General
The functional unit of the kidney
Nephron
The structure that takes blood flow to the glomerulus for filtration
Afferent arteriole
Tubule that receives filtrate from glomerulus
Proximal Convoluted Tubule
Percentage of cardiac output received by the kidneys
25%
Veins that drain the kidneys
Renal veins
Portion consisting mostly of loops of Henle and collecting ducts
Medulla
Three components of the GFR barrier
glomeruli endothelium, glomerular BM, podocytes
Tubules ONLY found in renal cortex
PCT and DCT
Vascular bundles that emerge from the efferent arteriole and extend deep into the medulla and perfuse pyramids
Vasa recta
The renal veins pass _____ to arteries
anterior
juxtaglomerular cells, macula densa, extraglomerular mesangial cells
Cup-like sac that surrounds the glomerular capillaries
The order of flow of filtrate from glomerulus throughout tubules
PCT --> thin descending loop of Henle --> thick ascending loop of Henle --> DCT --> Collecting duct
90% of total renal blood flow goes to this part of the kidney
cortex
The gonadal vein that drains into renal vein before crossing the midline to drain into the IVC
left
The ureters pass ____ uterine vessels or vas deferens
under
"water under the bridge"
Visceral surface of the Bowman capsule
podocytes
Membrane that separates the interior of the cell from tubular fluid
luminal/apical
The spinal cord levels that the renal arteries branch off of the aorta at
L1-2
The renal vein that is longer
left
The level of the vertebral column that the kidneys lie
T12-L3
right kidney usually slightly lower
Parietal surface of the Bowman capsule
Cells that make up the collecting duct
α-Intercalated cells and β-intercalated cells
The arteries/arterioles that blood travels in before entering the glomerulus in order
Main renal artery → segmental artery → interlobar arteries → arcuate arteries→ interlobular arteries → afferent arterioles → glomerulus
The left renal vein cross between the aorta and the _____
superior mesenteric artery