Lab 7 Prelab Flashcards
List the functions of the kidney.
- Regulation of water concentration and fluid volume
- Regulation of inorganic ion concentrations
- Regulation of acid-base balance
- Some gluconeogenesis & synthesis of hormones
- Excretion of metabolic waste products and xenobiotics
List the 4 essential renal processes in the nephron.
- Filtration
- Reabsorption
- Secretion
- Excretion
Define renal filtration.
Water and small solutes are forced under pressure to flow from the glomerulus into the Bowman’s space
Define renal reabsorption.
Substances reclaimed from lumen to blood
Define renal secretion.
Substances move from peritubular capillary to lumen
Define renal excretion.
Substances are removed in the urine
How many kidneys do humans have? Location?
2 kidneys located at either side of the vertebral column at posterior/dorsal wall outside main visceral cavity (retroperitoneal)
Define retroperitoneal.
Outside main visceral cavity
How many ureters do we have? Function?
- 2 ureters connecting each kidney to the urinary bladder
- Collects major calices
How many urethras do we have? Function?
1 urethra connecting the bladder to the exterior for excretion
What is the function of the fibrous capsule of the kidney? What tissue does it work with?
Works w/ adipose layer to protect outside of each kidney
What 2 major layers is kidney tissue organized into?
Cortex and medulla
What are the pyramids of the kidney? Appearance? Characteristics?
- Cone-shaped
- Arranged w/ tips (papilla) pointing inward
Describe the diff calices of the kidneys. Function, location of each?
- Minor calices collect each pyramid
- Major calices collect groups of minor calices
What is the significance of the hilum of the kidney?
Vessels and ureter enter the kidney here
What is a nephron? How many do we have? Location?
- Functional unit of the kidney
- 1 million total
- Extends through both cortex and medulla
What is the function of juxtamedullary nephrons? What % of nephrons do these make up?
- Contribute to medullary osmotic gradient
- 15%
What type of nephrons make up 85% of the total amount of nephrons in the kidneys?
Cortical nephrons
What does the renal corpuscle include?
- Glomerulus
- Bowman’s capsule
What is the glomerulus?
Capillary filtration unit
What is Bowman’s capsule? Location?
- Site where filtrate passes from the vascular system into the tubule system
- Surrounds glomerulus
What are the functions of the renal corpuscle?
- Connects to proximal convoluted tubule to pass on filtrate
- Creates a filtrate similar to plasma, free of blood cells and proteins
What is the input and output of the renal corpuscle?
- Input = afferent arteriole
- Output = efferent arteriole
What does it mean to be fenestrated? Which cells are fenestrated?
Endothelial cells have holes in them
What comprises the basement membrane of the glomerulus? Function?
- Composed of gel-like acellular network of collagen and glycoproteins
- Surrounds endothelial cells
What are podocytes? Function? Location?
Interdigitate around the basement membrane, leaving gaps for flow-thru
What kinds of molecules pass through the basement membrane? Which are repelled?
- Large, negatively charged proteins are repelled
- Small solutes pass through
What drives glomerular filtration of plasma?
Pressure differences
What is the equation for net filtration? Define each component and give typical values.
P (NFP) = [P(gc) + π(bc)] -
[P(bc) + π(gc)]
-P(gc): hydrostatic pressure in glomerular capillaries (~50 mmHg)
-π(gc): oncotic pressure in Bowman’s capsule (very small, negligible)
-P(bc): hydrostatic pressure in Bowman’s capsule caused by the fluid collecting there (~10 mmHg)
-π(bc): oncotic pressure in glomerular capillaries since there are proteins in the blood, but not in the filtrate (~25 mmHg)
What are the characteristics of tubules?
- Lined w/ epithelial cells
- Have differing channels and pumps all along the length of the tubule
What are peritubular capillaries?
Second capillary bed that comes off the efferent arteriole and surrounds the tubule system
What happens to substances that are not filtered at the glomerulus? What is this process called?
Tubular secretion: substances secreted into the tubule by the peritubular capillary
What substances are secreted vis tubular secretion?
K+, H+, NH4+, urea, some creatinine, some hormones, some drugs
What is the mechanism by which tubular secretion occurs?
Active transport across epithelial cell membranes
What is tubular reabsorption?
Tubular epithelial cells transport certain substances back across into the peritubular capillary
What are the mechanisms by which tubular reabsorption occurs?
- Can be passive (using flux down gradients)
- Active transport (using pumps or exchangers)
Where does potassium secretion occur? What does it depend on?
- In cortical and medullary collecting ducts
- Depends on balance
What does potassium secretion require?
- H-K-ATPase channel in Type A intercalated cells
- H+ secretion to reabsorb K+
What stimulates potassium secretion?
Aldosterone, hypernatremia, volume depletion, ACTH
What substances reduce potassium secretion?
Dopamine, ANP
Where does sodium reabsorption occur? What % of reabsorption occurs there? Mechanism of each?
- Proximal convoluted tubule reabsorbs ~65% via uncontrolled active transport
- Loop of Henle reabsorbs ~25% via uncontrolled passive transport
- Distal tubules and collecting ducts reabsorb the remainder
What factors increase sodium reabsorption?
- Aldosterone
- Antidiuretic hormone
What inhibits reabsorption? How?
ANP inhiits reabsorption by increasing sodium excretion
What kind of drugs affect sodium reabsorption?
Diuretics
Where does water reabsorption occur? What % of reabsorption occurs there?
- Proximal tubule reabsorbs ~65%
- Loop of Henle reabsorbs ~10%
- Distal tubules and collecting ducts reabsorb ~5-25% depending on fluid need