Introduction to Kidneys and Body Fluids Flashcards
What is the water composition of the body?
60%
Where is the water distributed in the body?
- Water is distributed in two main compartments (separated by the cell membrane) - intracellular fluid (ICF) and extracellular fluid (ECF)
- 2/3rds of the water is intracellular and 1/3rd is extracellular
Why is there no osmotic movement of water between the ICF and ECF?
In osmotic equilibrium which prevents osmotic movement from occurring
What would be the consequences if there was no osmotic equilibrium between the ICF and ECF?
- Osmotic movement can occur leading to cells growing and shrinking
- Shifts between the ECF and ICF will disrupt tissue structure and function.
Why must large changes in osmolarity be avoided?
- Large shifts in osmolarity must be avoided to prevent changes in cell volume
- Shifts can cause neurological complications
What is the cell membrane?
- Barrier between the ICF and the ECF
- Permeable to water (via water channels called aquaporins)
- Impermeable to most solutes
What is the main salt in the different components?
INTRACELLULAR: K+ with its anion
EXTRACELLULAR: Na+ with its anion
How are osmotic shifts avoided?
Osmoregulation
Define osmoregulation.
Physiological process that maintains constant ECF osmolarity
What does regulation of ECF volume allow?
- Ensures effective circulating volume
- Maintains adequate tissue perfusion
How is the ECF subdivided?
- Interstitial compartment (about 75% - 11 litres)
- Plasma compartment (about 25% - 3 litres)
What is volume regulation of the ECF?
Controlling the amount of salt and water in the ECF in order to maintain plasma/ECF volume
What are the purpose of Starling’s forces?
Fluid and solute movement between the plasma and the interstitial fluid
How is salt and water balance maintained in the body?
Osmoregulation and volume regulation
Which organs regulate the maintenance of salt and water balance?
Kidneys
What vessel supplies the kidneys with blood?
Renal artery
What vessel drains blood from the kidneys?
Renal vein
How is urine excreted?
- Flows down the ureters for temporary storage in the bladder
- Excreted by the urethra
What is the function of the kidneys?
- Osmoregulation
- Volume regulation
- Acid-base balance
- Regulation of electrolyte balance
- Removal of metabolic waste products from the blood
- Regulation of red blood cell production
What is the nephron?
- Functional unit of the kidney - consists of blood vessels and tubules
Outline the process of draining within the nephrons?
- Nephrons join together and are drained (via draining ducts) into calyxes which are finally drained into the ureter
What are the different components of the nephron?
- Blood vessel component
- Renal tubule component
Describe the structure of the renal tubule component. PART 1
- Renal tubule begins at the Bowman’s capsule
- Bowman’s capsule is continuous with the rest of the renal tubule starting with the proximal tubule
- It descends deeper into the cortex and the medulla where it turns and ascends back up to form a loop (called Loop of Henle)
Describe the structure of the renal tubule component. PART 2
- Whilst ascending it forms the distal tubule and joins with the collecting duct
- Many collecting ducts join together into the calyces
- Many calyces join together to drain into the ureter
Describe the structure of the blood vessel component. PART 1
- Renal artery enters the kidney and is subdivided into many arteries until each nephron is supplied by an afferent arteriole
- Afferent arteriole enters the interstitial space within the glomerulus and forms a dense capillary network
- Glomerulus is drained away by another arteriole called the efferent arteriole
Describe the structure of the blood vessel component. PART 2
- Efferent arterioles further subdivide into two capillary networks: the peritubular capillary (which surrounds the proximal and distal tubules) and the vasa recta (which surrounds the loop of Henle)
- Networks drain into the venules which come together to drain into the renal vein
What processes take place in the kidneys?
- Glomerular filtration
- Tubular reabsorption
- Tubular secretion
- Excretion of water and solutes in urine
What is glomerular filtration?
- Relies on Starling forces (hydrostatic pressure and oncotic pressure) to drive water and solutes across the capillary membrane
→The pressure gradient between the afferent and efferent arteriole drives filtration - Small molecules pass readily whereas large molecules are unable to pass
- This leads to the formation of plasma ultrafiltrate in the Bowman’s capsule