9 Urinary System
Objective
- Basic Renal Anatomy
- Functions of the Urinary System
Interactive Activities
Critical Thinking Questions
Learning Summary
- Primary function is the regulation of extracellular fluid environment (interstitial fluid and plasma) in the body by producing urine.
- Secondary functions (*endocrine)
- Secrete erythropoietin and renin (angiotensin production)
- Activate vitamin D3
- Gluconeogenesis
- Glomerular filtration is the bulk flow of protein-free plasma from the glomerulus to Bowman’s capsule.
- Driven by four Starling forces (PGC, PBC ,πGC, πBC)
- Reabsorption is the selective transport of molecules from renal tubules to interstitial fluid.
- Secretion is the selective transport of molecules from plasma of peritubular capillaries to renal tubules.
- Filtered fraction is the fraction of renal plasma volume that is filtered into Bowman’s capsule.
- Filtered load is the quantity of a particular solute that is filtered per unit time.
