Anatomy of the urinary system

 

Anatomy of the Urinary System

This document is not meant to be a substitute for a formal laboratory report. The Lab Report Assistant is simply a summary of the experiment’s questions, diagrams if needed, and data tables that should be addressed in a formal lab report. The intent is to facilitate students’ writing of lab reports by providing this information in an editable file which can be sent to an instructor. 

Exercise 1: Histology of the Kidney and Urinary Bladder

Data Table 1. Slide Images.

Slide	Labeled Photograph
Kidney – Glomerulus   Label: glomerulus and Bowman’s capsule
Kidney – Medulla   Label: cuboidal cells
Transitional Epithelium – Urinary Bladder   Label: transitional epithelium

 Questions

A.         List distinguishing characteristics that allow identification of a glomerulus.

B.         What is the importance of the transitional epithelium in the urinary bladder?

C.         View the microscopic image of the mammalian kidney shown below. The glomeruli and nephrons are pictured in the photo. What region of the kidney is pictured? 

Microscopic image of a mammalian kidney on low power using dark field microscopy. Glomeruli are found near the top margin of the kidney, as a reddish color. © Jubal Harshaw 

Exercise 2: Sheep Kidney Dissection

Data Table 2.Sheep Kidney.

Kidney Observations
Photograph of Labeled Kidney   Label: renal vein and artery, ureter, minor and major calices, renal cortex, renal medulla, renal capsule, and renal pelvis

 Questions

A.         What are the major functions of the nephrons? Describe the function of the glomerulus, Bowman’s capsule, proximal convoluted tubule, nephron loop, and distal convoluted tubule. 

B.         What is located in the renal medulla? How do these structures affect coloration of the medulla?  

C.         Which structures are found at the hilus of the sheep kidney?