The right kidney usually sits slightly lower than the left kidney because the liver lies above it.
Correct Answer
True
True. The large liver occupies space on the right side of the upper abdomen, so the right kidney is usually positioned a little lower than the left.
Category: Kidney Anatomy
Question 2
The female urethra is shorter than the male urethra, which is one reason urinary tract infections are more common in females.
Correct Answer
True
True. The short female urethra gives bacteria a shorter path to the bladder, while the male urethra runs a longer course through the prostate and penis.
Category: Urine Transport
Question 3
Parasympathetic stimulation relaxes the detrusor muscle so the bladder can fill.
Correct Answer
False
False. Parasympathetic signals contract the detrusor muscle and drive urination. Sympathetic input relaxes the detrusor and supports bladder filling.
Category: Urine Transport
Question 4
Normal glomerular filtrate contains no blood cells and very little plasma protein.
Correct Answer
True
True. The filtration membrane holds back blood cells and nearly all plasma proteins, so the filtrate resembles plasma minus most of its proteins.
Category: Filtration and Blood Flow
Question 5
Juxtamedullary nephrons have short nephron loops that stay within the renal cortex.
Correct Answer
False
False. Juxtamedullary nephrons have long nephron loops that reach deep into the renal medulla, which lets them build the gradient needed to concentrate urine.
Category: Nephron Function
Question 6
Most of the nephrons in the kidney are cortical nephrons.
Correct Answer
True
True. Cortical nephrons, with renal corpuscles in the outer cortex and short loops, make up the large majority of nephrons. Juxtamedullary nephrons are the smaller group.
Category: Nephron Function
Question 7
Aldosterone is secreted by the adrenal medulla.
Correct Answer
False
False. Aldosterone is a mineralocorticoid made by the adrenal cortex. The adrenal medulla secretes epinephrine and norepinephrine.
Category: Hormonal Regulation
Question 8
Angiotensin II constricts systemic arterioles, which raises blood pressure.
Correct Answer
True
True. Angiotensin II is a strong vasoconstrictor. It also stimulates aldosterone release, thirst and ADH release, all of which help restore blood pressure and volume.
Category: Hormonal Regulation
Question 9
Sympathetic stimulation dilates the afferent arterioles and increases the glomerular filtration rate.
Correct Answer
False
False. Strong sympathetic stimulation constricts the afferent arterioles, which lowers glomerular blood flow and decreases the glomerular filtration rate.
Category: Filtration and Blood Flow
Question 10
Drinking alcohol increases urine output by inhibiting the release of antidiuretic hormone.
Correct Answer
True
True. Alcohol suppresses ADH release, so fewer aquaporins are placed in the collecting ducts and more water is lost in the urine.
Category: Urine and Fluid Balance
Question 11
Urine passes from the renal pelvis into the minor calyces before it enters the ureter.
Correct Answer
False
False. Urine flows from the renal papillae into the minor calyces, then the major calyces, then the renal pelvis, and finally the ureter.
Category: Kidney Anatomy
Question 12
Tubular secretion moves substances from the renal tubule back into the blood.
Correct Answer
False
False. Moving substances from the tubule back into the blood is tubular reabsorption. Tubular secretion moves substances such as hydrogen ions, potassium ions and some drugs from the blood into the tubule.
Category: Nephron Function
Question 13
Atrial natriuretic peptide causes the kidneys to retain sodium.
Correct Answer
False
False. Atrial natriuretic peptide, released when the atria are stretched by high blood volume, increases sodium and water excretion in the urine.
Category: Hormonal Regulation
Question 14
Urine has a higher specific gravity than pure water because it contains dissolved solutes.
Correct Answer
True
True. Specific gravity compares the density of a fluid with that of water, and the dissolved wastes and ions in urine make it denser than pure water.
Category: Urine and Fluid Balance
Question 15
When a person is dehydrated, the urine becomes more dilute and paler in color.
Correct Answer
False
False. Dehydration raises ADH, so more water is reabsorbed and the urine becomes more concentrated and darker in color.
Category: Urine and Fluid Balance
Question 16
Parathyroid hormone increases calcium reabsorption by the kidneys.
Correct Answer
True
True. Parathyroid hormone raises blood calcium partly by increasing calcium reabsorption in the renal tubules and by stimulating the kidneys to make calcitriol.
Category: Hormonal Regulation
Question 17
The urinary bladder is lined by simple columnar epithelium.
Correct Answer
False
False. The bladder is lined by transitional epithelium, which can stretch and flatten as the bladder fills.
Category: Urine Transport
Question 18
Urea recycling in the medulla contributes to the kidney's ability to produce concentrated urine.
Correct Answer
True
True. Urea that leaves the collecting duct adds to the solute concentration of the deep medulla, which helps draw water out of the collecting duct when ADH is present.
Category: Urine and Fluid Balance
Question 19
The kidneys lie within the peritoneal cavity and are covered by visceral peritoneum.
Correct Answer
False
False. The kidneys are retroperitoneal. They sit against the posterior abdominal wall behind the parietal peritoneum.
Category: Kidney Anatomy
Question 20
Principal cells of the collecting duct respond to both antidiuretic hormone and aldosterone.
Correct Answer
True
True. Principal cells add aquaporins in response to ADH and increase sodium reabsorption and potassium secretion in response to aldosterone.
Category: Hormonal Regulation