Biology 140- Anatomy & Physiology | |||
You're at: Home :: Urinary System :: The Kidney | |||
The Kidney Location: The kidneys are not located level to one another, the right kidney is inferior in position to the left kidney, because the liver is located immediately superior to it. The kidneys are located retroperitoneally, or behind the pareital peritoneum. They are held in place by two things:
Parts of the Kidney: Renal Capsule- the covering of the kidney. Renal Cortex- outer, light-colored layer within the kidney. It produces filtrate, and alters the contents of the filtrate. Renal Medulla-darker, guitar pick or pyramid-shaped portion of the kidney. It adjusts the [ ] of the urine. Collecting Ducts-collect urine from the nephrons and allow it to flow to the bladder.
Nephrons-the structural and functional units of a kidney that form urine. The Nephron: Consists of the following parts:
Blood enters the capillary pressure, which forces small solutes through the capillary walls. Nephrons extend into the renal medulla, however, some extend further than others. Path of the filtrate: Glomerulus/Renal Corpuscle (forms the filtrate) --> proximal convoluted tubule (saves sugar, amino acids, and some water. It also expels some other solutes.) --> Loop of Henle (saves water and salts) --> distal convoluted tubule (dumps acids and toxins into urine) --> collecting ducts (tranports urine to minor calyx, determines final [ ] of urine). Note: Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH) affects the amount of water found in the urine.
| |||
|
WOL.BZ - Free hosting |