Physiology - Kidney part 1 Flashcards
(119 cards)
Name functions of kidneys
- Regulation of water and salt
- Regulation of acid-base balance
- Excretory function
- Endocrine function
- Blood pressure regulation
- Gluconeogenesis
Explain regulation of water and salt
Balances the salt and water intake and excretion. In case of sudden change in salt consumptions, kidneys adapt within 2-3 days.
Explain regulation of acid-base balance
Kidneys can excrete H+ ions into the tubular fluid where it will then be neutralised by a buffer system and then excreted out of the body.
Acidosis - kidney with stimulate H+ into urine to decrease acidity of blood.
Alkalosis - kidney will decrease H+ excretion which will cause more HCO3- excretion.
Explain excretory function
Kidney excretes waste products such as:
Urea - from amino acid metabolism and will be high in concentration in blood if the kidney is not functioning properly.
Creatinine - comes from muscle creatine and high will be high in concentration in blood if the kidney is not functioning properly.
Uric acid - comes from nucleonic acid metabolism. Accumulation will lead to gout attack and joint pain.
Drugs and food additives - toxic substances in food or drinks are excreted.
Explain endocrine function
Erythropoietin:
- Produced in peritubular cells in case of hypoxia and stimulation of sympathetic nervous system.
Renin:
- Produced in case of low blood pressure, low Na+ and high K+ in blood.
- Produced by juxtaglomerular cells
- Activate renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system which releases angiotensin II and aldosterone and increases blood pressure.
Vitamin D3:
- Activation occurs in tubular epithelial cells.
- Vitamin D3 is necessary for calcium and phosphate equilibrium regulation in blood.
Explain blood pressure regulation
Intermediate blood pressure control:
- renin is released
- activation of angiotensin system
- production of angiotensin II
- vasoconstriction
- increased blood pressure.
Slow blood pressure control:
- Pressure volume diuresis or high blood pressure
- Filtration increases, reabsorption decreases.
- Decreases blood plasma volume and blood pressure.
Explain gluconeogenesis
Fat state = low gluconeogenesis.
Fasting state = intense gluconeogenesis.
Gluconeogenesis gets a-ketoglutarate from glutamine produced in tubular epithelial cells.
How many nephrons are in each kidney
Around 1 million nephrons
How much of the nephron is needed for normal kidney function
1/4
What does nephrons consist of
Tubular part and vascular part
Are dead nephrons substituted
No, the number of nephrons decreases throughout life.
What happens to nephrons in case of glomerulonephritis or infection
The nephrons are destroyed very rapidly leading to kidney failure.
What does the tubular part of nephron consist of
- Renal corpuscle
- Bowmans capsule
- Proximal convoluted tubule
- Nephron loop
- Distal convoluted tubule
- Collecting duct
- Calyces
What are the types of nephrons
Cortical nephrons (85%) and Juxtamedullary nephrons (15%)
What are cortical nephrons
- Control filtration and reabsorption
- Located in superficial layer fo cortex
- Small
- Have short nephron loops which only go to the outer part of the medulla.
What are juxtamedullary nephrons
- Control osmolarity gradient in medullary part
- Bigger corpuscle that are located deeper in the cortex
- Long loops that go into the inner part of the medulla.
What is the juxtaglomerular complex
Consists of the macho dense cells in the distal convoluted tubule and the juxtaglomerular cells in the afferent and efferent arterioles.
What does the juxtaglomerular complex do
- Control general arterial blood pressure
- Control of blood in glomerular capillary network
- Control of renal blood flow
What do macula densa cells do
- Control Na+ and Cl- concentration in urine that transports through distal convoluted tubule.
- Signals juxtaglomerular cells in the arterioles of renin production needs to be stimulated or inhibited.
What are the three events of urine formation
- Filtration
- Reabsorption
- Secretion
Urine formation - explain filtration
Goes down the concentration gradient from the glomerular capillary to the bowman capsule.
The primary urine then flows along the tubular system.
How much primary urine does kidneys filter per day
180 L of primary urine
Urine formation - explain reabsorption
Substances are transported from the urine —> peritubular capillaries
Substances: Na+, Cl-, K+, HCO3-, H2O
Urine formation - explain secretion
Substances are transported from peritubuar capillaries —> tubular system
Substances: K+ and H+ is excreted into the urine.