NURS 201 Lecture Notes - Lecture 11: Renal Function, Proximal Tubule, Distal Convoluted Tubule
Document Summary
The urinary system consists of two kidneys, two ureters, a urinary bladder, and a urethra. The bladder provides storage, and the ureters and urethra are the drainage channels for the urine after it is formed by the kidneys. The primary functions of the kidneys are (1) to regulate the volume and composition of extracellular fluid (ecf), and (2) to excrete waste products from the body. The kidneys function to control blood pressure, produce erythropoietin, activate vitamin. The outer layer of the kidney is termed the cortex, and the inner layer is called the medulla. The nephron is the functional unit of the kidney. Each kidney contains 800,000 to 1. 2 million nephrons. A nephron is composed of a glomerulus, bowman"s capsule, and a tubular system. The tubular system consists of the proximal convoluted tubule, the loop of henle, the distal convoluted tubule, and a collecting tubule. The kidneys receive 20% to 25% of cardiac output.