AEMCA Practice Exam

What is the pathway of blood flow from the afferent arteriole to the glomerulus?

1. Filtered blood enters the renal vein

2. Blood flows into the peritubular capillaries

3. Blood enters via the renal artery

4. Blood flows directly into the renal pelvis

The correct answer is: Blood enters via the renal artery

The correct response highlights the initial stage of blood flow in the renal system. Blood begins its journey through the renal artery, which supplies oxygenated blood to the kidneys. The renal artery branches into smaller arteries, including the afferent arteriole, which directly leads to the glomerulus. This is a crucial step, as the glomerulus is where blood filtration begins in the kidneys. Following this pathway is essential for understanding how blood is processed in the kidneys. The afferent arteriole brings blood into the glomerulus, where waste products are filtered out, and important substances are reabsorbed through subsequent pathways, including the peritubular capillaries. Without the initial entry of blood through the renal artery, none of the filtration process could occur, making this step foundational in the overall function of the kidneys.