FUNCTIONS OF THE KIDNEY Flashcards
(102 cards)
functions
-Removing metabolic waste from the extracellular fluid
(urea, acids)
-Controlling the volume of extracellular fluid (close link
to blood pressure)
-Maintaining optimal concentrations of vital solutes in
the extracellular fluid (Na, K, H, Ca, Mg, Cl, Phos)
How much of the cardiac output goes to the kidneys
20%
three basic processes of the nephron
glomerular filtration - filtering of blood into tubule forming the primitive urine (glomerular filtrate)
tubular reabsorption - selective absorption of substances from tubule to blood
tubular secretion - secretion of substances from blood to tubular fluid
what is the glomerular filtration barrier
A unique structure allowing extracellular fluid to be
filtered and to leave the body:
– Specialised capillary endothelium
– Glomerular basement membrane – collagen based
– Podocyte foot processes
Normal GFR approx
100ml/min = 144L per day
movement of solutes and water across membranes ..
diffusion
specific membrane channels
- energy dependent
- down a conc gradient
- down an electrical gradient
- down an osmotic gradient
controlled by systemic and local mediators
PCT cell features
basolateral membranes with infoldings for ATPase
apical membrane with microvillae and aquaporins .
cuboidal
how much sodium chloride is reabsorbed in PCT
approx 70%
nearly all amino acids and glucose is reabsorbed in PCT
what are the loop of henle rules
1. Thick ascending limb is impermeable to water, but actively transports sodium, potassium and chloride 2. Thick ascending limb provides the concentration gradient to promote water reabsorption from the thin DLH 3. Thin descending limb is freely permeable to salt and water 4. Vasa recta doesn’t wash away the gradient by using countercurrent exchange
what does the juxta-glomerular apparatus
maintains GFR in face of increases or decreases in blood flow to the kidney
macula densa senses tubular flow
what does the macula densa produce when there is an increase in tubular flow
adenosine which causes afferent arteriolar constriction
if there is a reduced tubular flow…
sensed by macula densa which causes granular cells to produce renin
reasons for reduced sensed volume
extracellular fluid depletion haemorrhage
vasodilation
pump failure
Kidney response to reduced sensed
volume
•Efferent glomerular arteriolar constriction preserves waste excretion • Avid tubular sodium and water re-absorption preserves extracellular fluid volume net effect - oliguria - concentrated urine - low urine Na concentration - high urine potassium secretion
what helps maintain extracellular fluid calcium concentration
sensing tissues - parathyroid gland
calciotropic hormones - parathyroid hormone , hydroxylated vitamen D
effector tissues - kidney , intestine and bone
equation for clearance
= number of particles in urine /concentration of particles in plasma
what is creatinine
normal product of muscle metabolism
plasma concentration is dependent on muscle mass and kidney function
incompletely filtered but some tubular secretion
creatinine clearance
= (urine volume x creatinine concentration in urine )/ conc of creatinine in plasma
effect of muscle ,mass on the serum creatinine levels leads to …
overestimation of function in women , elderly and other low muscle mass groups
what are the 3 concentric layers of connective tissue that protect and stabalise the kidnay?
fibrous capsule - layer of collagen fibres
adipose fat
renal fascia - dense fibrous outer layer that anchors the kidney into surrounding structures . the renal fascia also lines the renal sinus and internal cavity within the kidney
what is the hilum
is the entry of artery , renal nerves and exit of the vein and ureter
what is the difference between the cortical and juxtamedullary nephrons
85% Cortical nephrons & 15% Juxtamedullary nephrons
• Cortical nephrons are situated mainly in the cortex, they have a short loop that dips slightly into the medulla.
• Juxtamedullary nephrons have long nephron loops that extend deep into the medulla. The long loop plays a key role in water conservation and the formation of concentrated urine
the walls of the glomerular capillaries are covered in what?
podocytes which are specialised cells that create slits
what is the glomerular filtration barrier
endothelial cells
glomerular basement membrane
podocytes