Nephrotoxicity Flashcards
(96 cards)
What do the kidneys do?
Concentrate bloodborne waste for elimination, produce concentrated urine, save water, excrete wastes.
Where is the kidney located?
Upper quadrant, retroperitoneum (behind the liver/pancreas).
What is the input to the kidney?
Blood from the descending aorta.
What is the output from the kidney?
Vein joins the ascending inferior vena cava; excreted waste is transported to the bladder for storage and elimination.
What are the functional subunits of the kidney?
Nephrons; integrated blood vessel and tubule networks form ‘pyramids’.
What is the outer region of the kidney?
Cortex.
What are the two inner regions of the kidney?
Outer and inner medulla.
Where are nephrons located?
Within the pyramids, spanning all three regions of the kidney.
What is the blood flow through the kidneys?
90% of blood flows through the cortex, 6-10% to the medulla, 1-2% to papilla.
What are the main exchanging compartments of the kidney?
The nephron.
What do excretory mechanisms do?
Concentrate poisons in tubules, which might reach dangerous levels.
What drives high [poison] in the tubule?
Diffusion into cells lining tubules (tubular epithelial cells).
What can cause the precipitation of poisons?
High concentrations and removal of water, leading to concentration of chemicals and induction of damaging cascades.
What can active renal transport and metabolism do?
Uptake and transform chemicals into poisons.
What occurs in the proximal tubule?
Water is reabsorbed isosmotically; transport of K+, HCO3-, Cl-, PO43-, Ca2+, Mg2+, amino acids, glucose, citric acid cycle substrates, and low MW proteins by endocytosis.
What does GFR require?
Hydrostatic pressure and oncotic (protein related) draw.
What are the three main cell types of the nephron?
Endothelial, epithelial (focus on tubular epithelial cells), podocytes.
What do podocytes do?
Produce little holes through which filtrate flows.
What can indicate the location of kidney toxicity?
Changes in urine production.
What is non-oliguric renal failure?
Inability to concentrate urine; indicates proximal tubule damage.
What is oliguria?
Reduced urine flow; indicates glomerulus damage.
What is polyuria?
Excessive urine flow; indicates loop of Henle, distal tubule, or collecting ducts damage.
What is anuria?
No urine flow; indicates post-renal blockages or precipitates.
What is a post-renal blockage?
Occurs downstream/outside the kidney (nephron).