KIDNEY WORKSHEET
NAME__________________________
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The kidneys are located just under the rib cage in the back, one on each side. The right kidney is located
below the liver, so it’s a little bit lower than the left one. Each adult kidney is about 5 inches long, 3 inches
wide, and 1 inch thick. Each has an outer layer called the cortex, which contains the filtering units. The
middle part of the kidney, the medulla, has 10-15 fan shaped structures called the renal pyramid. These
drain urine into cup-shaped tubes called the calyxes and into the renal pelvis at the center of the kidney.
The urine then continues on through the ureter and on to the urinary bladder where it will be stored until
urination occurs. A layer of fat surrounds the kidneys to cushion and help hold them in place.
Label the following diagram of the kidney using the word bank provided. You may also use you the diagram in
textbook on page 302. (8 marks)
Renal Pelvis
Medulla
Calyxes
Cortex
Ureter
Renal pyramid
Renal Artery
Renal Vein
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If you view a nephron close up, as shown below, you can see that it is a complex structure composed of my
tubes, and each kidney has about 1 million nephrons. The nephron’s primary function it to filter water from
the blood. The nephron has 3 major parts: the Glomerulus, the Bowman’s Capsule, and the tubules, which
consist of the proximal and distal tubule and the loop of Henle.
___ Efferent Arteriole
___ Proximal Convoluted Tubule
___ Renal Artery
___ Capillary network
___ Bowman’s Capsule
___ Loop of Henle
___ Ascending limb
___ Descending limb
___ Distal Convoluted Tubule
___ Afferent Arteriole
___ Renal Vein
___ Collecting duct
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Blood enters the kidney from the renal artery and moves into the glomerulus, where filtration occurs.
Filtration is the process by which water and dissolved particles are pulled out of the blood. The resulting
liquid, called filtrate contains many of the toxic substances that might have accumulated in the blood (like
ammonia). The glomerulus is enclosed by Bowman’s capsule, where small molecules and water can pass
through this area but larger molecules do not. The filtrate is then collected in the Bowman’s capsule and
ready for transport through the nephron.
The nephron itself will restore vital nutrients and water back into the blood, while retaining waste produces
the body needs to eliminate. The processes to accomplish this task are tubular reabsorption and tubular
secretion. During tubular reabsorption, cells in the proximal tubule remove water and nutrients from the
filtrate and pass them back into the blood. Wastes such as urea are retained in the tubule. During secretion,
wastes that were not initially filtered out in the Bowman’s capsule are removed from the blood in the distal
tubule. Ammonia and many drugs are removed from the blood during tubular reabsorption.
Notice capillaries that wrap around the tubule. At the point of contact with the tubule and the capillaries,
water and nutrients are reabsorbed into the blood. Wastes remain in the blood after filtration are also
passed to the tubule. The filtrate flow from the proximal tubule and into the Loop of Henle. The loop of Henle
concentrates the filtrate by removing more water from it, and passes it to the distal tubule and then goes
into the collecting duct. It is now called urine. The collecting duct prepares the urine for transport out the
body. It is collected in the renal pelvis where is eventually enter the ureter. From there it goes to the bladder.
Label the parts of the nephron using the word bank provided. You may also use you the diagram in textbook
on page 302. (12 marks)
Questions
Using the class notes and handouts please answer the following questions.
1. Where is the glomerulus located and what is its function? (2 marks)
2. What types of cells is the glomerulus made up of and why are these important in the filtration of
blood? (2 marks)
3. What is the filtrate? (2 marks)
4. What is tubular reabsorption and why is it important? (2 marks)
5. Where does secretion occur (1 mark)
6. After secretion the urine enters the collecting duct and enters what part of the kidney? (1 mark)
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