Chapter 18 - Renal Function Flashcards
name main functions of urinary system
regulate plasma ionic composition, regulate plasma volume and blood pressure, regulate plasma osmolarity, regulate plasma pH (through HCO3, H+), remove metabolic waste products and foregin substances (urea, uric acid, drugs), and kidneys ultimately control v olume and composition of all body fluids
describe kidneys as endocrine organs
secrete erythropoietin, secrete renin, turns vitamin D into its active form, gluconeogenesis takes place in them
describe basic function of: kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra
Kidneys - form urine, ureters - transport urine from kidneys to bladder, bladder - stores urine, urethra - excretes urine from bladder to outside of body
describe macroscopic appearance of kidneys
paired, and bean shaped. approximate size of fist (115-170 grams), retroperitoneal
what is a nephron
the functional unit of the kidney. there are 1 X 10^6 in each kidney. composed of renal corpuscle and renal tubules
describe renal corpuscle
the glomerulus is a capillary network for filtration, while the bowman’s capsule receives the filtrate and provides inflow to renal tubules
describe renal tubules
consists of proximal convoluted tubule, loop of Henle (descending limb, thin ascending limb, and thick ascending limb), distal convoluted tubule, and collecting duct
compare cortical vs juxtamedullary nephrons
cortical nephrons are the majority (80-85%) and have a short loop on Henle. juxtamedullary nephron has a long loop of Henle that extends deep into medulla, it is responsible for maintaining medullary osmotic gradient, and produces concentrated urine. both types of nephrons produce urine
describe the juxtaglomerular apparatus
contains macula densa cells in the wall of the distal tubule (sense Na content in tubular fluid). and contains juxtaglomerular cells (granular cells) in the wall of afferent arteriole (secrete renin). juxtaglomerular apparatus is important in regulating blood volume and blood pressure
describe blood supply to kidneys
renal artery enters each kidney at hilus, kidneys receive 20% of cardiac output at rest (CO at rest = 5L Kidneys receive 1L/min). renal vein exits from each kidney at hilus
describe basic renal exchange process
- glomerular filtration: from glomerulus to bowman’s capsule 2. reabsorption: from tubules to peritubular capillaries 3. secretion: from peritubular capillaries to tubules. finished urine is excreted from tubules out of the body
describe GFR
glomerular filtration rate is the bulk flow of protein-free plasma from glomerular capillaries into bowman’s capsule. normal GFR is 125ml/min or 180L/day
describe the filtration barrier
glomerular filtrate must cross three barriers to enter bowman’s capsule: capillary endothelial layer, basement membrane, and epithelial layer of bowman’s capsule.
name the four starling forces
glomerular capillary hydrostatic pressure, bowman’s capsule osmotic pressure, bowman’s capsule hydrostatic pressure, and glomerular capillary osmotic pressure
describe starling forces favoring filtration
glomerular capillary hydrostatic pressure (60 mm Hg high due to resistance of efferent arteriole) and bowman’s capsule osmotic pressure (0mm Hg low due to lack of protein in filtrate)
describe starling forces opposing filtration
bowman’s capsule hydrostatic pressure (15 mm Hg relatively high due to large volume of filtrate in closed space) and glomerular osmotic pressure (29 mm Hg higher than in systemic capillaries due to plasma proteins in smaller volume of plasma)
describe glomerular filtration pressure
(Pgc + osmoticbc) - (Pbc - osmoticgc) = 16 mm Hg. combination of starling forces favors net filtration, there is always net filtration at glomerulus
compare filtration pressure and GFR to systemic capillary filtration pressure and rate
GF pressure is 16 mm Hg and GFR is 180L/day while systemic filtration pressure is 2 mm Hg and filtration rate is 20L/day
describe filtration fraction
filtration fraction = GFR/renal plasma flow. normal renal plasma flow is 625mL/min. normal GFR is 125ml/min. so normal filtration fraction is 125/625 = 20%
how much plasma is leaving /min in the efferent arteriole
500mL/min because of the 125 mL/min of filtrate
describe filtered load
filtered load is the quantity of a solute that is filtered per unit time. this involves solutes that are freely filterable. it depends on concentration of solute and GFR. filtered load = GFR X Px (plasma concentration)