Exam 4 pt. 2 Flashcards
Generally, how much filtrate is made each day? How much urine?
o ~180 L (47 gallons) of blood-derived filtrate is processed by the kidneys each day, only ~1.5L of urine is formed – less than 1%!
o The kidneys filter the body’s entire blood plasma volume 60x each day
o At rest, 20-25% of the body’s O2 supply is used by the kidneys
Define filtrate
o Filtrate: blood plasma minus its proteins; produced by glomerular filtration
Define urine
o Urine: metabolic wastes and unneeded substances; produced from filtrate
List the 3 processes involved in urine formation. What happens in each process?
o Glomerular Filtration: produces cell and protein-free filtrate
o Tubular Reabsorption: process of selectively reclaiming substances from filtrate and moving them back into blood
Typically, 99% of water, and all glucose and amino acids are reabsorbed
o Tubular Secretion: process of selectively moving substances from blood into filtrate
What are the 3 layers of the filtration membrane?
o Fenestrated Endothelium of Glomerular Capillaries: allows all blood components except cells to pass
o Basement Membrane: allows solutes; blocks all but the smallest proteins
o Foot Processes of Podocytes of the Glomerular Capsule: filtration slits between foot processes, stop all remaining macromolecules
Define the 3 pressures involved in glomerular filtration and have a general idea of their valves.
o Outward Pressures: forces that promote the formation of filtrate
o Hydrostatic Pressure in Glomerular Capillaries (HPgc) – essentially glomerular blood pressure
Chief force pushing water, solutes out of blood across the filtration membrane
Quite high (55mmHg) compared to most capillary beds
Maintained by the smaller size of efferent arteriole versus the afferent arteriole
o Inward Pressures: forces that inhibit the formation of filtrate
o Hydrostatic Pressure in the Capsular Space (HPcs) – pressure exerted by the filtrate in the glomerular capsule (~15mmHg)
o Colloid Osmotic Pressure in Glomerular Capillaries (OPgc) – the “pull” of the proteins in the blood (~30mmHg)
Define outward pressure
o Outward Pressures: forces that promote the formation of filtrate
Define hydrostatic pressure in glomerular capillaries
o Hydrostatic Pressure in Glomerular Capillaries (HPgc) – essentially glomerular blood pressure
Chief force pushing water, solutes out of blood across the filtration membrane
Quite high (55mmHg) compared to most capillary beds
Maintained by the smaller size of efferent arteriole versus the afferent arteriole
Define inward pressures
o Inward Pressures: forces that inhibit the formation of filtrate
Define hydrostatic pressure in capsular space
o Hydrostatic Pressure in the Capsular Space (HPcs) – pressure exerted by the filtrate in the glomerular capsule (~15mmHg)
Define Colloid Osmotic Pressure in Glomerular Capillaries (OPgc)
o Colloid Osmotic Pressure in Glomerular Capillaries (OPgc) – the “pull” of the proteins in the blood (~30mmHg)
Define NFP. Is it a net outward or inward force?
o Net Filtration Pressure (NFP): the sum of forces
55mHg forcing out
45mmHg forcing in
Net: 10mmHg of outward force
o NFP is the pressure responsible for forming filtrate
o NFP is the main controllable factor for determining Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR)
What is GFR?
o GFR: the volume of filtrate formed by both kidneys per minute
o Normal GFR = 120 - 125 mL/min
How is GFR used clinically? What 3 things determine GFR?
o GFR is directly proportional to:
Net Filtration Pressure (NFP): main controllable factor, primary pressure is outward glomerular hydrostatic pressure, can be controlled by changing arteriole diameters
Total surface area available for filtration – controlled by the contraction of mesangial cells
Permeability of filtration membrane – much more permeable than other types of capillaries
o Large surface area and high permeability allow the relatively small NFP to produce huge amounts of filtrate
In terms of GFR, what is normal for a healthy adult? What values are associated with CKD? With renal failure?
Describe the relationship between GFR and systemic blood pressure.
o GFR is regulated to serve 2 important – and sometimes opposing – needs
o The kidneys need a relatively constant GFR to continue making filtrate
o The body needs a relatively constant blood pressure
o An increase in GFR increases urinary output and decreases BP
o A decrease in GFR decreases urinary output and increases BP
What’s the difference between intrinsic and extrinsic controls?
o Intrinsic Controls: work locally within the kidney to maintain GFR – renal autoregulation
o Extrinsic Controls: neural and hormonal controls that maintain systemic blood pressure
What is an appropriate MAP range for intrinsic controls to be in control?
o 80-180 mmHg
Define myogenic mechanism. What happens when BP increases or decreases under myogenic mechanism?
o Myogenic Mechanism: smooth muscle contracts when stretched
Increased BP -> Muscles Stretch -> Constriction of Afferent Arteriole
Decreased BP -> Dilation of Afferent Arteriole
Goals: protect the glomerulus from high BP by restricting blood flow, maintain normal NFP and GFR
Define tubuloglomerular feedback mechanism. What group of cells directs this mechanism? What solute is driving this mechanism?
o Tubuloglomerular Feedback Mechanism: directed by the macula densa cells
Responds to NaCl concentration
GFR increases -> flow of filtrate increases -> decreased time for reabsorption -> higher levels of NaCl in filtrate
Response: the afferent arteriole is constricted -> NFP and GFR are reduced -> increased time for NaCl reabsorption
What systemic effects are seen in extrinsic neural control by the SNS? How does this alter BP?
o Extrinsic controls regulate GFR to maintain systemic BP – even if it hurts the kidneys!
o Ex: in the event of hypovolemia, extrinsic controls will override the intrinsic controls to ensure survival of the vital organs
o Neural Control by the Sympathetic Nervous System
Normal Conditions: renal blood vessels are dilated, intrinsic controls running
Abnormal Conditions (Low BP): norepinephrine, epinephrine are released
* Systemic vasoconstriction to raise BP
* Constriction of the afferent arterioles will decrease GFR
* Blood volume and blood pressure increase
Outline how renin increases systemic blood pressure.
o Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone Mechanism
o The body’s main mechanism for increasing blood pressure
o 3 pathways to releasing renin from the granular cells
Direct stimulation of granular cells by the SNS
Simulation of the granular cells by activated macula densa cells – when NaCl concentration in filtrate is low
Reduced stretch of granular cells
o Anuria: abnormally low urine output (< 50 mL/day); multiple causes
What are some things that are reabsorbed in tubular reabsorption? Which portion of the renal tubule conducts the most reabsorption?
o Tubular reabsorption quickly reclaims most of the tubular contents and returns them to blood
o Tubular reabsorption is an elective transepithelial process. It starts as soon as filtrate enters the proximal tubule.
o Almost all organic nutrients are reabsorbed; reabsorption of water and ions is hormonally regulated and adjusted as needed
o Tubular reabsorption can be either active (ATP-requiring) or passive
o Two Routes:
Transcellular: reabsorbed substances travel through cells of the tubule
Paracellular: reabsorbed substances travel between cells of the tubule
What is reabsorbed in the PCT?
The PCT is the site of most reabsorption
What is reabsorbed from the filtrate in the PCT?
* All the nutrients (glucose + amino acids)
* 65% of sodium + water
* Most of the electrolytes
* Nearly all uric acid and ~1/2 of the urea – these will be secreted into the filtrate again later!