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Anatomy & Physiology: Fluids & Electrolytes

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Terms in this set (20)

  • What is osmoregulation?

    Osmoregulation is the regulation of solute balance and water loss to maintain homeostasis of water content in the body.

  • Name the main organs involved in urine formation and excretion.

    Kidneys filter blood plasma and form urine, ureters transport urine to the bladder, the bladder stores urine, and the urethra is the opening through which urine leaves the body.

  • What are the types of nitrogenous waste and their characteristics?

    Ammonia: toxic, requires dilution; Urea: less toxic, energy costly; Uric acid: insoluble, minimal water loss, energy intensive.

  • What is the functional unit of the kidney and its main parts?

    The nephron is the functional unit, consisting of tubules that transport filtrate and are surrounded by blood vessels. It includes the cortex and medulla regions.

  • Difference between cortical and juxtamedullary nephrons?

    Cortical nephrons are more common and stay mostly in the cortex; juxtamedullary nephrons extend deep into the medulla and create strong osmotic gradients for water reabsorption.

  • What is the role of the Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System (RAAS)?

    RAAS controls blood volume by increasing salt and water reabsorption, raising blood pressure through vasoconstriction and aldosterone release.

  • How does aldosterone affect kidney function?

    Aldosterone stimulates the distal tubule and collecting duct to reabsorb more salt, causing water to follow and increasing blood volume and pressure.

  • Define electrolyte and give an example.

    An electrolyte is a compound that dissociates into ions in water, such as NaCl dissociating into Na+ and Cl-.

  • What is osmosis?

    Osmosis is the movement of water across a membrane from an area of low solute concentration to an area of high solute concentration.

  • Explain the terms hyperosmotic, isosmotic, and hypoosmotic.

    Hyperosmotic: higher solute concentration; Isosmotic: equal solute concentration; Hypoosmotic: lower solute concentration compared to another solution.

  • What are osmoconformers and osmoregulators?

    Osmoconformers maintain internal osmolarity equal to their environment; Osmoregulators actively regulate internal osmolarity regardless of environment.

  • What is anhydrobiosis?

    An adaptation allowing organisms like tardigrades to survive extreme dehydration by entering a dormant state without water.

  • Define acid in terms of H+ concentration.

    An acid is any chemical that increases the concentration of H+ ions in a solution.

  • Define base in terms of H+ concentration.

    A base is any chemical that decreases the concentration of H+ ions in a solution.

  • Give an example of an acid and a base.

    Hydrochloric acid (HCl) is an acid; sodium hydroxide (NaOH) is a base.

  • What is diffusion?

    Diffusion is the net movement of molecules from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration.

  • What is selective permeability in membranes?

    Selective permeability means some solutes can cross a membrane due to transport proteins, while others cannot.

  • How does the kidney create a salty environment for water reabsorption?

    The nephron uses active transport of solutes to generate a high osmolarity in the medulla, facilitating water reabsorption.

  • What triggers renin release in the RAAS?

    Renin is released by the juxtaglomerular apparatus in response to low blood pressure or blood volume.

  • How does angiotensin II affect blood pressure?

    Angiotensin II raises blood pressure by causing vasoconstriction and stimulating aldosterone release.