Systems 2 - Renal Flashcards
(186 cards)
Water % in body
60% of body weight is water (40-45L)
1/3 of this is extracellular fluid
2/3 of this is intracellular fluid
Extracellular fluid includes interstitial fluid, plasma, transcellular fluid
It has ~150mmol/L cations - mainly Na⁺
~150mmol/L anions - mainly Cl⁻
–> doesn’t add up to 300mmol, Na⁺ and Cl⁻ do not completely dissociate
Functions of the kidneys (6)
To maintain water balance To maintain salt balance Contribute to pH regulation Excretion of nitrogenous waste products Conservation and regulation of essential substances Hormone secretion
Functions of the kidneys - maintaining water balance
Extracellular fluid has osmolarity of ~285mOsm/L
Number of particles present determine osmolarity, mainly comprised of salts, v small amount protein
Regulated by water intake (thirst) and output
Functions of the kidneys - maintaining salt balance
Extracellular concentrations of:
[Na⁺] 135-145 mMol/L
[Cl⁻] 96-106 mMol/L
(can only fluctuate a very small amount)
Functions of the kidneys - pH regulation
Extracellular pH ~ 7.4 (very narrow limit)
–> urine is slightly acidic, to rid body of acid
pH is regulated by the rate at which H⁺ and HCO₃⁻ are excreted in urine
[HCO₃⁻] 25mMol/L - regulated by lungs via the rate at which CO₂ is expired
Functions of the kidneys - excretion of nitrogenous waste products
Urea, ammonia, creatine, uric acid
Excreted only by kidney
Functions of the kidneys - conservation and regulation of essential substances
Glucose Amino acids Magnesium [Phosphate] 1.1 mMol/L [K⁺] 3.6-5.2 mMol/L [Ca²⁺} 1.2 mMol/L - especially important for cardiac function
Functions of the kidneys - hormone secretion
Active form vitamin D - for absorption of calcium and phosphate from the gut (so bone problems if renal failure)
Renin - via RAAS for control of bp
Erythropoietin - for synthesis of RBCs (anaemia if renal failure)
Various prostaglandins
Osmolarity vs osmolality
Osmolarity = mOsmoles/L in solution
Osmolality = mOsmoles/kg in solvent
Normally equal, as density of water is one
Kidney response to dehydration and overhydration
Dehydration
- output of 0.3ml/min at osmolarity of 1,200 mOsm/L
- antidiuresis
Overhydration
- output of 12-15ml/min at osmolarity of 85 mOsm/L
- diuresis
But both have blood osmolarity of 285 mOsm/L - can excrete urine 4x more or less concentrated than extracellular fluid
- not rapid operator, takes time
Gross anatomy of the kidney
Cortex - darker, granular - Bowman’s capsules
Medulla - lighter, parallel striations pointing out - loops of Henle and collecting ducts
Features of the nephron - proximal convoluted tubule
Cuboidal epithelial cells
Many mitochondria - lots of active transport
Brush border of microvilli on apical cell surface
Tight junctions to regulate amount of fluid transport
Two sections - pars convolute and pars recta - pars convolute has most microvilli and mitochondria
-> paracellular and transcellular fluid reabsorption
Isosmotic reabsorption, osmolarity of tubular fluid remains ~300mOsm/L
MOST SALT AND WATER REABSORPTION OCCURS HERE (60-70%)
Features of the nephron - descending limb of Loop of Henle
Thin
Squamous epithelia
No brush border
Few mitochondria
Features of the nephron - ascending limb of Loop of Henle
Thick
Cuboidal epithelia
No brush border
Many mitochondria
Features of the nephron - distal convoluted tubule
No brush border - less fluid transport than in PCT
Many mitochondria
Features of the nephron - collecting duct
Columnar epithelia
No brush border
Many mitochondria
-> still some reabsorption occuring
Juxtaglomerular apparatus
Where nephron (top of ascending limb of LOH) bends back and closely contacts the glomerular capillaries in Bowman’s capsule
Modified smooth muscle cells line the afferent arteriole - juxtaglomerular cells - packed with secretory granules instead of actin and myosin, secrete renin
Macula densa - modified DCT cells - sensitive to Na⁺ concentration, will stimulate juxtaglomerular cells to release renin when Na⁺ low
Mesangial cells cushion - contractile tissues to support fragile tissues around
Movements across nephron
Reabsorption from tube to capillary - Na⁺, Cl⁻, K⁺, HCO₃⁻, glucose, amino acids
Secretion from capillary to tube - H⁺, K⁺
- dense capillary network needed
- glomerular filtration rate 90-120ml/min
Capillary network around nephron
Glomerular capillary bed
Peritubular capillary bed - in cortex, around PCT and DCT
Vasa recta - starts in cortex, but mainly in medulla - mirrors loop of Henle
Subcapsular nephrons vs juxta-medullary nephrons
SUBCAPSULAR NEPHRONS
- glomeruli in outer renal cortex
- short proximal tubules
- short loops of Henle, just dipping into medulla
- short, poorly developed vasa recta
JUXTA-MEDULLARY NEPHRONS
- glomeruli deep in cortex, close to corticomedullary boundary
- long proximal tubules
- long loops of Henle extending to renal pelvis before doubling back
- long vasa recta extending to renal pelvis
- -> better at absorbing glomerular filtrate
Glomerular filtration
Rate of 90-120ml/min
- urine output is 1ml/min, so kidneys reabsorb 99% of filtrate (necessary as filtration is unselective)
Varies with age (falls as age), gender (lower in women), body surface area (higher increases). 50% increase in early pregnancy
Energy is from hydrostatic pressure of blood, as heart beats
No energy expenditure by kidney in filtration
Contents of glomerular filtrate
No cells
Trace amounts of protein
Ions and small organic substances (glucose, amino acids) in the same concentration as they are present in plasma - ultrafiltrate
-> Glomerulus is filtration barrier, has ‘functional’ pores of 8-10nm diameter
Rate of glomerular filtration depends on:
1) Molecular weight - less than 10kDa is freely filtered, 10-80kDa rate is proportional to weight, more than 80kDa is totally excluded
2) Shape - long thin molecules more easily filtered than spherical molecules of same MW
3) Electrical charge - easiest to filter +ve charge, then neutral, hard to filter -ve
Three barriers to a substance passing from blood
1) Through fenestrations in wall of glomerular capillary
- 100nm diameter, so too large to prevent protein passage
2) Glomerular basal lamina
- glycoprotein matric, non-cellular
- carries fixed negative charge
- gives electrical characteristics of pores
3) Inner epithelial lining - podocytes
- have processes extending out, so substance has to pass through slit pores to enter Bowman’s capsule
- gives mechanical characteristics
-> damage to podocytes or basement membrane -> protein loss in urine