Anatomy & Physiology II

• The deep layer.
• A smooth transparent sheet of dense irregular connective tissue that is continuous with the outer coat of the ureter.
• Serves as a barrier against trauma and helps maintain the shape of the kidney.

• Also known as Glomerular capsule.
• A double-walled globe at the proximal end of a nephron that enclosesthe glomerular capillaries.

• Blood plasma is filtered in and then the filtered fluid passes into the renal tubule, which has three main sections.
• 1) Proximal convoluted tubule
• 2) Loop of Henle (nephron loop)
• 3) Distal convoluted tubule

• 1) Regulation of blood ionic composition
• 2) Regulation of blood pH.
• 3) Regulation of blood volume
• 4) Regulation of blood pressure
• 5) Regulation of blood osmolarity
• 6) Production of hormones
• 7) Regulation of blood glucose level
• 8) Excretion of wastes and foreign substances

The kidneys help regulate the blood levels of several ions, most importantly sodium ions (Na⁺), potassium ions (K⁺⁾, calcium ions (Ca²⁺), chloride ions (Cl^-), and phosphate ions (HPO₄^2-)

The kidneys excrete a variable amount of hydrogen