Glomerular Filtration Flashcards
What is filtration?
The formation at the glomerular capillaries of an essentially protein-free filtrate of plasma (~0%)
(allows regulation of ECF volume and control of blood composition)
The glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is very high, what is the value?
180 l/day
What is reabsorption?
Substances that the body wants are reabsorbed, those it doesn’t want stay in the tubule and are excreted
What is secretion?
Substances may be specifically removed from the body in this way
Point out the 3 basic renal processes on this diagram
Left - glomerular filtration
Bottom - reabsorption
Top - secretoin
How much blood flow do the kidneys receive? What does this mean about their BF/tissue g?
~1200mls/min (20-25% of total CO)
They weigh <1% of BW so they have almost the highest BF/g tissue of any tissue in body
What does te high BF to the kidneys explain?
Their vulnerability to damage by vascular disease (this is why kidneys are so protected - at back, a lot of fat etc)
How long does it take for a BV equal to the total BV to pass through the renal circulation?
<5 mins
How many RBCs and plasma is filtered through into Bowman’s capsule? What happens to the remainder?
No RBCs
Only a fraction of plasma
Remainder passes via efferent arterioles into the peritubular capillaries and then into renal vein
What percentage of total BV is plasma? So what is the value of renal plasma flow?
55%
55% of 1200mls/min = 660mls/min = renal plasma flow
What is the normal GFR in mls/min?
125mls/min
If renal plasma flow = 660mls/min and GFR = 125mls/mins, waht is the filtration fraction i.e. what percentage of renal plasma becomes glomerular filtrate?
125/660 x 100 = 19%
What forces is glomerular filtration dependent on? (GF occurs in exactly the same way as fluid enters out of any capillary in the body)
Starling’s
(dependent on balance between hydrostatic forces favouring filtration and oncotic pressure forces favouroing reabsorption)
What 3 factors deterine the filterability of solutes across the glomerular filtration barrier?
Molecular size, electrical charge and shape
In chart - low molecular weight molecules all have diameter less than a nanometre; polyethylene glycol is last substance that will be completely filtered out; filtration rate then drops
What is the structure of the glomerular endothelial cell? How is this useful for its function?
Fenestrated
Prevents filtration of BCs but allows all components of blood plasma to pass through