Kidneys 2 Flashcards
What are the functional units of the kidney and what do they consist of?
Nephrons (consisting of:)
1- Bowmans capsule (with glomerulus etc) +
2- Renal tubule
Where does filtration take place in the kidney?
The renal corpuscle (bowmans capsule + glomerulus)
What processes occur in the renal tubule?
Nutrient reabsorption
Water reabsorbtion (90% reabsorbed)
Secretion of waste products not already filtered
Where does the ureter originate from and what course does it take?
From the pelvis of each kidney, descending over the top of psoas minor and in-front of the common iliac artery, into the R/L sides of the bladder
Where does the renal artery leave the abdominal aorta?
L2
What are the 4 layers which surround each kidney?
Pararenal fat (post/ posteriolat only) Perirenal fat (around whole kidney) Renal fascia Renal capsule (fibrous)
What is the renal sinus?
Cavity within the kidney which is occupied by the renal pelvis/ renal calyx BV’s/ nerves and fat
What is the renal pelvis?
Dilation of ureter at kidney hilum
What are renal calyces (single: calyx)? What are the two types?
Chambers through which urine passes
Minor: At the apex of each pyramid
Major: Lead to renal pelvis
How does the kidney endothelium repel proteins such as albumin? How is the affected in diabetes?
Has a negative charge so repels proteins
Charge lost in diabetes so = proteinuria
What is the main function of the PCT?
Reabsorb ions and organic nutrients
Reabsorbs water
What is the main function of the loop of henle (both limbs)?
Descending limb: Reabsorbs water
Ascending limb: Reabsorbes Na+/Cl-
What is the main function of the DCT?
Secretion of ions/acids/drugs/toxins
Variable water/ion re-absorption - this is fine tuned by hormones
Where is urea re-absorbed from tubular fluid?
Collecting ducts
Where does the tubular fluid go once it has left the DCT?
Many DCT’s feed into 1 collecting duct
Collecting duct feeds to minor calyx (now as urine)
What is counter-current multipilication?
Na+/Cl-/K+ re-absorption in the ascending loop of Henle by active transport creates an osmotic gradient with passively draws out water from the descending loop of Henle
What happens to substances reabsorbed in the nephron?
Go into peritubular capillaries
These all drain eventually to the efferent arteriole
What type of epithelium lines the PCT?
Cuboidal cells with microvilli
What type of epithelium lines the Loop of Henle?
Squamous/ low cuboidal cells
What type of epithelium lines the DCT?
Cuboidal cells w/o microvilli
What type of epithelium lines the collecting ducts?
Cuboidal cells w/o microvilli
What type of epithelium lines the papillary ducts?
Columnar cells
What are the two types of nephrons?
Cortical (85%) - Stay in cortex- their peritubular capilaries drain to cortical radiate veins
Juxtamedullary (15%)- Peritubular capilaries drain to vasa recta
What are the two layers of epithelium in the renal corpuscle?
Outer: Simple squamous
Visceral: Has podocytes with filtration slits between them
What are mesangial cells?
Support cells between capillaries, they can contract to dilate or constrict vessels
What substances act on mesangial cells?
Angiotensin II, ADH, histamine
What are the two main glucose transporters in the kidney?
GLUT 1 (2Na+ to 1 glucose) - High affinity/ low capacitity
- Found in the late proximal tubule
GLUT 2 (1Na+ to 1glucose) - Low affinity/ high capacity
- Found in the early proximal tubule
What is the capacity of the glucose transporters in the kidney, what impact could this have clinically?
1.25mmol/min
So if plasma glucose is greater than 10mmol/L you will start to get glucosuria
Where do gluconeogenesis and glycolysis happen in the kidney?
Roughly 20% of bodies gluconeogenesis happens in the cortex of the kidney
Glycolysis happens in the medulla
To increase filtration rate what must happen to the afferent and efferent arterioles?
Afferent must dilate
Efferent must constrict
What is GFR?
Rate of filtration per unit time
How do you calculate GFR?
Plasma conc (x)