Formation of urine Flashcards
What are the 5 major stages of urine formation?
1: Glomerulus: Filtration of blood
2: Proximal tubule:
- Reabsorption of filtrate
- Secretion into tubule
3: Loop of Henle: Concentration of urine
4: Distal tubule: Modification of urine
5: Collecting duct: Final modification of urine
What are the 3 major functions of the nephron?
FILTRATION of blood to produce a filtrate
REABSORPTION of water, ions and organic nutrients
from filtrate
SECRETION of waste products into tubular fluid

What is the force for filtration?
–Blood pressure
–Differing diameter of afferent and efferent arterioles
What is glomerular filtration rate?
Glomerular Filtration
Rate (GFR) = 125 mL/min (º 180 L/day)
Normal plasma volume = 2-3 L
= Rate at which glomerular filtrate is produced
- GFR can be measured clinically and used as an
indicator of renal function
What is the first stage of urine formation?
Ultrafiltration: filtration on a molecular scale
All small molecules are filtered:
- Electrolytes
- Amino acids
- Glucose,
- Metabolic waste
- Some drugs, metabolites
Cells and large molecules remain in the blood:
- Red blood cells
- Lipids
- Proteins,
- Most drugs, metabolites
What is filtration dependant on?
Filtration is dependent on two factors:
blood pressure
renal blood flow
What does the filtrate have to pass through during glomerular filtration?
Filtrate has to pass through
(in sequence):
1: Pores in glomerular capillary endothelium
2: The basement membrane of Bowman’s capsule
(includes contractile mesangial cells)
3: Epithelial cells of Bowman’s capsule (Podocytes) via filtration slits into capsular space
What are the 4 types of pressure in the glomerulus?

What are the equations for pressure in and out of the glomerulus?
What is the equation for filtration pressure?
What type of pressure is shown?
How does filtration pressure change from the start of the glomerulus to the end?
How does blood pressure change GFR?
GFR generally remains constant even when systemic BP changes
This involves a regulatory mechanisms known as autoregulation of renal blood flow
What is autoregulation of renal blood flow?
Renal blood flow subject to autoregulation over broad range of systemic BPs (90-200 mmHg)
Autoregulation persists in denervated kidneys and isolated perfused kidneys …so it is NOT a neuronal or hormonal response but instead, a local effect
What are the 2 hypotheses for the autoregulation of renal blood flow?
Myogenic - autoregulation is due to response of renal arterioles to stretch (re: Starling’s Law):
e.g. if BP decreases, renal artery and efferent arterioles automatically constrict to maintain a constant renal blood flow (1,200mL/min) and GFR (~125 mL/min)
Metabolic - renal metabolites modulate afferent and efferent arteriolar contraction and dilation (e.g. adenosine, nitric oxide)
Most likely to be a combination of both
_______ and glomerular filtration rate (GFR)
are maintained even when systemic BP changes (______ mmHg)
Renal blood flow (RBF) and glomerular filtration rate (GFR)
are maintained even when systemic BP changes (90-200 mmHg)
Complete the diagram on the mechanisms of glomerulus blood vessels
How can changes in GFR alter systemic blood pressure?
- A drop in filtration pressure (e.g. due to declining BP) causes a drop in GFR
2: Lower GFR means less Na+ enters the proximal tubule
3: The macula densa senses a change in tubular Na+ levels
4: This stimulates juxtaglomerular cells to release renin into the blood
5: Renin release leads to generation of angiotensin II
6: Ang II is a vasoconstrictor which causes BP to increase
7: Increased BP causes filtration
pressure to increase and
GFR returns to normal
Complete the diagram on the RAS system


What are the 5 major stages in the process of urine formation?
1: Glomerulus: Filtration of blood
2: Proximal tubule:
- Reabsorption of filtrate
- Secretion into tubule
3: Loop of Henle: Concentration of urine
4: Distal tubule: Modification of urine
5: Collecting duct: Final modification of urine
What is reabsorbed from the proximal tubule?
60-70% of filtered water, Na+, HCO3-, Cl-, K+ and urea are reabsorbed from the PT
There is almost complete reabsorption of:
– Glucose
– Amino acids
– Small amount of filtered
proteins
What is the driving force for reabsorption from the proximal tubule?
The driving force for this reabsorption is Na+K+ATPase
