Chapter 25: The Urinary System

The student should be able to:

1. List several kidney functions that help maintain body homeostasis.
2. Describe, in order, the components of a nephron, state the function of each
component, and label each in a rough sketch of a nephron.
3. List the components of the filtration membrane. List and describe the forces acting at
the filtration membrane and, given values for each, calculate the net filtration
pressure (NFP).
4. Contrast the purposes of intrinsic and extrinsic control of glomerular filtration rate
(GFR). Include a detailed discussion of renal autoregulation and neural and hormonal
control. (See Figure 25.14.)
5. Describe in detail the active and passive mechanisms involved in the tubular
reabsorption of sodium, glucose, amino acids, Cl-, H2O, and urea. State how and in
which part of the nephron sodium reabsorption is controlled and the reasons why
control of sodium reabsorption is critical.
6. Describe the role of tubular secretion in altering the composition of tubular fluid.
7. Explain the role of aldosterone and of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) in sodium and
water balance.
8. Describe how the renal medullary osmotic gradient is created and maintained (see
Focus Figure 25.1 on p. 982-983).
9. Sketch a juxtamedullary nephron within the kidney, clearly showing the location of the
ascending and descending limbs of the nephron loop and a collecting duct. Give values
for the osmolality of the interstitial fluid in the cortex and the various parts of the
medulla in your diagram, and for the osmolalities of fluids in the two limbs of the
nephron loop and in the distal tubule.
10. Explain the mechanisms that allow for the formation of dilute or concentrated urine.
On a diagram, show the osmolality in the collecting duct in the presence or absence of
ADH. (Fig. 25.19)
11. Describe the normal physical and chemical properties of urine.
12. Define micturition and describe its neural control.
13. Do the following Review Questions at the end of Chapter 25: 1 – 7, 10 - 22.

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