Question

A red blood cell is located in the renal artery. How many major capillary beds must this cell pass through before it is returned to the left ventricle?

A) 1
B) 2
C) 3
D) 4

Answer 1

A red blood cell in the renal artery must pass through two major capillary beds, the glomerulus and the peritubular capillaries, before returning to the left ventricle. Option B is correct.

Step-by-step explanation:

A red blood cell located in the renal artery must pass through two major capillary beds before being returned to the left ventricle. The first capillary bed is the glomerulus, where filtration of blood occurs. After the filtration process, the blood then passes through the efferent arteriole before reaching the second capillary bed, known as the peritubular capillaries and vasa recta, where further exchange of substances takes place.

Once this exchange is complete, the blood is collected into veins that ultimately return it to the right atrium of the heart via the venous system. From there, blood moves into the right ventricle, goes through the pulmonary circuit for oxygenation, and the oxygen-rich blood is then returned to the left atrium. Finally, blood moves from the left atrium into the left ventricle, completing the circuit back to the starting point.