What are the gross structures of the kidney?

Internal Gross Anatomy The pyramids and renal columns taken together constitute the kidney lobes. The cortex and medulla contain many nephrons – the microscopic filtering units of the kidney responsible for producing urine.

What are the microscopic structures of the kidney?

The microscopic structure of kidney consist of two main parts: Nephrons and Collecting ducts. Nephron is divided into two parts; renal corpuscles (Glomerulus and Bowman’s capsule) and tubules (Proximal convoluted tubules, Loop of Henle and Distal convoluted tubules.

What is the gross and microscopic structure of main organ of urinary system?

Gross anatomy of the urinary system: The kidneys filter blood and produce urine. The urine leaves the kidneys through the ureters, and is stored in the bladder. During micturition (urination), urine leaves the bladder through the urethra. The kidneys are responsible for the actual process of blood filtration.

What are the microscopic structures of the urinary system?

The structural unit of urine production in the kidney is a nephron . The nephron is a microscopic structure that is made of blood capillaries and a set of tubules made of kidney epithelium. Capillaries bring blood to the nephron where is gets filtered through the filtration membrane into the capsular space .

What is the functional unit of the kidney?

nephron
The functional unit of the kidney is called the nephron. It comprises of a coiled renal tubule and a vascular network of peritubular capillaries. The tubule consists of different regions, each with their own important function.

What structures protect the kidneys?

Each kidney is held in place by connective tissue, called renal fascia, and is surrounded by a thick layer of adipose tissue, called perirenal fat, which helps to protect it. A tough, fibrous, connective tissue renal capsule closely envelopes each kidney and provides support for the soft tissue that is inside.

Which kidney is more important?

Location. The kidneys are a pair of organs found along the posterior muscular wall of the abdominal cavity. The left kidney is located slightly more superior than the right kidney due to the larger size of the liver on the right side of the body.

What are the 4 layers of kidney?

The kidneys are made up by three external layers, which include the renal fascia (the outermost layer), the perirenal fat capsule, and lastly, the innermost layer, the renal capsule, which then surround the space of the renal cortex.

What are the structural and functional unit of kidney called?

Nephron
Nephron, functional unit of the kidney, the structure that actually produces urine in the process of removing waste and excess substances from the blood. There are about 1,000,000 nephrons in each human kidney.

What are the 10 functions of the kidney?

KIDNEYS

• Regulation of extracellular fluid volume. The kidneys work to ensure an adequate quantity of plasma to keep blood flowing to vital organs.
• Regulation of osmolarity.
• Regulation of ion concentrations.
• Regulation of pH.
• Excretion of wastes and toxins.
• Production of hormones.

How to describe the microscopic structure of the kidney?

Describe the microscopic structure of a nephron. Trace the flow of fluid/ blood through the renal tubules and the kidney. Describe the glomerular filtration membrane and how it excludes blood cells and proteins from the filtrate. The renal structures that conduct the essential work of the kidney cannot be seen by the naked eye.

What’s the difference between microscopic and gross anatomy?

Gross (macroscopic) anatomy is the study of anatomical structures that can be seen by the naked eye, such as the external and internal bodily organs. Microscopic anatomy is the study of tiny anatomical structures such as tissues and cells. Click to see full answer Also, what is microscopic anatomy?

How is the kidney divided into cortex and medullary areas?

Microscopic Anatomy The kidney is divided into the cortex and medulla. Renal pyramids in the medullary areas are separated by the cortical tissue called renal columns (of Bertin).

How big is the upper part of the kidney?

Upper portions of the kidneys are somewhat protected by the eleventh and twelfth ribs. Each kidney weighs about 125–175 g in males and 115–155 g in females.