GU Flashcards
What are the two types of nephrons?
corticol- excretory, regulation functions
juxamedullary- concentration, dilution of urine
Characteristics of the Nephron
functional unit of the kidney
each kidney has one million nephrons
some nephrons are held in reserve
Describe the characteristics of the glomerulus
filtering point for the blood
3 layers - endothelium, basement membrane, epithelium
what is the bowman’s capsule?
holding area for filtrate
proximal tubule
about 80% filtrate returned by reabsorption
loop of henle
filtrate (urine) becomes concentrated,
ascending limb: chloride removed, sodium dragged
distal tubule
reabsorption sodium
secretion of potassium, hydrogen ions, uric acid
What is the hilum?
where the blood vessels and ureters enter and exit the kidneys
What are the four primary roles of the kidney?
filtration - glomerulus
reabsorption - tubules
secretion - tubules
excretion - ureters
Describe the permeability of the loop of henle
the descending loop is only permeable to water, whereas the ascending loop is only permeable to solutes
Describe how the basement membrane helps with filtration
it is negatively charged which helps filter by repelling positively charged proteins and RBCs
What is meant by renal selective reabsorption?
selective reabsorption of sodium, amino acids, and glucose are secreted by the filtrate back into the blood. All glucose is reabsorbed in a healthy state
What is the difference between afferent and efferent arterioles?
afferent - supply blood to each glomerulus
efferent - forms peritubular capillaries, reabsorbs water and solutes as required
How much of the cardiac output is used by the renal system in a resting state?
20-25% or cardiac output
Describe the juxtaglomerular apparatus
glomerular blood pressure regulation accomplished by mechanoreceptors and chemoreceptors
regulates GFR by adjusting diameter and resistance of afferent and efferent renal arteries to act as a valve to maintain a constant MAP
How do the kidneys attempt to maintain adequate perfusion pressure over a wide range of blood pressure?
in hypotension, afferent arteriole dilates and efferent constricts. The opposite happens in hypertension
How does the kidney help to maintain homeostasis?
elimination and clearance of metabolic wastes, water soluble drugs
fluid balance through urine formation, and water excretion
electrolyte balance
acid-base balance
What are the characteristics of the GFR?
rate at which filtrate is formed
in health 180L/24 hours (125ml/min), all but 1.5 is returned to the patient
dependent on blood flow but stable over a wide range of blood pressures
status of Glomerular filtration system is assessed by measuring GFR
What are the determinants of GFR?
blood flow
net filtration pressure (NFP)
What are the three forces of net filtration pressure?
glomerular hydrostatic pressure (60mmHg)
bowman’s capsule hydrostatic pressure (18mmHg)
glomerular colloid osmotic pressure (10mmHg)
Do you know which element is most commonly used to measure the adequacy of glomerular filtration rate?
creatinine - end product of protein metabolism that is always excreted in the urine in health
What are the characteristics of ADH?
antidiuretic hormone
secreted by posterior pituitary
negative feedback loops regulate ADH secretion
Give an example of how antidiuretic hormone works
dehydration - increased serum osmos
osmo receptors in the hypothalamus sensitive to serum osmolality
ADH increases permeability of collecting tubules to water for reabsorption
Describe the characteristics of renin
hormone secreted by juxtaglomerular cells
secreted by JGA when GFR falls
renin converts angiotensinogen (released by liver) to angiotensin I
Angiotensin I converted to Angiotensin II by Angiotensin convertin enzyme (found in lungs)
Angiotensin II
potent vasoconstrictor
stimulates secretion of aldosterone