Acute Kidney Injury
Blood Flow of Normal Kidney & Urine Formation
Jennifer Kong and Meihua E. Su
Learning Objectives
By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:
- Explain the functions of the major kidney structures.
- List the path of blood flow and urine filtration.
The kidneys are amazing organs as they filter all of the blood through millions of microscopic nephrons. To the naked eye, these nephrons and blood vessels look like dense, smooth red/brown tissue. Yet, these nephrons help separate unwanted wastes from blood, draining them into structures that collect urine. At the same time, these nephrons help retain valuable nutrients, electrolytes, and water which is reabsorbed back into the blood vessels of the kidney and put back into the general circulation.
Overview of the Nephrons and Blood & Urine Flow – created and presented by Eva M. Su. Figure presented is from the Open Ed text “Anatomy & Physiolology” by CCCOnline (CC-BY-SA) and work by Cenveo, licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0
Summary and Post-test of normal kidney anatomy – created and presented by Eva M. Su
Key Definitions
- Vasa Recta – Branches of the efferent arterioles that parallel the course of the loops of Henle and are continuous with the peritubular capillaries.
- Renal Fat Pad – Adipose tissue between the renal fascia and the renal capsule that provides protective cushioning to the kidney.
