GFR and filtration Flashcards
What’s the renal corpuscle?
the bowman capsule (podocytes) and the glomerulus (fenestrated endothelial lining and basement membrane)
What capillaries are in the glomerulus?
fenestrated capillaries (with little holes in)
What is the point of fenestrated capillary endothelium?
allows passing of electrolytes, small proteins, H2O and nutrients but doesn’t allow proteins, WBC, platelets etc
What is the supply and drainage of the glomerulus?
Afferent arteriole supplies it and efferent arteriole drains it
What is the normal functions of the kidney?
REEM
- Regulation - controls conc of substances in ECF
- Excretion - excretes waste products
- Endocrine - synthesis of renin, EPO and prostaglandins
- Metabolism - active form of Vitamin D3, catabolism of insulin, PTH calcitonin
What is important about the glomerular basement membrane?
it is lined with negatively charged glycoproteins so repels -ve charged anions however, attracts cations like Na+, Ca2+, Mg2+, K+
What is the predominant ions in ECF?
+ve is Na+
-ve is Cl-
(k+ and bicarbonate are also important)
What is the electrolyte composition in the intracellular fluid?
high K+, low Na+
What is the electrolyte composition in the extracellular fluid?
low K+ high Na+
How is a high constant filtration pressure maintained in the glomeruli?
the diameter of the afferent arteriole is slighter greater than the efferent arteriole so the hydrostatic pressure of the blood inside the glomerulus is increased due to this diameter difference - this helps to force certain components out of glomerular capilarries
What components of the blood are forced out of the glomerular capillaries?
-most of water
-most of salts
most of glucose
most of urea
What components of the filtrate are reabsorbed?
-most of water
-all glucose and AA
-all bicarbonate
most Cl- and Na+
What are podocytes?
-specialised type of epithelia that is critical for the selectivity of glomerular filtration
What is the space between each podocyte?
filtration slit - fixed width adding to the filtering capacity
How do podocytes contact the glomerular capillaries basement membrane?
through foot processes (the space in between each foot process is the slit diaphragm)
What is the bowman capsule?
layer of epithelial cells that surrounds the glomerular capillaries