Renal & Urologic System: Key Structures, Function, and Tests
What is the functional unit of the kidney? - The answer is Nephron
How many nephrons are there per kidney? - The answer is ~1.2 million
What are the three layers of the Glomerular Filtration Membrane? - The
answer is Capillary endothelium, basement membrane, podocytes
What is the function of podocytes? - The answer is Forms filtration slits
What is the blood pathway through the kidney? - The answer is Renal artery
→ Interlobar → Arcuate → Afferent arteriole → Glomerulus → Efferent arteriole
→ Peritubular capillaries/Vasa recta → Renal vein
What is the length of the ureters? - The answer is 30 cm
What muscle is responsible for bladder contraction? - The answer is Detrusor
muscle
What are the lengths of the urethra in females and males? - The answer is
Females: 3-4 cm, Males: 18-20 cm
What hormone stimulates RBC production? - The answer is Erythropoietin
(EPO)
What does ADH do? - The answer is Increases water reabsorption and
decreases urine output
What is the role of aldosterone? - The answer is Reabsorbs sodium; water
follows sodium
What do natriuretic peptides do? - The answer is Increase sodium and water
excretion, cause diuresis, lower blood pressure
What is the normal pH range of urine? - The answer is 4.6-8
What is the best indicator of kidney function? - The answer is Glomerular
Filtration Rate (GFR)
What does plasma creatinine reflect? - The answer is Kidney filtration
What does BUN measure? - The answer is Nitrogen waste
What is a high-risk factor for pediatric renal function? - The answer is High
risk of fluid imbalance
What happens to renal function with aging? - The answer is Decreased renal
blood flow, decreased GFR, decreased nephron number
