loop of Henle physiology Flashcards
what can loop of henle be broken into?
- descending limb
- ascending limb
what is the nephron made up of?
the glomerulus, bowmans capsule, proximal convoluted tubule, loop of henle and the distal convoluting tubule
what is the mosmolality in Bowman’s capsule and proximal convoluted tubule?
300 mosm (so it is isotonic or equal with the blood plasma which is also 300mosm)
what does high osmolality mean?
- high sodium, high chloride (solutes)
- low water
hypertonic
what is hypotonic urine?
- low sodium and chloride
- high water
-low osmolality urine
what is isotonic urine?
when the sodium, chloride levels in urine= the water
why does the osmolality increase as you move down the descending limb of the loop of Henle?
- because there are Na+/K+/2CL- co transporters on the ascending limb of the loop of Henle
- these transport Na+, K+ and Cl- from inside the tubule into the intracellular medullary space
- water wants to follow sodium so moves from the descending limb of the loop of Henle into this intracellular intramedullary space
this is called counter current multiplication!!
is the descending limb permeable to salt?
no
is the descending limb permeable to water?
yes
is the ascending limb permeable to water?
no
is the ascending limb permeable to solutes (Na+, K+, Cl-)?
yes
what is the process that goes on in the loop of Henle allowing the urine to produce varying degrees of volume and concentration?
counter current multiplication
is the urine hyper or hypotonic at the bottom of the descending limb of the loop of Henle?
hypertonic as water has been removed
is the urine hypo or hypertonic once it reaches the distal convoluted tubule after going through the ascending limb of loop of Henle?
hypotonic- as it has lost lots of sodium, chloride and potassium
what travels along the loop of Henle?
the vasa recta- branch of the efferent arteriole in the medulla
