henle
vii. G. Loop of Henle
viii.H. Ascending limb of loop of Henle
ix. I. Distal convoluted tubule
x. J. Collecting tube
4. First step of urine formation: Filtration
A. Where in the nephron does filtration occur? The glomerulus
B. Name the parts that makeup the filtrations membrane?
a. Endothelial cells of glomerular capillaries.
b. Glomerular basement membrane.
c. Epithelial cells of Bowman's Capsule (podocytes)
i. support the structure and function of the glomerulus.
ii. regulating glomerular filtration rate (GFR) via contraction.
C. Different types of pressures drive filtration. Explain what causes the three
pressures listed below and give a value for each of the pressures (don’t forget
the units)!
a. Glomerular blood hydrostatic pressure (GBHP) promotes filtration - it
pushes water and solutes in blood plasma through the glomerular filter.
 GBHP is the blood pressure in glomerular capillaries, which is about
55mm Hg.
I. hydrostatic pressure in the glomerular capillaries (HPgc): 0.21 kPa.
II. Osmotic pressure in the glomerular capillaries (OPgc): 2525 mmHg
III. Hydrostatic pressure in the capsular space (HPcs): 15mmHg
D. Net filtration pressure (NFP):
I. what is net filtration pressure? 10 mm Hg.
II. why is it an important value?the total pressure that promotes filtration
III. what is a “normal” value for NFP? 10 mmHG
E. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR)
I. what is glomerular filtration rate? 60 or higher
II. why is GFR an important value? an estimate of how well your kidneys are
working and keeping you healthy
III. what is a “normal” value for GFR?

***Please note that NFP refers to the pressure that drives the process of filtration (in
other words, producing filtrate) while GFR refers to HOW MUCH filtrate is produced in a
given amount time. Both are critical processes that need to happen to filter (separate
the waste from the non-waste)

5. GFR is tightly regulated not only to maintain extracellular homeostasis but also to
maintain constant blood pressure. Predict the following based on changes to
GFR:
A. If GFR is increased, what happens to urine output? Blood volume? BP?
a. GFR (Glomerular Filtration Rate) is increased, urine output will increase,
while blood volume will decrease. The increase in urine output is due to
the increased filtration of blood in the kidneys, resulting in more fluid being
filtered and excreted in the urine. However, the decrease in blood volume
may trigger compensatory mechanisms such as the release of
renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) hormones, which increase
blood pressure to maintain homeostasis.
B. If GFR is decreased, what happens to urine output? Blood volume? BP?
a. If GFR is decreased, urine output will decrease, while blood volume will
increase. The decrease in urine output is due to less fluid being filtered by
the kidneys, and the excess fluid may be retained in the body, leading to
an increase in blood volume. This can, in turn, increase blood pressure as
the heart has to pump more blood, and this can strain the heart and lead
to cardiovascular complications.
C. What is the main variable used to regulate GFR? And how is this done?
a. The main variable used to regulate GFR is renal blood flow, which is
controlled by the constriction and dilation of the afferent and efferent
 arterioles that supply blood to the glomeruli. The constriction or dilation of
these arterioles is mediated by a complex interplay of various
autoregulatory mechanisms involving hormones and signals, including the
RAAS hormones, nitric oxide, and prostaglandins. These mechanisms
work together to maintain a stable GFR and ensure that the kidneys can
effectively filter waste products from the body while preserving vital
substances such as water and electrolytes.

6. Second step of urine formation: Tubular Reabsorption what, where, and why?
(see questions below)
A. Draw the vasa recta on the image above. Why is the vasa recta necessary for
reabsorption to occur?
B. Label at least 2 substances that are being reabsorbed in each segment (PCT,
DCT, CD) of the nephron. What substances are being reabsorbed actively?
Passively?
C. Explain why it makes sense that these substances are being reabsorbed.
a. tubular reabsorption is the process that moves solutes and water out of
the filtrate and back into your bloodstream. This process is known as
reabsorption, because this is the second time they have been absorbed;
the first time being when they were absorbed into the bloodstream from
the digestive tract after a meal.
D. Why does it make sense that aquaporins are found in the PCT? (remember that
aquaporins allow for water to diffuses through)
a. The aquaporins are specific structures which are present in the linings of
the proximal convoluted tubules which is responsible for water retention.
The water retention in the body is possible with the help of the aquaporin
proteins which acts as a channel for the movement of water according to a
gradient.
E. Transport maximum (in other words, the max amount of glucose that can be
reabsorbed): Explain why does it make sense that someone with diabetes has
glucose in the urine?
a. Excessive glucose is not reabsorbed and consequently passes into urine.
Transport maximum for glucose tubular transport system in adult humans
is about 375 mg/min.
F. Effects of ADH on the kidney tubules: remember that Anti Diuretic Hormone
targets the tubules of the kidneys.
a. causes the kidneys to release less water, decreasing the amount of urine
produced. A high ADH level causes the body to produce less urine. A low
level results in greater urine production.
I. Would being dehydrated cause an increase or decrease in the secretion of ADH
from the posterior pituitary? Why?
a. raises ADH secretion and water will be retained, causing an increase in
blood pressure.
II. Would dehydration cause more or less aquaporins to be present in the collecting
duct? Why?
a. Dehydration-induced increase in aquaporin
III. How would dehydration change the volume and color of your urine?
a. darker in colour (more concentrated)
IV. Would being over hydrated cause an increase or decrease in the secretion of
ADH from the posterior pituitary? Why?
a. when you are well hydrated, the pituitary gland releases less ADH. As a
result of less ADH, the kidneys hold onto less water, causing more
urination
V. Would being over hydrated cause more or less aquaporins to be present in the
collecting duct? Why?
a. when you are well hydrated, the pituitary gland releases less ADH. As a
result of less ADH, the kidneys hold onto less water, causing more
urination.
VI. How would being over hydrated change the volume and color of your urine?
a. Colorless urine means you are overhydrated.
G. Critical thinking question: Drinking large volumes of alcohol inhibits (stops) the
reabsorption of water in the collecting duct (via a hormone called ADH-Anti
Diuretic Hormone). Assume you have drank a large volume of alcohol. What
would you expect for your urine volume and color to be like?
a. Alcohol inhibits ADH secretion, leading to decreased water reabsorption in
the collecting duct. This results in increased urine volume and lighter urine
color due to dilution.
H. Name the segment of the nephron where most reabsorption takes place.
a. proximal convoluted tubule.
7. Third step of urine formations: Tubular Secretion what, where, and why?

(see questions below)

A. Draw the vasa recta on the image above. Why is the vasa recta necessary for
secretion to occur?
a. remove the water and solute that is continuously added to the medullary
interstitium by these nephron segments.
B. Label at least 1 substance that is secreted in each segment (PCT, DCT, CD) of
the nephron.
 a. The PCT secretes: Organic acids and bases - e.g. bile salts, oxalate and
catecholamines (waste products of metabolism)Hydrogen ions (H+)
b. The DCT secretesSodium and potassium levels are controlled by
secreting K+ and absorbing Na+
C. Kidney’s influence on blood pH via secretion:
a. By adjusting the amounts reabsorbed and secreted, they balance the
bloodstream's pH.
I. If your blood pH is low (think acidic and high [H+]), why does it make sense to
secrete hydrogen ions H+?
a. If blood pH is low, blood has more H+ ions due to acidity. Inorder to
maintain normal pH, it is necessary to secrete excess H+ ions out of the
blood via the kidney tubules
II. If you blood pH is high (think basic and low [H+], why does it make sense to
secrete bicarbonate ions (HCO3-)?
a. If the blood pH is high, blood becomes more basic and hence it has more
OH- ions. Inorder to maintain normal pH, it is necessary to secrete excess
of OH- ions out of the blood.
8. In the table below compare and contrast the substances normally found in blood,
filtrate, and urine:

Substances found in Substances found in Substances found in

blood filtrate urine
plasma, red blood urea, water, vitamins, Water - 95%, Urea -
cells, white blood cells, fatty acids, water, 2%, Creatinine - 0.1%,
and platelets. glucose, nitrogen, salts Potassium - 0.6%,
Sodium - 0.1%, Chloride
- 0.6%.

9. A urine sample is a noninvasive way to diagnose several disorders.

a. UTI
A. What does it mean if you find glucose in urine?
a. a high level of urine glucose may mean that your blood glucose is high,
too, and that could be a sign of diabetes.
B. What does it mean if you have blood in urine?
a. may be due to a problem in your kidneys or other parts of the urinary
tract, such as: Cancer of the bladder or kidney. Infection of the bladder,
kidney, prostate, or urethra. Inflammation of the bladder, urethra, prostate,
or kidney
C. What does it mean if urine is really dark yellow?
a. Dehydrated
D. What does it mean if you find protein in urine?
a. Sign of kidney problems
b. HTN
E. What does it mean if you find white blood cells in urine?
a. Infection
F. What does it mean if you find traces of marijuana in urine? In CA, can this test
still be used to determine if someone is using marijuana while at work? Why or
why not?
a. bans employers from discriminating against employees based on their use
of weed off the job and away from the workplace
10. What are crystalline masses present in the pelvis of the kidney? What are they
made of? And why does it hurt so much when you get them out?
a. A kidney stone is a solid mass made up of tiny crystals. One or more
stones can be in the kidney or ureter at the same time. Kidney stones
result when urine becomes too concentrated and substances in the urine
crystalize to form stones. Symptoms arise when the stones begin to move
down the ureter causing intense pain.
11. Kidneys regulate concentration and volume of urine. Fill in the blanks for the
following description of events.
A. The countercurrent multiplier is the the process of using energy to generate an
osmotic gradient that enables you to reabsorb water from the tubular fluid and
produce concentrated urine.
B. The ascending limb pushes out small solute(Na,K ,Cl) but does not let water
leave the tubule.
C. This creates and increase in solute in the interstitia fluid surrounding the nephron
loop.
D. High solute outside the neuron sucks out water from the descending limb of the
nephron loop further concentrating the filtrate in the nephron.
E. This countercurrent multiplier is a postive feedback cycle making the osmolality
of the medulla of the kidney much higher or more concentrated than the cortex.
12. The concentration inside the vasa recta matches the concentrations in the
interstitial tissue surrounding the nephron loop. What does it mean that the vasa
recta is the countercurrent exchanger?
a. Countercurrent exhannge :- Because the blood flow through these
capillaries is very slow, any solutes that are reabsorbed into the
bloodstream have time to diffuse back into the interstitial fluid, which
maintains the solute concentration gradient in the medulla. This passive
process is known as countercurrent exchange
13. How do you treat a patient with less than 10% of total kidney function?
a. Dialysis
 14. Watch this video on dialysis and answer the following questions:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKlY2SKi_dk
A. How many times a week do people need dialysis when their kidneys don’t
function properly?
a. 3x a week
B. What changes do they have to make to their diet?
a. Low sodium
C. What are some other drawbacks you can think of for being on dialysis?
a. low blood pressure, access site infection, muscle cramps, itchy skin, and
blood clots.
D. What is the other option?
a. peritoneal dialysis
15. Discussion Board Post: Questions 4, 6, and 7 of your homework walk you
through the steps of urine formation starting with glomerular filtration, tubular
reabsorption, and tubular secretion.

Post one TRUE statement based on one of your answers to questions 4, 6, or 7.

Post one FALSE statement based on one of your answers to questions 4, 6, or 7.
But don't tell us which is which!
Think of it like you are writing a true/false statement for an exam.
You will then reply to one classmate and tell us which statement is true and which is
false - and explain why!
Your contribution to the discussion board is due by April 24th at 11:59pm.
.