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Anatomy and Physiology of the Reptile Renal System
1Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, University of Melbourne, 250 Princes Highway, Werribee, Victoria 3777, Australia.
Abstract:
Reptile kidneys maintain a constant extracellular environment within the body. They excrete waste products, maintain normal concentrations of salt and water, regulate acid-base balance, and produce hormones and vitamins. The kidneys contain nephrons consisting of glomeruli designed to filter the plasma, Bowman capsules that collect the filtrate, and tubules that resorb most of the filtered water and nutrients while excreting waste metabolites. A Loop of Henle is absent. Therefore, reptile kidneys cannot produce a hypertonic urine. The urinary bladder (if present) and cloaca excrete and absorb additional fluids and electrolytes. A renal portal system is present in all reptiles.
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Internal Anatomy of the Kidney
Anatomical Position and Dimensions
The kidneys are retroperitoneal organs positioned against the posterior abdominal wall on either side of the spine, roughly between the twelfth thoracic and third lumbar vertebrae. Each kidney is typically 10-12 cm long, 5-6 cm wide, and 3-4 cm thick, weighing about 150 grams.
Renal Cortex
The outermost region of the kidney is the...
Introduction to Urinary System
The kidneys are bean-shaped organs located in the retroperitoneal space, on either side of the vertebral column, between the T12 and L3 vertebrae. They are partially protected by the rib cage and surrounded by perirenal fat, which provides cushioning. They are responsible for urine formation and play critical roles in regulating blood pressure, electrolyte levels, and hormone production. The ureters...
Kidney Structure

