1.

A nephron is the smallest functional unit of the

kidney. What is the function of:
The afferent arteriole

The glomerulus

The efferent arteriole

Bowman’s capsule

Proximal nephron tubule

Loop of Henle

Distal nephron tubule and collecting duct

2. The glomerulus is composed of fenestrated capillary,
basement membrane and podocytes. How does each
facilitate filtration?

Basement membrane

Junction between
endothelial cells

Podocytes covering
glomerular capillary
3. How does glomerular hydrostatic pressure, Bowman’s
capsule osmotic pressure, Bowman’s capsule hydrostatic
pressure and plasma osmotic pressure function together to
regulate glomerular filtration rate?
4. How can liver failure lead to kidney failure?

5. How does glomerular filtration rate change by constriction

of the afferent and efferent arterioles? What can trigger
arteriole smooth muscle contraction?

6. What happens when macula densa cells detect an

increase in Na+?

What happens when macula densa cells detect low Na+?

7. An increase in physical activity stimulates the SNS to
increase cardiac output which leads to an increase in MAP
and a decrease in glomerular filtration. How is glomerular
filtration decreased and why is this important?
1.
2a.
2b.
8. How are most nutrients reabsorbed
from the proximal tubule?

9. How is water reabsorbed from the

proximal tubule?
10. What is the graph telling you about glucose reabsorption
and why is 200 mg/dL considered overt diabetes?

11.Where does continuous vs regulated reabsorption occur in

the nephron tubule?
12. What are some of the differences between epithelial
cells of the proximal and distal tubules?

77
13. How does the countercurrent 300 300 100

multiplier facilitate retrieving

300 300 100
water not captured by the proximal tubule?
Osmotic 500 500 300

gradient
900 900 700
established
(mOsm)
1200 1200 1100

1400
1400
 UV exposure converts 7-hydrocholesterol
in the skin to previtamin D3
Previtamin D3
undergoes thermal
isomerization to
an inactive form of
UV vitamin D3
that circulates
bound to a carrier
protein

Vit D3 is activated
by the addition of
an OH by the liver
(added in
the kidney)
and another OH
(added in by the kidneys
the liver)
 Chapter 18 study questions
14. The commercial name for vitamin D3 is calcitriol. The liver and
kidney each add an OH group to the inactive form of D3 to form
the active form. How does calcitriol increase Ca +2 levels?

Promotes calcium absorption from

the intestines
Increases reabsorption of calcium by
the kidneys
Increases the release of calcium
from bone
Parathyroid and kidneys
monitor blood Ca+2 levels
• Ca+2 binds to sensors on the parathyroid gland

• If the intracellular Ca+2 level builds up, it inhibits the

release of parathyroid hormone (PTH)

• When Ca+2 levels drop, PTH is released and to

upregulate expression of kidney enzyme hydroxylase
to add the final OH to complete the synthesis of
calcitriol, (the active form of vitamin D3)
15. What is the function of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone
system?Liver
Capillary endothelial cell Adrenal
ACE cortex
Blood Angiotensinogen Renin Angio- Aldosterone
Angio- tensin II
tensin I

Where is angiotensinogen produced? What does the ending

“ogen” indicate?
Where is renin produced, what triggers its production and what is
its function?
What is the source of angiotensin II and what effect does it have
on the body?
16. What is the function of secretion
from peritubular capillaries?

17. How does aldosterone

increase Na+ reabsorption and
how does atrial natriuretic
peptide (ANP) decrease Na+
reabsorption?

18. What triggers the release of Aldosterone

atrial natriuretic peptide?
Serum Gluco- Na ATPase
corticoid kinase gene expression
ANP suppresses action of
aldosterone, renin and ADH
ENaC gene expression
19. How does antidiuretic hormone levels regulate
water reabsorption?

Rat distal tubule

20. How are baroreceptors and osmoreceptors used

to monitor blood pressure and control ADH
secretion?
21. How is urine retention and release (micturition reflex)
controlled by the detrusor muscle, internal urethral
sphincter and external urethral sphincter