Adil, Bernadette T.

BSN - 1C

IV. Laboratory Exercises

Before you begin the activities, do the following:

o Read the chapter on urinary system system in your textbook/module or go to
https://www.visiblebody.com/learn/urinary
o Scan the objectives you are expected to accomplish during this laboratory session.
o Prepare the materials needed:
• 2 Cups • Large beads (5 red, 5 white, and 5 green)
• Cheesecloth or a piece of screen • • Small beads (10 green, 10 blue, 10
Rubber band white, and 10 yellow)
• 1 spoon • Water

Activity 1: The Processes of Urine Formation (Adapted from part of the Kidney Crisis
lesson module developed by the NY State Biology-Chemistry Professional Development
Network in conjunction with the University of Rochester Life Sciences Training Center).

Step 1. Prepare the blood and its components. First, label your large and small beads using
the following key:
KEY

Large Beads Red = red blood cells

White = white blood
cells Green = proteins

Small Beads Green = amino acids

Blue = glucose
White = sodium
Yellow = urea

What do the large and small beads represent? - The beads represent the substances such as
ions, blood components and solutes.

Next, place all the beads in an empty cup (label it “Blood in Renal Vein” ) then add
enough water to fill the cup about three quarters full. A cup of water with all the beads inside it
simulates the actual renal blood in the vein with its blood components.

Step 2. Prepare a simulated glomerulus and nephron. Take

the other cup and label it “nephron”, stretch a piece of cheesecloth
tightly over the cup and secure it with a rubber band. The
cheesecloth represents the thin wall of the capillary or glomerulus.
Then, pour the contents of the first cup containing water with large
and small beads to the second cup labelled as “nephron”.
 What beads did not pass thru the cheesecloth/screen?
Describe the size and color - The larger beads weren’t able to pass thru the
cheesecloth which colors are red, white and green.
What process of urine formation does step 2 represents? - Glomerular Filtration.

The beads that did not pass thru the cheesecloth/screen simulated the three blood
components that are kept in the blood because they are too large to pass through the pores
of the glomerulus. What are these 3 blood components? - Protein, white blood cell and
red blood cell.
What does it suggest if any of the 3 blood components able to pass thru the glomerulus? -
The glomerulus has damage that it resulted to large substances to pass thru it.

The substances that pass through the screen and into the nephron form a fluid called the filtrate.

Step 3: Simulating the reabsorption of needed substances. After removing the

screen/cheesecloth, use the spoon to move all the green and blue beads and half of the
white and yellow beads in the “Nephron” cup (the ones that passed thru the screen) and
place them in the “Blood in Renal Vein” cup.

What process of urine formation does step 3 represents? - Tubular reabsorption

What blood substances do the green and blue beads represent? - glucose and amino
acids.

Some essential molecules, such as glucose and amino acids, are kept by being completely
reabsorbed. These molecules should be returned to the blood and should not end up in the urine
produced by the kidney.

Step 4. Simulating secretion of excess substances. Look inside the remains of the
“Nephron” cup. What beads are left in the cup? - small beads that are yellow and white
in color.

How many of them? - 20 of them.

What blood substances do the white and yellow beads represent? - sodium and urea
What process of urine formation does step 4 represent? - Tubular secretion

Some substances such as urea and sodium (including water) are balanced by being
selectively reabsorbed to maintain the proper water balance in the body. Their reabsorption is

V. Laboratory Report Sheet/Checklist (to be submitted at the end of the activity/ies)

A. The following table describes the three steps/processes of urine formation. Complete the
missing parts of the table
Step in urine formation Where does the step takes place? What happens

Glomerular Filtration Glomerulus water and solutes smaller than

 proteins are forced through
the capillary walls and pores
of the glomerular capsule into
the renal tubule.

Reabsoption Peritubular capillaries ; proximal water, glucose, amino acids,

convoluted tubule and needed ions are
transported out of the filtrate
into the tubule cells and then
enter the capillary bed.

Secretion Renal tubule creatinine and drugs are

removed from the peritubular
blood and secreted by the
tubule cells into the filtrate.

B. Define the following underlined terms in activity 1 and 2.

1. Blood components - the components that need to be kept away or removed to maintain
balance in urine.
2. Glomerulus - capillary bed associated with each nephron that is specialized for
filtration.
3. Filtrate - the fluid formed in the nephron.
4. Glucose - essential molecule that is kept by being completely reabsorbed and should be
returned to the blood.
5. Amino acids - also an essential molecule that is kept by being completely reabsorbed
and should be returned to the blood.
6. Urea - formed in the liver as an end product of protein breakdown.
7. Sodium - the blood electrolytes that help regulate the nerve and muscle function.
8. Chloride - the blood electrolytes that help maintain acid-base and water balance.
9. Potassium - the blood electrolytes that help maintain acid-base and water balance.
10. Hydrogen ions - secreted by the kidney to maintain acid-base balance and water
balance.
11. Creatinine - secreted by the kidney to maintain a balance between daily consumption
and excretion of electrolytes and water balance.
12. Urine - the end-product of all these processes which is essentially a collection of
substances that has not been reabsorbed.
 C. Label the figure below.

Figure 38. The urinary system

Name of Student: Adil, Bernadette T. Year & Section: BSN - 1C Date of Submission: _______

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THE URINARY SYSTEM
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