Label the parts of this kidney and nephron.
To label: The parts of the kidney and nephron.
Introduction: The kidney is an important organ of the excretory system, and nephron is the basic structural unit of the kidney. As blood passes through the kidneys, it filters the nitrogenous waste to form urine. It maintains homeostasis of the body.
Answer to Problem 1RQ
Pictorial representation: Fig.1 shows the parts of the kidney, and Fig.2 shows the parts of the nephron.
Fig.1: Kidney
Fig.2: Nephron
Explanation of Solution
Structure of a kidney:
The kidney has two zones namely renal cortex and renal medulla. Renal cortex is the outer part of kidney. It consists of blood vessels that are connected to nephrons. Renal medulla is the inner part of the kidney containing 8–12 renal pyramids consisting of collecting tubules. Each kidney has a medially located space called renal sinus. This space is the urine drainage area. It is organized into minor calyces, major calyces, and a renal pelvis. There are 8 to 15 funnel-shaped minor calyces that are associated with the renal pyramid. Several minor calyces merge to form large major calyces. There are two to three major calyces in each kidney. The major calyces merge to form a large renal pelvis. Renal pelvis merges with the ureter at the medial edge of the kidneys.
Structure of a nephron:
Nephron is the functional filtration unit of kidney. It is microscopic in nature. Nephron has divided into renal corpuscle and renal tubule. Renal tubule is composed of simple epithelium that rests on the basement membrane. Renal tubule extends from the glomerular capsule (also called Bowman's capsule. It collects the material obtained from glomeruli) and ends at the collecting duct. It consists of three continuous sections. They are as follows:
- • The proximal convoluted tubule
- • The nephron loop
- • The distal convoluted tubule
The convoluted tubules reside in the cortex, but the nephron loop usually extends into the medulla from the cortex.
The proximal convoluted tubule (PCT) is the first region of the renal tubule that is originated from the tubular pole of renal capsule. It consists of simple cuboidal epithelium and is marked by tall, apical microvilli that increase its surface area and reabsorption capacity. Under light microscope, the lumen of the proximal convoluted tubule looks fuzzy due to microvilli.
The nephron loop originates at the sharp bend in the proximal convoluted tubules. Each nephron has two limbs, namely descending limb and ascending limb. Both limbs are continuous at a hairpin within the medulla. From the proximal convoluted tubule, the descending limb extends medially to the tip of the nephron loop. Ascending limb of the nephron loop returns to the renal cortex and terminates at the distal convoluted tubule. Some parts of these limbs are classified as thick or thin according to the epithelia composing them. Thick segments of each limb have a simple cuboidal epithelium lining, whereas the thin segments of each limb have a simple squamous epithelium.
The distal convoluted tubule (DCT) originates in the renal cortex at the end of the nephron loop’s thick ascending limb and extends to a collecting tubule. DCT is composed of simple cuboidal epithelium. DCT is smaller and has only sparse, short, apical microvilli. DCT does not look fuzzy when viewed under the light microscope.
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Chapter 12 Solutions
Human Biology (MindTap Course List)
- Figure 41.6 Which of the following statements about the nephron is false? The collecting duct empties into the distal convoluted tubule. The Bowman’s capsule surrounds the glomerulus. The loop of Henle is between the proximal and distal convoluted tubules. The loop of Henle empties into the distal convoluted tubule.arrow_forwardFigure 41.5 Which of the following statements about the kidney is false? The renal pelvis drains into the ureter. The renal pyramids are in the medulla. The cortex covers the capsule. Nephrons are in the renal cortex.arrow_forwardA UTI is confined to the bladder? True or falsearrow_forward
- Make a sketch of ONE complete Nephron in the kidney and label to show the blood flow (mark with red) and urine flow in this nephron (you can also use arrow to indicate flow direction). Remember only ONE nephron in your kidney. show the correct location of this nephron (Cortical vs. Juxtamedullary Nephrons) in the entire kidney. show the correct blood tubings within the nephron (I should be able to tell afferent and efferent arteriole from your sketch; also your nephron is closely associated with two capillary bed )arrow_forwardRenal cortex From renal artery ........ Renal medulla To renal vein 13 12 11 10 Figure 17.4 Relevant Terms Afferent arteriole Glomerular capsule Ascending limb of the nephron lop Glomerulus Collecting duct Interlobular artery Descending limb of the nephron loop Interlobular vein Distal convoluted tubule Peritubular capillary Efferent arteriole Proximal convoluted tubule Copyright 2012 by Mosby, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.arrow_forwardLabel namearrow_forward
- Label the urinary system. Give correct answer.arrow_forwardName correctly pleasearrow_forward2 Label the following parts of the nephron on Figure 14.15. O Afferent arteriole O Arcuate artery O Arcuate vein O Ascending loop of Henle O Collecting duct O Cortex O Cortical nephron O Descending loop of Henle O Distal convoluted tubule O Efferent arteriole O Glomerulus O Interlobar artery O Interlobar vein O Juxtaglomerular apparatus O Medulla O Nephron loop O Peritubular capillaries O Proximal convoluted tubule O Renal corpuscle O Vasa recta FIGURE 14.15 The composite nephronarrow_forward
- Human Biology (MindTap Course List)BiologyISBN:9781305112100Author:Cecie Starr, Beverly McMillanPublisher:Cengage Learning